Buying or selling jewelry requires a lot of research and understanding to get what you want or what you need. This makes it difficult to know where to start.
To keep your jewelry looking attractive, polish it regularly using a cloth made especially for this purpose. This is an easy way to get shine without chemicals and solvents. Polish your jewelry with a two-sided polishing cloth as you might buff a lovely glass. Use one side for polishing and the other for improving its shine.
Watch how you store your jewelry when it isn’t being worn. Using boxes, hooks, holders, and compartments is very effective for ensuring the pieces stay separated. Avoid simply piling them on top of each other in a box. This can harm fragile and fine pieces, along with severely tangling necklaces with other pieces.
Precious Metals
Keep your jewelry in a relatively air-tight container, and minimize its exposure to humidity. To protect your jewelry it is important to secure it in a small bag with a drawstring, or in a jewelry box that remains closed a majority of the time. Precious, as well as non-precious metals, will tarnish if they are exposed to humidity and air over time. The thing about this is that non-precious metals cannot fully recover from this because underneath, the copper shows through. However, keep in mind that precious metals can go back to their own original forms.
Arm yourself with a magnet and a magnifying glass when shopping for sterling silver jewelry. Use the magnet to detect fake jewelry; real silver will not be attracted to the magnet, but the cheaper metals will. There should be a stamp hallmarked that says something like .925 sterling or ster, on sterling silver If there is no marking on the piece, it may not be sterling silver.
Compare lots of diamonds before you settle on one to buy. Closely examine pieces you like, and compare them with similar items you are interested in. Be careful of tricks that jewelers use to make a diamond look bigger or better.
Costume jewelry needs to be handled carefully. A fair amount of costume pieces are set with glue. Costume jewelry should never be immersed or make contact with harsh chemicals. Wiping your jewelry off with with a slightly dampened cloth and then wiping it dry is usually sufficient to keep it clean. This will assure that you costume jewelry will continue looking great.
If you are in the market for new jewelry, look for sales! You can save a lot of money with the right sale. Locate the best prices online, in newspapers and in stores. Sometimes, buying fashion styles that are on their way out can save you almost half of the original price.
If you’re selling jewelry on the Internet, make sure your depiction of the piece is detailed, clear and eye-catching. Handling jewelry often helps the customer make up his mind but this is not possible with online transactions. Make the piece of jewelry the main focus of the photograph, rather than its surroundings.
Wearing jewelry during spa and recreational activities is not recommended. The moisture and high temperatures in saunas can do real damage to your jewelry.
When you are buying jewelry for someone, it may be a good idea to buy a set instead of just one piece. You can often get a better price if you buy an entire set. Split the set for a loved one for every upcoming holiday. It will not only ensure you will always have a gift ready, it will also show the person that you care a lot about them.
You need true expertise to make smart jewelry buying and selling decisions. We have provided you with some great tips that offer a solid starting point. Use them well and you’ll be on the way to successful purchases and sales.