No matter who you are buying jewelry for or why you are buying it, you must know how to responsibly purchase, sell and adequately care for it. This article will provide you with tips and tricks to get the most from your jewelry shopping time and efforts.
When purchasing jewels, you should understand which type of stone you are getting. A stone may be natural, synthetic or imitation. Imitation has little value, as it is generally plastic, while synthetic and natural are considered to be real gems. Synthetic gems come from a lab and natural ones are found in the ground.
Do they often wear hoop earrings, or stud earrings? Do they show a preference for white or yellow gold? Doing so can help to find the most special piece for the recipient.
Before you buy any new jewelry, you should look around for the latest trends. It is one thing to get a gorgeous bauble, but it is another to get it on sale!
Costume Jewelry
Special care is required for costume jewelry. Many pieces of costume jewelry have the stones glued on, for example. Costume jewelry should never be immersed or make contact with harsh chemicals. To clean your jewelry, dampen a cloth with warm water and gently wipe the item. Then use a clean, dry cloth to dry the jewelry. This will keep your costume jewelry clean and shiny.
Try searching for sales when purchasing jewelry. Buying at the right moment can mean big savings. Look for great deals in old-fashioned newspapers, on the Internet, and even at retail stores. Sometimes, you can save about half the original price on trendy pieces that aren’t as trendy anymore.
Get the tangles out of a delicate necklace that’s in a knot. It’s easy to get frustrated with tangled necklaces, but saran wrap can come to the rescue. Lay the necklace out on plastic wrap, then apply baby or mineral oil. Try using needles to start untangling it. Wash with dishwashing liquid then pat dry.
Before buying any jewelry, think about what you will use it for. You do not need a huge box of jewelry you will never wear. As you shop for jewelry, try to envision whether you can see yourself wearing a piece with your current wardrobe.
You can have a more beautiful diamond if it is cut correctly, as opposed to a diamond of a bigger size. You must also consider the personality and preferences of the gift recipient.
A matched jewelry set is a no-fail gift for any woman on your list. Most jewelers offer special deals on jewelry when it is bought in sets, rather than each piece individually. Eventually you can split the set up and give someone just one piece of jewelry when a holiday comes around. This is a surefire way to ensure that you are never without a gift for that special someone.
Do not buy jewelry based solely on the manufacturer or brand name. Not many people will be familiar with the brand, and if you allowed yourself to be persuaded by the jeweler to buy that brand, you more than likely paid far too much for the piece. There are thousands of quality brands of jewelry available for purchase.
When shopping for expensive jewelry, choose one that is sure to last for years. This goes not only for the quality of the piece but also the style of it. A modern cut may look wonderful with your style now but clash terribly with your timeless investment pieces several years down the line. Look into buying something that will not go out of style.
Of course, higher gold prices also increases the cost for new gold jewelry. If you simply must have that gold ring, necklace or bracelet, be flexible in terms of karats. A piece of jewelry that is 75% gold is said to have 18 karats, which is high quality but still affordable; a good combination.
Jewelry that has been cared for properly retains its sentimental and economic value. By educating yourself on proper jewelry care and maintenance, you can preserve the money and memories invested in your pieces. This is more information out there, and by continuously education yourself, you can get more from your own jewelry.