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.
Pewter jewelry has been widely popular for decades. If you’re looking to invest in jewelry pieces made from pewter, make sure that they are lead free. For a long time, pewter jewelry has contained lead causing many unhealthy side effects to the wearer. Usually modern jewelry made from this metal is advertised as lead-free if it doesn’t contain any.
If you are looking to purchase fashion jewelry, make sure to invest a few dollars. While fashion jewelry is available in almost every design and price range under the sun, purchase something in the mid-price range. If you go too cheap, you may end up purchasing something with unhealthy metal alloys or inferior quality workmanship.
Buying used jewelry can be a great way to expand your options without spending a lot of money. Look for estate sales or yard sales. Depending on where you live, prices may be lower than antique stores (which use the name “antique” to charge a bit more). Browsing in person can be a fun way to find things you might not have thought to go looking for.
Jewelry consignment stores are a great place to sell your jewelry. Consignment stores will sell your jewelry for whatever you think is a fair price, and they take a certain percentage of the sales when the item sells. They will usually display it for about 3 months and then you have the option of either picking it up or selling it to the store. Occasionally the store will keep it on display for longer if you ask.
Buy real gemstones, not fake knock-offs. Real gemstones, like diamonds, give off a gorgeous sparkle that can be spotted from a mile away. Fake gems are dull and glassy and aren’t even worth wearing. If you can’t afford a real gemstone, why not buy Swarovski crystal? They’re gorgeous, too, and have their own special sparkle to share.
Don’t buy novelty jewelry unless you know for sure that the person you’re buying it for will like it. If your wife is a fan of Sleeping Beauty, then a dwarf pendant is an appropriate gift. Don’t just buy an item of jewelry because it’s cute, make sure it’s appropriate, too.
What style of jewelry you choose for your wedding should be influenced by the style of your dress. If you have a high neckline then you can forgo a necklace and instead have drop earrings with a lot of sparkle. Long sleeves will usually mean you don’t want to wear a bracelet.
If you’re making wire jewelry and don’t have wire cutters, just use a pair of fingernail clippers. The fingernail clippers are small and great for fine cutting. They will be able to manipulate through most sterling silver wire with ease. The fingernail clippers will no longer be useful for your nails though, because wire will dull them fast.
When buying jewelry as a gift – keep in mind the person that you are buying it for – and make sure that it is appropriate. Save the super-expensive jewelry for loved ones. Giving pricey baubles to people who are not that close to you can give them the wrong idea, or make them feel uncomfortable. Let the relationship that you share with others dictate they type of jewelry that you give them.
Take proactive steps to minimize the number of times that you have to clean your jewelry. When getting dressed, put your jewelry on after you apply perfume and makeup. This will prevent the residue of these products from leaving a film on your jewelry. Also, remember to remove your jewelry before cleaning and doing other housework.
When it comes to quality and price, don’t count synthetic gemstones out. These gems, which are created in a lab, appear remarkably similar to the real thing. Take this into consideration as you shop for your next piece of jewelry: Rather than spending exorbitant amounts of money for a natural stone, opt for an affordable synthetic stone. The money saved on the stone can go toward a more intricate or higher-quality metal, such as platinum.
If you buy a diamond labelled as antique, research it. You should get a certificate of authenticity with your diamond. This should be from an independent source. Antique diamonds need to be at least a hundred years old to be considered antique. The diamond should also be from a recognizable European art period.
Always keep all of your jewelry organized in a way that makes sense to you. There are many great options for jewelry boxes and drawer organizers to help you keep your fine pieces in order. This way you know exactly where everything is when you need to wear your nicest pieces to impress!
When buying jewelry for someone it is important to consider what he or she does on a daily basis. You do not want to give a mother with toddlers a necklace, as she will not be able to wear it when she is around her children. Toddlers love to pull on necklaces and it could hurt the mother’s neck or cause the necklace to break. She would then feel guilt and no one wants that.
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!
