Buying or selling jewelry requires a lot of research and understanding to get what you want or what you need. You will now wonder where you can start.
Identify the kind of stone in every piece you consider. The three types are imitation, synthetic and natural. Both synthetic and natural gems are real; however, imitation is simply plastic. Natural gemstones are mined, while synthetic gems are artificially grown.
Most jewelry is intended to last for a life time. When buying jewelry, only buy from dealers with good reputations, so that you don’t buy a piece that seems durable, but really isn’t. You should be able to notice a quality piece by its craftsmanship. Your jeweler should have all the information on the piece, including where it came from and who created it. When you are looking for jewelry of the highest quality, it is important to be careful in your choice, as you want something that will last a lifetime.
Do they prefer to wear over-sized pieces or more delicate styles? Yellow gold or silver? This will give you a good idea of where to start when purchasing that special item.
Taking proper care of your jewelry requires careful consideration. There’s an ideal way to clean every different type of setting and stone. A treatment that polishes one stone may scratch another stone. If you are unfamiliar with the correct way to clean or maintain a piece, consult a jeweler.
Costume Jewelry
Costume jewelry needs special care. Many of the stones and embellishments are just glued in instead of set in a professional setting. Avoid using harsh chemicals on these pieces, and do not immerse them. The best way to clean these pieces are to wipe them clean with a damp cloth and dry immediately with another cloth. This will make your costume jewelry sparkle for weeks, months, or even years.
Makeup isn’t for jewelry. Let your makeup dry before you put on a piece of jewelry. The small particles of powdered makeup can easily dull the shine of your jewelry. This is extra important when you are cleaning necklaces or earrings.
Before buying jewelry or a fine stone, find out if it was treated in any way. If it was, find out how. Depending on the type of treatment used, the piece will require varying types of care. You do not want to try to clean a treated gem with a solution that may strip the treatment and damage the gem in the process.
When you list jewelry for sale online, make sure you present it in the best possible way. An online buyer doesn’t get the opportunity to handle the jewelry, so photos of the piece have to speak for themselves. Make sure any photos of the jewelry focus on the item itself and don’t have distracting backgrounds or additional items.
Buying jewelry, or selling it, is a whole process. You will have to do some research and put some thought into it, if it is a gift you are looking for. If you use these suggestions you can be a winner!
