Great Jewelry Tips For The Savvy Consumer

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 buying a diamond from a jeweler, make sure that you understand what kind of stone you are purchasing. Do not buy a stone based on seeing it against a black or dark background. This is a seller's ploy to making it appear more attractive to your eye. You will get a truer view if you ook at it under magnification.

When choosing jewelry to wear to your wedding, decide first if you wish to buy it or rent it. Often the jewelry you wear as a bride isn't necessarily something you'd wear again, so renting is an excellent choice and will get you a higher grade of item than you might be able to buy outright.

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.

Use a toothbrush and small bit of toothpaste to clean your precious gems. This works really well on diamonds. The toothpaste is a non-abrasive scrubber and the toothbrush is small enough to get into those little nooks and crannies. This method is safe to use as often as you like.

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.

Cure the green skin of copper jewelry easily. When you wear jewelry that has a copper base you may soon find yourself turning into a martian. The green is caused by the metal oxidizing. Stop it in its tracks by applying clear nail polish to any jewelry surface that will be touching your bare skin.

If you can't afford to pay consignment fees for your handmade jewelry, consider partnering with other small and local business owners or jewelers to hold a trunk sale, mini-bazaar, or retail showcase night to generate interest in the community. Small jewelers and crafters can benefit by bonding with one another instead of viewing each other as competitors. If you are very worried about this, only approach jewelers with dissimilar styles and fashions.

Add extra depth and meaning to custom pieces by incorporating gemstones and beads that are associated with deeper meanings. To convey a sense of purity and peace, incorporate white stones like opals, pearls, diamonds, and colorless topaz as focal pieces. These colors look especially striking when paired with gold accents.

While gold is often mixed with other metals in large amounts, platinum tends to be more pure. The most popular type is 900 Platinum, which is 90 percent platinum. Since there is so little of other metals used in the pieces platinum is considered hypoallergenic and is the preferred metal of people with allergies.

Ensure the success and profitability of your wholesale jewelry business by doing your homework and comparing multiple potential vendors and suppliers. Comparison shopping can help you to find the best deal, even if you believe your first vendor under consideration may have the lowest prices. The lower the price, the higher your profit.

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.

Now that you have learned some of the basics of shopping for costume, wedding, and designer jewelry, you will be better prepared to make a wise decision to invest in a piece that can last a lifetime. Remember these tips as you narrow down your choices to a single, must-have piece of jewelry.

Learn more from Carole Franks