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Jewelry
There are many different types of jewelry for every style. There is sure to be some type of jewelry that suits you or the person you want to buy for. Read these tips to learn more about what kind of jewelry is right for you, and what fits best with your lifestyle, habits, and level of care you wish to take.
When you go jewelry shopping, make sure that it is with people you know and trust that can help you find what it is that you need. There should ideally be at least two people to help you with your shopping experience. The first should be an experienced and trustworthy jeweler. The other should be a loved one or good friend.
Attending yard-sales is a great way to build up a collection of jewelry. Many people sell old costume jewelry for practically pennies. This is a perfect opportunity to stock up on broken pieces that can be repaired or made into new jewelry later. Many new beautiful pieces of jewelry can be born of old broken pieces. Use yard-sales to build up your collection.
Christmas
If you are in the market for a piece of jewelry you can realize significant savings by waiting for the right time of year to buy. Christmas and Valentine’s day are especially busy times of the year for jewelers, and they may be less likely to negotiate during these times of year.
If you are shopping for seasonal brooches, try to buy them out of season. By buying Christmas brooches, valentine’s day brooches or Easter brooches out of season, you can usually save a lot of money and acquire a quality piece of jewelry. So, if you are looking for a Christmas tree brooch or a snowman brooch, try to buy it in July. Of course this is not always possible, after all, do you always know what you want to buy for Christmas as early as July? Very often, the best time to shop for these items is just AFTER the holiday. This either means buying almost a year in advance for the following holiday OR waiting until after the holiday to buy the piece you want. Unfortunately, that does not make sense for items like Christmas Tree brooches, as they are unlikely to be worn once the holiday is over. Sometimes, these types of items are marked down significantly just before the holiday because the vendor knows that once the holiday arrives, they will be stuck with it if it is not sold, so if you are willing to wait until the last minute and risk not getting the piece you want, you could wait until Christmas Eve, for instance and make the vendor an offer. They may be glad even to receive half price.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver jewelry makes a great investment. Pieces of jewelry made from sterling silver last for a lifetime and provide endless elegance. Sterling does tarnish if it is not worn regularly, but can be quickly shined up using a polishing cloth. However, pieces of sterling silver jewelry that have specialty coating can last ages without tarnishing.
Beware of fake sales online. Oftentimes, jewelry advertised as sterling silver with a gemstone, such as turquoise is just a piece of metal sprayed in silver and the turquoise is a fake piece of plastic. Such vendors may accept returns, but the hassle of shipping it back at your own cost, is usually not worth it. Be aware of scams like this. If you are looking for a good piece, use a reputable jeweler.
When looking to invest in fine jewelry, understand the different price ranges different metals and gemstones fall into. For example, understanding that opal is very expensive, you can already figure out if you see someone selling it for under twenty dollars, it is a fake. Knowing that sterling silver is a lot cheaper than white gold, but quite similar in appearance, can help narrow down your price when looking to invest in a nice pair of earrings.
As you can see, there are many different types of jewelry readily accessible to everybody. Use these tips to pick the right combination of materials, style, and price that are right for you. Jewelry is easier to care for than one might think- find the perfect piece, and wear it often.