Jewelry is more than a simple accessory choice for most people. In many cases, jewelry is also a big investment. With a few simple steps, you can protect both the appearance and the value of your jewelry collection. This article contains some helpful and effective tips for maintaining your favorite jewelry.
Attending yard-sales is a great way to build up a collection of jewelry. Many people sell old costume jewelry for practically pennies. This is a perfect opportunity to stock up on broken pieces that can be repaired or made into new jewelry later. Many new beautiful pieces of jewelry can be born of old broken pieces. Use yard-sales to build up your collection.
Finding the right piece of jewelry to wear for a special occasion can be a hard task. If wearing your hair in an up-do, a pair of dangling earrings may look nice. Whereas if you are wearing a dress with a “busy” pattern, a simple necklace and studded earrings might be more appropriate. Base your jewelry off of your outfit and what will complement it, and you will be sure to find the right piece for that special occasion.
If you would like to start collecting gemstone jewelry, make sure that you do your research first. It is important that you know what to look for in spotting fakes and what to look for to identify genuine gemstones. It can also be beneficial to know what different countries and areas different gemstones are indigenous to. This can help determine if what you’re looking at is real or fake.
When choosing earrings, test the weight in the store. You can’t–and shouldn’t–try them on, but holding them in your hand may be able to tell you if they’re too heavy for all-day wear or just too heavy. Heavy earrings will eventually become painful. No matter how nice they look, you won’t want to wear them if they’re not comfortable.
When buying jewelry for your wife, make it a surprise! Never second guess yourself about choosing the “right” item as your wife will be more than happy just to receive a gift! Choose what you love and it’s likely she’ll love it, too. Jewelry is something that is gorgeous, so it’s easy to fall in love with!
The meaning behind a diamond is eternity, that love will endure. You can never go wrong when buying diamonds, even if your budget is small. If you choose a quality metal like 14k gold and a smaller carat of diamond in a beautiful setting, whomever you’re giving it to will have a giant smile on their face despite the small price.
Never, EVER buy fake jewelry for someone you love! That means gold-plated, cubic zirconia, or gold-filled. Stick to the real stuff – you can get a bargain on real gold, silver, or even platinum if you look hard enough. Fake jewelry can turn the skin black or green, and that is the LAST thing you want to do!
When deciding on the jewelry for your wedding, check out the differences between purchasing and renting. If you are only planning on wearing these extravagant pieces once, then renting may be your best bet. However, if you feel you would wear it again, or want to keep it as a memento, buying may be the best choice.
When learning a new jewelry-making technique, use cheaper materials. For instance, if you are learning wire techniques, pick up some aluminum or copper wire from a local craft store, instead of using your sterling silver wire. This will help you get the valuable practice you need to master the technique, while sparing your pocketbook. If you mess up on your top-quality materials, they may become unusable.
Create a solution of warm water and a few drops of dish-washing liquid and use it to soak your gold pieces. Scrubbing the piece with a soft toothbrush can help to remove any particulates that may be stuck to the jewelry. Cleaning your jewelry can keep it looking new for years.
To help jewelry maintain its maximum possible value you should aim to keep it in a pristine condition. Not only will it look better on you but it will also fetch a higher asking price should you ever decide to sell it. Semi annual trips to jewelry store for regular cleanings will help accomplish this.
If you can’t afford to pay consignment fees for your handmade jewelry, consider partnering with other small and local business owners or jewelers to hold a trunk sale, mini-bazaar, or retail showcase night to generate interest in the community. Small jewelers and crafters can benefit by bonding with one another instead of viewing each other as competitors. If you are very worried about this, only approach jewelers with dissimilar styles and fashions.
When buying jewelry for someone it is important to consider what he or she does on a daily basis. You do not want to give a mother with toddlers a necklace, as she will not be able to wear it when she is around her children. Toddlers love to pull on necklaces and it could hurt the mother’s neck or cause the necklace to break. She would then feel guilt and no one wants that.
Chances are that you have developed a strong attachment to many, if not all, of your jewelry pieces. Now you should know how to keep that jewelry safe and beautiful. Following these jewelry maintenance tips regularly is the easiest way to protect your investment in your jewelry collection, while also keeping each piece as impressive as it was the day you bought it.
