With gold and jewels costing so much money, purchasing, storing, and even cleaning your jewelry requires some knowledge so that you don’t end up suffering any type of financial loss. It’s always great to have some information at your disposal and this article will clue you in on some great jewelry-specific tips you can use.
Separate your jewelry for storage to avoid getting pieces tangled. It is best to use holders, compartments, boxes, and hooks so that everything is kept separate. Resist the temptation to jumble all your pieces into a community box. Not only can this harm the fine and fragile pieces, but things like necklaces can get severely tangled up with other necklaces or other jewelry.
Stay away from cheap glass jewelry. Borosilicate and lampwork glass jewelry are a new rage. Many styles of this type of jewelry are popping up in malls all over the country. However the products labeled as high quality lampwork glass are nothing more than cheap imported glass goods. Such glass products are usually not kiln annealed which means that there is a high chance that the product can shatter, cutting your skin while you’re wearing it. Purchase glass jewelry from local artisans or reliable vendors that you know are selling quality products. If it’s too cheap, you know it is too good to be true. Good glass costs anywhere from the low forty dollar range up into the hundreds.
When going shopping for diamonds, make sure to set yourself a budget and stick to it. The world of diamonds can seem overwhelming and the prices vary a great deal. By keeping a budget in mind, you can cut down the vast variety, to a much more sensible variety to choose from.
When buying jewelry for someone you love, find out what they’re favorite color is. Some people don’t like gold, or don’t like silver, or maybe they love the combination of red and gold. Look at the jewelry the person already wears, find out their favorite color, then combine the two!
When you need money quickly you may want to consider selling your jewelry to a local pawn shop. Many pawn shops will allow you to sell your jewelry to them and then they give you a certain amount of time to come back to retrieve it. It is a way to get the money you need with the ability to get your jewelry back if you choose.
Know the jewelry terms. Understanding what cut, carat, color, and clarity mean can help you to make a quality purchase for the best price. A salesperson will be much more able to explain the differences in the stones you are interested in if you have a clear understanding of the terms.
Always make sure you buy jewelry after you are educated in the subject. For example, do not go to buy a diamond without first educating yourself on the specifics of diamonds. A dealer may try to sell you something that is not worth his asking price based off of your ignorance. If you are well informed you cannot be hoodwinked.
To get a stubborn knot out of a necklace chain, sprinkle the knot with cornstarch or baby powder. The powder slips into each nook and cranny, lubricating the metal and making it much easier to untie the knot with your fingers. If the knot is particularly difficult, you may need to use a sewing needle to help.
As stated previously in the article, there’s always a potential to suffer a financial loss when dealing with jewelry, whether you’re buying it, selling it, cleaning it, or trying to store it. Use the tips you just read in this article to protect your jewelry and to protect your wallet.