You need have a basic knowledge of jewelry before you engage in the purchase or sale of precious pieces. It might be difficult to know where to begin your research, into buying and selling jewelry.
Get a polishing cloth for your jewelery. This is a chemical-free method to maintain the appearance of your fine jewelry. Just polish each piece with the special cloth in the same way you would polish a piece of glass. Use a two-sided cleaning cloth, one for polishing and one for shining.
If you want to buy sterling silver pieces, use a magnet and examine the jewelry very carefully. By using the magnet you can quickly determine if the jewelry item is made of a cheaper metal and not sterling silver. In addition, sterling silver pieces are always stamped with silver hallmarks indicating such factors as the degree of purity, the manufacturer’s symbol, and the date of manufacture. Some of the most common hallmarks are “925, “ster,” “sterling,” and “sterling silver.” If there is no hallmark, the piece is probably not authentic and may, indeed, be counterfeit.
Good jewelry will last a lifetime. Get jewelry from a jeweler with a good reputation to be sure that it’s of high-quality. Jewelry should display exemplary craftsmanship and be well-made. A credible jeweler should offer a complete history of the piece, including information about the creator and the source of the gemstones. Unless you purchase jewelry that is of high-quality, the piece is not likely to last a lifetime.
Wear the jewelry around for a day or so to be sure that it fits right and is comfortable. By wearing it yourself, you can also gauge the ruggedness of the piece.
Going through a day wearing the jewelry will let you get familiar with how it hangs and whether or not it will be comfortable. You will be able to tell if it will hold up to wear and tear.
It is important to think about the most effective methods of jewelry care. Various settings, types of metals, and gemstones need different types of care to protect them and make sure they get cleaned properly. What works for a certain kind of stone may not work for another. Go ahead and ask a professional jeweler to find out exactly how you should be caring for your jewels.
Well, it’s easy when you know how. This article has just touched on a few of things that you should know about this very rewarding hobby. There is much to learn, but at least you’ve now got a few good ideas to put to work.
