Buying or selling jewelry is an essential part of the jewelry market, but understanding it and how to avoid scams can be tricky. There are tricks to finding quality pieces, tricks to selling more pieces, etc. Here are some steps you can take to buy or sell jewelry more intelligently.
Make sure to regularly polish your metal jewelry. Over time it begins to collect dirt, oil and dust and that affects its sheen and overall appearance. This makes the jewelry look worn and old. Go ahead and refresh those pieces using some simple polish to make them look like brand new again.
Consider buying a small barrel tumbler. If you wear a lot of jewelry or just want to keep the pieces you own in good condition, you probably clean it on a fairly regular basis. You might want to get a small barrel tumbler for polishing. They are inexpensive and do a thorough job.
Shopping for birthstone jewelry may seem simple, but some months have more than one stone. June, October, November, and December all have multiple birthstones. If you’re shopping for yourself and you’re from a multiple stone month, decide which one you like best. If shopping for a gift, don’t be afraid to ask the recipient!
Feel comfortable in your jewelry venue of choice. If you feel that the seller may be trying to get you to buy a piece you are not interested in, walk away. Some jewelers are paid on commission, so the more they sell you, the better they are paid. Take this into consideration when choosing a jeweler.
Repurpose your jewelry to get the most wears out of each piece. Wrap a necklace around your wrist to fashion a new bracelet. Slip a pair of clip-on earrings onto a pair of pumps as shoe clips, and add a bit of sparkle to plain heels. Attach a pin or brooch to a necklace and update its look.
To avoid breaking the chain of your necklace, pair it with a pendant that matches it in weight. A thin necklace should only be worn with delicate charms, and heavy pendants should be saved for thick, durable chains that can handle the strain. This tip also applies to charm bracelets.
When buying jewelry, it is important to find out what stone your partner likes best or what your partner’s favorite color is. Many people make the mistake of buying someone their birthstone because they think it is a safe bet. There are many people who simply do not like the color of their birthstone and would prefer not to wear it.
Purchasing a piece of jewelry is a rather hefty decision based upon the price tag of the item. When you are in the market for a piece of jewelry, take the time to figure out what you are looking for, the budget you are allowing yourself, and what overall quality you seek in the item.
It is important that you take your jewelry off before you go to bed. Sleeping with your jewelry on causes chains and joints to weaken. This, in turn, causes your jewelry to get damaged more easily. Make sure you take your jewelry off when you go to bed to eliminate undue stress.
Understanding the different cuts of a diamond will make your jewelry purchase much easier. The cut of a diamond refers to the actual cut of the diamond, not the shape of the diamond. The cut is extremely important when making a diamond jewelry purchase because it determines the brilliance and the overall sparkle factor associated with the item.
Don’t store your jewelry in the bathroom or laundry room. Any space where the humidity is normally high, or where the temperature fluctuates drastically, can lead to damage of your precious jewelry. Instead, store it in a climate-controlled location such as your bedroom, perhaps inside or on top of a dresser.
Don’t buy a piece of jewelry based solely on the brand. There are probably not going to be many people that recognize that the piece is anything special due to the brand, and you are likely going to pay far too much money for it. Many brands offer excellent quality.
If you have extra beads left over after a jewelry project, use them to make a pair of earrings. Earrings are generally less time-intensive than other jewelry options, and you will not need as much material to complete them. A simple option is to thread bicone crystals and small seed beads, alternating the different types, and then attaching the ends of the thread to an earring finding.
To get cheaper rates on your jewelry-making supplies, try to take advantage of discounts and sales. Several chain hobby and craft stores sell basic supplies that you can use when making jewelry (such as thread, pliers, beads, etc), and these frequently can go on sale, sometimes up to 50% off. If you need to purchase items that are not sold in local stores, do research online before settling on a place to purchase from.
Those little boxes that your jewelry comes in when you first purchase it make great jewelry storage containers. All you have to do is take the padding out of the box, and then you are able to store several pieces of jewelry in there. This is a safe method for storing your jewelry.
Be careful when you buy jewelry from a locally owned company. If you end up relocating you will not be able to get the ring polished or resized for free and may end up paying substantial amounts for these services. Nation-wide franchises will perform these services at any of their stores and the service will be provided usually for free.
As you have read, buying or selling jewelry is incredibly important to the jewelry market, especially if they pertain to professional needs. Understanding standard practices in the world of jewelry can make it easier for you to understand how you should buy or sell jewelry. Following the above tips is a very good starting place.
