Shopping for jewelry within today’s market, can be a very exciting experience, but there are many things that you have to remember and take heed to. Start with these jewelry shopping tips and get a better idea of how to protect yourself while shopping wisely.
Try making your own jewelry pieces. It just takes some tools and some materials to get started. More specifically, there are many kinds of materials you can use. You can use wire, string, beads, yarn, thread, glass, stone, metal, etc. The only limitation is your hands and your imagination, so have fun with it.
Do not attempt to shine your silver or gold jewelry with toothpaste. It is simply an incorrect home remedy that many try to pass off as fact that it works. The chemicals in toothpaste will erode your jewelry causing the gemstones to permanently lose their luster. For only a few dollars you can buy a proper polishing cloth and jewelry shining liquid.
When shopping for diamonds, make sure that you shop for them based on their four main criteria: color, cut, clarity, and carat. The color refers to the hue of the stone. The cut refers to the way that the stone is fashioned, such as princess and square cuts. Clarity refers to the flawlessness of the stone. The carat refers to the weight of the stone.
Purchase meaningful jewelry for any occasion. Giving jewelry as a gift leaves a long lasting impression on the intended recipient. However, you can always add a personal touch by having the jewelry piece engraved with a personal message or add a charm of great importance. Personalized jewelry given as a gift always makes a loving gesture.
The best tool for any jewelry hunter, whether searching for personal treasure or for the profit in reclaiming gold or silver, is a jeweler’s loupe. Jeweler’s loupes are small, but powerful magnifying instruments designed specially for use in examining jewelry at very close range. Some jeweler’s loupes also have a built-in, battery-powered light which can be very handy if examining pieces in a dimly lit area. Most jeweler’s loupes are extremely economical in cost and can help you make the most of your jewelry-buying dollar, especially when buying from second-hand sources.
When wearing or buying jewelry, it is important to not go with anything large and flashy. I say this in literal terms, not as in “the diamond was so large.” This is because any jewelry like earrings or necklaces that are too large become gaudy and unattractive. It is best to stick to pieces that fit you and look right.
When shopping for jewelry, you may need to check what kind of metal you’re buying. Everyone’s heard of a cheap necklace turning skin green, but you may also have a bad reaction to certain metals in earrings. For earrings, look for items labeled “sensitive skin” or for stainless steel, silver, or gold.
If you’re making your own earrings, go to a welding supply store to purchase aluminum wire. You can purchase the wire there in a spool, which is far less expensive than buying it in smaller quantities. Some aluminum wire is also hypoallergenic, making it the perfect choice for individuals with sensitive ears.
To keep your jewelry in top condition, never wear it to sleep. When you sleep, your body produces a lot of sweat and gives off a lot of heat, both of which can cause serious damage to jewelry. Sweat can cause it to tarnish or rust, while the heat can cause soft metals to deform.
If you plan to stay in the sunlight for any length of time, remove your gemstones before hand. Sunlight can have a damaging effect on many gemstones, dulling them or changing their color entirely. Stones such as Quartz, Citrine, and Amethyst are especially vulnerable. Better to leave your stones at home where they will be safe.
When selling jewelry online, you must take full advantage of all the opportunities you have for free advertising, if you want to be successful. When an online shop hosting site offers free advertising, take it. Take advantage of social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter. If you do not have the proper amount of advertising, no one will know about you. As a result, you will fail.
When you sell jewelry online, write a few paragraphs about who you are and your background. When people walk into your store, introduce yourself. Do not go into details, but have people feel as if they know you and can trust you. You should emphasis your experience in jewelry and perhaps even show some of your past creations.
Clean silver jewelry with products from your kitchen. Silver jewelry tarnishes with time but it is easily cleaned with vinegar. Combine half a cup of white vinegar with two tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl. Stir the mixture until it forms bubbles. Put your silver jewelry into the solution leaving it for two to three hours depending on how tarnished it is. Remove the jewelry and wash it under cool running water. It will look as good as new!
If you are low on cash but still want to make some jewelry, you can make paper beads! These are bright and colorful and also, very fun to make for yourself or if you have children. All you need is some old magazines that you may have laying around!
Shopping today for jewelry, whether online or anywhere else can be very risky and can also, present great opportunities for savings. Take note to these wise shopping tips so you can shop safely, within your budget, and with the best practices in hand. You could find that jewelry shopping is much more than you ever imagined.