
It can be well worth your while to thoroughly research any jewelry you are planning to buy or sell. However, it can leave you scratching your head as to where to start.
Don’t clean your jewelry in harsh household chemicals like ammonia, bleach or turpentine. These chemicals can turn stones dull and even erode the enamel.
If you are in the market to buy some silver jewelry, don’t forget to take a magnet along with you. Precious metals, like sterling silver, will not be attracted to the magnet. Look for the hallmark stamped on the piece of jewelry to determine what percentage sterling silver it is. If the piece you’re inspecting doesn’t carry such a mark, be careful, as it is likely a fake.
Your jewelry should be durable and long-lasting. Whenever you buy jewelry, make sure you go to a reliable, experienced dealer, so you know you’re getting an outstanding piece of jewelry. If a piece of jewelry is of high quality, it should be made well and exhibit top-flight craftsmanship. A credible jeweler should offer a complete history of the piece, including information about the creator and the source of the gemstones. Investing in a high-quality jewelry piece ensures that you will have a timeless item that will be just as wearable in 20 years as it is today.
Pay attention to the quality and type of gemstones in a piece when you’re looking at buying new jewelry. Any stones that you choose should go with your skin tone and reflect your personality. Choose neutral colors that will easily match any outfit you decide to wear. Do not buy something that looks nice on the shelf but that you will never use.
You will need to take special care when you are buying costume jewelery! Stones in costume jewelry are usually held in place with glue instead of a physical setting. For this reason, costume jewelry should never touch water, and you should avoid using detergents on it. The most effective way to safely clean them is wiping with a damp cloth, then drying with a different, soft cloth. You will be able to maintain its nice appearance with this method.
If your gemstone was treated, you should know about it before you purchase it. The way to care for a stone differs greatly depending on how it was treated. Cleaning a treated gem using the wrong chemical might damage it.
When deciding on which jewelry pieces to buy, look through the sales advertisements. If the deal is good, you may be able to save some serious money! Check for the best sales in the paper, online, and in store windows. If a particular piece was designed to fit a current trend, and that trend is nearing conclusion, then you could make a saving as big as 50%.
Learn how to unravel a knotted necklace, even one with delicate loops. It is tempting to throw in the towel against knotted metal, but plastic wrap should be reached for instead. Put the necklace on the plastic wrap and add a little mineral oil or baby oil. Using sewing needles, you should be able to separate the knot. When you are done, use soap and water to wash them.
Buying jewelry, or selling it, is a whole process. You will have to do some research and put some thought into it, if it is a gift you are looking for. Use the advice given in this article to help you as you begin venturing into the jewelry market.