When you are buying or selling precious jewelry, doing your homework can have its benefits. You can easily become overwhelmed by the wealth of information about selling or purchasing jewelry.
Use a soft cloth on your jewelry as often as you want. This is an easy way to get shine without chemicals and solvents. Use the dual-sided cloth to gently buff your jewelry as you would a delicate glass. Use the one side designated for polish, and the other for making it shine.
Do not use harsh chemicals such as ammonia, bleach, turpentine or acetone to clean them. You can turn your stones this way and it will eat away the enamel on the pieces.
Store your jewelry carefully. Use a box that has several different compartments and hooks to keep your pieces apart. Don’t just box all the pieces together in a pile. Not only will your necklaces become hopelessly tangled, you risk harming any fragile pieces as they bump and scrape against each other as you search the box.
Ask about a jeweler’s insurance policy before buying anything. If your jewelry becomes damaged, you can return it to the source and have it repaired. There are even some jewelers that will cover the replacement if the piece has been lost or stolen.
Going through a day wearing the jewelry will let you get familiar with how it hangs and whether or not it will be comfortable. By wearing it yourself, you can also gauge the ruggedness of the piece.
The color gemstones are an important consideration when shopping for new jewelry. Choose pieces that have stones which express your personality and those that make you feel great when you wear them. Choose neutral colors that will easily match any outfit you decide to wear. It’s a waste of time buying something that you won’t wear regularly.
Costume Jewelry
Special care is required for costume jewelry. Often, stones will be glued into their settings, which makes them more prone to falling out than regular jewelry. Never immerse your costume jewelry or use harsh chemicals on it. The best way to care for your jewelry is to use one damp cloth to wipe it followed by a dry one to dry it. This will clean off any residue and make it look like new, without damaging it.
For a special and personalized gift, have a jewelry piece custom made for your recipient. You want the piece to match the person; unique people deserve unique jewelry.
Gems are given chemical treatments in the process of cutting, polishing and setting. When you are thinking of buying, ask what treatment a stone was given. Gemstone treatment can affect the type of care the piece needs. If your gem was treated you have to find out how to clean it properly.
Take your jewelry off before you go swimming. The chlorine in a pool can tarnish or corrode jewelry, decreasing its value. Saltwater is equally damaging to your precious jewels. Removing pieces before heading into the water will extend their life and protect their beauty.
Buying jewelry just because it is a name brand is not a good idea. Many designer pieces are of the same quality than other, more affordable baubles. For example, if you opt for a ring from Cartier, you are actually paying more for the name than you are for the piece itself. You can find good, quality jewelry from a number of different brands.
As you can see, it does indeed require some knowledge and effort for both the buying and selling of jewelry. These suggestions will help you to make intelligent choices in the jewelry market.
