You need have a basic knowledge of jewelry before you engage in the purchase or sale of precious pieces. You will now wonder where you can start.
Sterling Silver
Take a magnet and a keen eye with you when you head out to purchase any jewelry made from sterling silver. You are able to detect fake pieces of sterling jewelry with a magnet, as non-precious metals are attracted by the magnet. True sterling silver will also have a mark on it to indicate its quality, such as “.925” or “ster”. If you cannot find a stamp, you might be looking at a cheap imitation.
Before you buy a gemstone, ask what type of gemstone it is. There are basically three distinct types: natural gems, synthetic gems and imitation stones. While natural and synthetic stones are the real deal, imitation stones are made to look like a real gemstone, but could be anything from colored glass to plastic. Synthetic gems come from a lab and natural ones are found in the ground.
Jewelry is an investment that should last forever. When you are shopping for your next piece, choose a reliable dealer. This can make all the difference in ensuring you get jewelry of the highest quality. Jewelry should display exemplary craftsmanship and be well-made. Ask the jeweler about the history behind the piece and learn more about who made it, as well as the origin of the materials. Take your time when selecting a high-quality piece if you want it to last you for a long time.
Always shop around when buying a diamond. See what you like up close, and then compare it to other pieces that you look at. Keep an eye out for deceptive tricks to cause you to think a diamond is better than it actually is.
Before committing yourself to a piece, do research to determine which styles are hot and which are not. If there is one thing better than finding the perfect, most heart-stopping bauble, it would be snagging the piece at a wonderful price!
Always ask the jeweler about an insurance policy before buying a new piece of jewelry. If your jewelry gets damaged or broken, you can come back to the store and have it repaired or replaced. You should also think about getting additional insurance in cause of theft or loss.
To keep your jewelry looking great, take steps to prevent it from tarnish. When you are close to water, do not wear your jewelry. Water exposure can cause different metals to become tarnished, dull or rusted. To protect your jewelry from exposure, apply a single coat of clear nail lacquer to its surface.
Costume Jewelry
If you like to collect costume jewelry pieces, become very choosy about each piece’s condition. Costume jewelry make good investments and they can be costly, but an item that shows major signs of usage will be a poor investment of your time and money. A piece of costume jewelry that has been treated well can be a treasure for years to come.
Wear the jewelry around for a day or so to be sure that it fits right and is comfortable. In this way, you will be able to tell if the item will withstand normal wear.
Costume jewelry has different, specific care requirements. Costume settings are often glued-in as compared to set-in. Keep your costume jewelery away from water or chemicals. To properly care for it you need to use a cloth dampened with warm water. After wiping make sure to use another cloth to thoroughly dry it. This will make your costume jewelry sparkle for weeks, months, or even years.
By wearing a brooch, your belt will be accented and look more interesting. Pin the brooch on your belt in the center, or offset to one side.
Look for sales when you want to buy some new jewelry. You can save huge amounts of money if you are savvy. Go through magazines and websites to find the best deals. If you buy fashion items at the end of their season, you can save up to 50%.
If you are selling jewelry on the Internet, you should present these pieces as attractively as possible. This is very important since customers cannot handle the jewelry in an online transaction. It is essential that the jewelry be placed on a background that does not draw the attention away from the piece.
Never swim with your jewelry on. Chlorine in pools will damage your pieces causing them to lose their luster. Salt water can damage them over time too. By taking your jewelry off of your body before swimming, you will be protecting it from the harsh chlorine and salt.
Clearly, buying and selling jewelry successfully requires ample amounts of research and effort. Apply the tips from this article, and you will be successfully buying and selling quality jewelry in no time.