Jewelry making is fun, creative, and can also prove to be a great source of income. Getting started can be a daunting task. What supplies should you buy? What tools do you need? In this article, we will discuss some of the best jewelry-making tips, as offered by the pros, to help you get your hobby or business underway.
Try not to bathe or swim in your fine jewelry. Many times the type of water (hard versus soft) can splash and wear the metal jewelry or stain the stone. There are also chemicals like chlorine found in many swimming pools that can turn stones and badly stain metal jewelry.
When going shopping for diamonds, make sure to set yourself a budget and stick to it. The world of diamonds can seem overwhelming and the prices vary a great deal. By keeping a budget in mind, you can cut down the vast variety, to a much more sensible variety to choose from.
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.
When buying jewelry, you may want to consider lab-created stones. Gems created in a lab can be just as beautiful as natural gemstones, but they are often less expensive. You may be able to buy a much larger lab-made stone for the same price as a smaller natural stone. If you have ethical concerns, lab-made is definitely the way to go.
Take good care of your costume jewelry. Many costume jewelry pieces are glued rather than set. Do not dip your jewelery in chemicals that may harm them. Use a damp cloth, then dry it with another clean, dry cloth. This will make your costume jewelry sparkle for weeks, months, or even years.
To make sure your jewelry always looks appropriate, consider the occasion before choosing pieces. If you’re at work, it’s best to avoid chokers and hoop earrings. Pearls are very versatile, but aren’t ideal for a very casual environment. Wearing jewelry ideal for the occasion will keep you from looking out of place.
When selling jewelry online, you must be sure you brand yourself. You want to create a unique identity to differentiate yourself from your competitors in order to keep the consumers coming to you. One way you can do this is by incorporating a unique feature into the piece, packaging, or presentation.
If you have nice jewelry, chances are you will want to clean it from time to time. You will want to use a mild soap and warm water, rinse, and then use a soft cloth to polish it. Always dry your gold and silver jewelry before you store it to keep it from tarnishing and to prevent water stains.
To keep jewelry safe, avoid putting it all in a jewelry box that sits out as a decorative piece in your home. Nothing says, “Come grab me, I am filled with expensive stuff!”� to thieves quite like a displayed jewelry box. If you want more access to your jewelry than a safety deposit box allows, and a professionally installed wall safe isn’t an option, get creative and hide your jewelry within objects not likely to even be touched by thieves. Air-tight containers can be be tucked inside plant pots or diaper pails, hollow out a book to form a secret compartment, or stash a small case at the bottom of a box of tampons! You need to think like a thief to avoid being taken advantage by a thief.
When buying jewelry, it is important to find out what stone your partner likes best or what your partner’s favorite color is. Many people make the mistake of buying someone their birthstone because they think it is a safe bet. There are many people who simply do not like the color of their birthstone and would prefer not to wear it.
If you have suffered through skin irritation from a piece of jewelry, you will want to look for future pieces that are described as hypoallergenic or nickel free. Other options in jewelry that are less prone to cause sensitivity is that made from titanium or surgical stainless steel. Options are available to keep you fashionable.
If your jewelry has gemstones, you should not soak your jewelry when you are trying to clean it. Gemstones can absorb water and soap, causing them to lose their natural color. When you are cleaning gemstones, you should use a damp cloth to scrub it clean so you can preserve your jewelry’s natural luster.
Jewelry makes a great gift – and an even better surprise gift! A little foresight will ensure that appealing jewelry can be presented without consulting with the recipient beforehand. Pieces selected with the receiver’s taste and sizing taken into account are best. Just in case, the jewelry giver should know exactly how a surprise gift can be resized or exchanged.
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.
Jewelry making can be fun and creative. It’s something that is both enjoyable, and can be profitable. In this article, we have discussed some of the top tips, as offered by the pros. Use them wisely to help get your hobby underway, or to start that lucrative business that is all your own.
