If you are completely new to the world of buying or selling jewelry, then you are probably thinking that some tips on what you need to know about jewelry will help you immensely. Listed below are some tips to help get you started with your jewelry buying or selling endeavors.
Buy dainty jewelry for slender women, and chunkier jewelry for a larger lady. If your wife is petite, then a tiny watch is appropriate. Buy the same watch for your six-foot tall spouse and it might not even fit on her wrist! Whatever you do, DON’T buy men’s jewelry for a woman! She’ll know the second she lays eyes on it and could be offended.
If you don’t know the ring size of the person you’re buying jewelry for, just get the size they have in stock – DON’T resize it based on your guess! You don’t want to be messing with a ring over and over again or you could affect it’s hardiness. When you give the ring to the recipient, let them know you will pay to have it resized.
A fun craft for your wedding is to make your own jewelry. It really is simple and it gives you the ability to customize the items exactly as you wish. For my wedding I used various shades of purple pearls and Swarovski crystals to make all my jewelry and my daughter’s as well. It was stunning AND affordable!
When buying vintage jewelry, become familiar with the different time periods associated with each piece. A Victorian era piece may interest you more than one of a different era, so knowing the differences will help you be able to quickly spot the pieces you are most interested in purchasing, rather than spending lots of time browsing.
You can untangle delicate necklaces that have become knotted. If you are about to give up, get some baby oil and plastic wrap. Place your jewelry on the plastic wrap and add a little baby oil. Needles can be used to untangle it. Wash any oil residue from the necklace with dishwashing liquid, and gently pat it dry.
You do not have to spend a mint on your jewelry. Don’t underestimate a classy piece of costume jewelry as a perfect accent for your best outfit. There is a large variety of great stones that are inexpensive. If you keep your eyes open you can acquire gems at crystal prices.
Don’t be afraid to play with different textures in your jewelry designs. Incorporating different types of beads (crystal, pearl, seed beads, glass, plastic, etc) will add a degree of interest to any piece. Adding in alternative materials, like metal rings and even fabric, will help you to create memorable, one-of-a-king jewelry pieces that will be sure to wow.
If you are trying to sell your jewelry products online, the best way to do this is know what you are selling. The better you know the jewelry you are selling, the more trust and confidence you will build with your customers. Always present your items as accurately as possible.
Don’t use toothpaste to clean your jewelry. There are countless websites out there claiming that toothpaste is a great way to clean jewelry. Fine jewelers will tell you otherwise. The abrasives in toothpaste can damage the surface of metal and will permanently ruin soft stones such as turquoise, amber and lapis.
When it comes to purchasing jewelry, make sure that whenever you are able to that you try it on first. This very is important because that piece of jewelry you love may not be as favorable after you try it on and find it to be extremely uncomfortable.
Store your earrings on a long piece of ribbon. Tie the ends of the ribbon to each end of your mirror and then tack the earrings to the ribbon, using the backs to keep them in place. This gives you easy access to your favorite pairs, and is also a decorative feature in your bedroom or bathroom.
If you’re looking for a strand of pearls, consider cultured pearls. They are a beautiful option, and come in many different colors. They are also a fraction of the cost of natural pearls. Natural pearls are extremely rare and so, extremely expensive. Cultured pearls are easier to find and easier to afford too.
Invest in tools to help you stay organized. Jewelery making can involve a lot of small pieces. Investing in containers with smaller compartments inside or using tackle boxes for storing your jewelery is always a good way to stay organized. Your creative ventures will go a lot smoother this way.
You’ll have a hard time spotting any difference between synthetic gemstones and natural ones. Natural and artificial rubies and sapphires are chemically identical to their natural counterparts, but artificial stones are worth far less. Don’t spring for a supposedly natural sapphire until you have it check for “natural inclusions” by a gemologist with a good reputation.
Consider buying both of your wedding bands and your engagement ring together. Many jewelers will offer a quantity discount if you purchase all three rings during the same visit. This can also be the easiest way to match your rings, which is something that many couples try to do.
Costume jewelry has become more popular as the price of gold increases. Some of the items are very beautiful even though they are not made of expensive elements. There are companies which create and sell only costume jewelry, and they are quite successful, probably a result of gold and precious stones being very high priced now.
As you can see from the above list of tips, buying or selling jewelry can be quite an adventure, as there is so much to learn about before starting either process. After following these tips, you will no longer be new to buying or selling jewelry, but you will become an a bit of a jewelry expert.
