Every woman dreams of having that perfect engagement ring, beautiful necklace, or great set of earrings. However, picking the right kind can be confusing especially when you step into a jewelry store and are pressured to make big purchases that may not always be in your best interest. This article provides some great pointers for buying jewelry.
Do research on your fine stones, especially if you engage in regular activities that may chip or completely cause them to break into pieces. Not all stones are created equal. Some quartz, peridot, amethyst, to name a few, are among the most fragile stones and will require very gentle wear, care and storage.
When trying to showcase jewelry, either for sales or for bragging rights, you need to take high-quality photographs of them. Nothing showcases their beauty like a great photo of the piece. Make sure that you use a good background and stick with darker colors; lighter colors take away from the jewelry’s shiny qualities.
Even though some of the pieces may be attractive, you should stay away from gold filled jewelry. No matter what the seller may say, gold filled jewelry can turn your skin green and the colors can fade away. The best thing to do if you do not know if it is gold filled is to just not buy it.
If you are buying your jewelry from a pawn shop, check their qualifications. Find out if they have experience with jewels, certifications, or if they work with gemologists. A pawn shop that works with these items on a regular basis should be qualified to appraise and sell jewelry at proper costs.
Create a vintage Victorian look with jewelry you already own. Layer several necklaces of different lengths and materials together. If you don’t have any long necklaces, consider fastening several shorter ones together end to end. Thread a piece of ribbon or lace through them and add a cameo pin clipped to one side to finish.
Educate yourself about the gems you have in mind before going to make a new purchase of jewelry. You need to know what questions to ask in order to avoid being taken advantage of by a jeweler. Nothing feels much worse than being ripped off for something you thought was a high quality product.
You should check your rings periodically for loose stones or bent prongs. It is best to catch these issues early and have the ring repaired by a professional jeweler than to lose a precious stone. Most jewelers can re-tip worn prongs to ensure your stone stays secure.
Always clean all of your jewelry, both after and before using it. This will help you to remember to keep it polished before storing it for a long period of time. Keeping jewelry clean and safe will extend the life of all types of pieces, including metals and all types of stones.
Make sure that you understand the language and jargon the jewelers speak. When you go looking at jewelry they will throw out information about the grade of the stones. It is important that you know what they are talking about and it will save both you and the jeweler time if you understand at least a little bit about the language that they use.
If you plan to stay in the sunlight for any length of time, remove your gemstones before hand. Sunlight can have a damaging effect on many gemstones, dulling them or changing their color entirely. Stones such as Quartz, Citrine, and Amethyst are especially vulnerable. Better to leave your stones at home where they will be safe.
Be ready to make alterations for your customers. People do not want to buy something that everybody has, or that will not fit them right. It is relatively easy to make a bracelet or necklace longer or shorter. Offer these alterations for free or at a small price and your customers will be satisfied.
The only time you should take your jewelry to a professional is to have it repaired. If you need your jewelry cleaned, this is something you should learn to do yourself. But if it has become damaged, you never want to try to fix it yourself. Make sure you take it straight to the pros.
Make the presentation and pictures of your jewelry everything. Your customers won’t actually get to touch and feel the jewelry before they buy it, so having great pictures of your product will help sell it. It’s important that your customers know exactly what they are getting since they can’t physically see it.
When considering jewelry for your wedding, make sure that the gown and jewelry compliment each other. This is important because you need to make sure that you have purchased a gown before even starting to look for the jewelry. You will notice how much the design on the dress will influence your jewelry design decision.
When you walk into a jewelry shop you are immediately approached by a salesperson. Do not be afraid to ask for a second to talk to your partner about this important financial decision. Take a few steps away from the glass and discuss they options without the salesperson whispering in your ear. Make sure that it is the decision you want to make.
Before you step out for the day take one last look at your jewelry. It is important to edit your look, whether it means taking pieces off or adding a few. Accessories are key to a put together look for both men and women but too many accessories, especially jewelry, can create a gaudy look. On the other hand, some clothing can look undone without the appropriate jewelry.
As you can see, finding that perfect piece of jewelry is not impossible. It just takes time, patience, and knowledge of what you are looking for. Now that you know more about shopping for and selecting the right kind of jewelry, you will make great purchases at the jewelry store instead of just listening to the salesperson!
