Shopping for jewelry can be a difficult task if you aren’t sure what you are looking for. If you are buying for yourself, you may know what you like, but you can’t choose. For someone else, you may need ideas on what to get. Read this article for tips on shopping for jewelry.
Don’t use acetone, ammonia, turpentine, bleach, or other harsh chemicals for cleaning them. Natural acids won’t erode the enamel on your copper jewelry the way harsh chemicals can.
Essential to anyone buying jewelry for reclamation purposes is a pocket-sized gram and carat scale. While a scale can’t determine the purity of the gold and silver you encounter in your jewelry hunting, a pocket scale can at least give you a basic starting point to determine fair pricing and valuing of your jewelry finds.
When getting body jewelry, find a licensed piercer who uses a needle. Even when piercing ears, it’s best to avoid piercing guns. Piercing guns are not as sterile, can lead to infection, and may damage skin and tissue. Avoid these risks, and look for a licensed piercing shop no matter what you’re getting pierced.
To make an outfit look more balanced, mix and match different kinds of jewelry. If you wear a statement necklace, you can pair it with some basic rings or bracelets. If you like to wear oversize rings, compliment them with a simple chain necklace. This will help to accentuate your more dramatic pieces and will keep your look from feeling like too much.
If you are not too fond of wearing a wedding or engagement ring on your finger, you can always put it on a chain. This is a safe way to ensure your ring will not fall off. Also, by putting your ring on a chain, it will not be in the way of your daily activities.
When packing for a vacation, planning your jewelry is as important as planning your outfits. Since you can’t take your whole jewelry box, plan your outfits in advance and think about what jewelry you’ll be able to wear with multiple outfits. When checking your bags, never pack any jewelry that you absolutely can’t bear to lose. If you can’t live without it, wear it or leave it at home.
Use an egg to antique your sterling silver jewelry. Just boil the egg, chop it up, and put it in a bag with your silver piece. In a few hours your jewelry will change colors and then you can polish it to a beautiful antiqued look. This is an effective method because egg contains sulfur, and sulfur causes the reaction when mixed with sterling silver.
Take your face shape into account, when choosing jewelry. A round face looks best with jewelry that features vertical lines and strong angles. Jewelry with curves softens the strong angles of a rectangular face. A heart-shaped face is flattered by jewelry that creates width at the chin. An oval face can wear any style jewelry.
When learning a new jewelry-making technique, use cheaper materials. For instance, if you are learning wire techniques, pick up some aluminum or copper wire from a local craft store, instead of using your sterling silver wire. This will help you get the valuable practice you need to master the technique, while sparing your pocketbook. If you mess up on your top-quality materials, they may become unusable.
Avoid letting your jewelry come into contact with chemicals, such as those found in hairspray, lotion, perfume and other products. Some chemicals can stain or otherwise damage precious metals and stones. Porous stones like pearls, opal or turquoise should not be submersed in water for long, either, to prevent damage.
When purchasing diamond jewelry such as engagement rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets, knowing the 4 C’s of diamonds are important. The 4 C’s include: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat. Some jewelers also like to add a fifth C which is Certificate and it is the grading report on the quality of the diamonds in your piece of jewelry. Knowing the C’s of diamonds will make you a more knowledgeable customer.
Gems and precious stones are a more affordable and colorful option than diamonds and yet these are often underlooked. There are three options for the buyer: natural, synthetic, or imitation. Synthetic emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and amethysts are the best bet. They are of comparable quality to natural stones, with the only difference being that they are created in a laboratory.
When photographing jewelry, lighting is key. By now you know that your camera’s onboard flash is horrible. Too harsh, too bright for close distances, is impossible to previsualize and is likely in the wrong place. For jewelry, use continuous, diffuse (soft) lighting on stands. Photographic daylight-balanced fluorescents are recommended as they remain cool. Note that even those fluorescents will need some kind of diffusion.
Consider choosing an engagement ring with stones set on each side of the diamond. With this type of a setting, you can cut the cost of your ring without losing that “wow” factor. The stones can be anything, from a birth stone to a favorite color. So, use your imagination!
Consider buying a diamond that is just short of the carat size you want. If you are in the market for a 3 carat diamond, consider a 2.8 carat ring instead. The difference in size is negligible, but there is about a twenty percent cost savings if you choose the smaller size.
If you are buying jewelry for someone else, it may be a good idea to shop for their birthstone. Knowing their favorite (like ruby, emerald or diamond) can also be helpful. For yourself, make sure you’re picking something that expresses you. Remember these tips next time you go shopping for jewelry.
