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Sunday, November 6, 2011
How To Be Successful At Your Craft Business
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Friday, November 4, 2011
Selling Your Jewelry and Getting the Most For It
Selling Your Jewelry: Triumph or Tragedy?
Which is more fun, getting a root canal, paying your taxes, or selling your jewelry? Not much of a choice, but following is some knowledge that can take the frustration out of selling your jewelry. And answer the hard questions like: Will I receive a fair price for my jewelry? Or did I pay too much?
The two critical areas of knowledge to get the best price for your jewelry are the factors that determine the value of estate jewelry and the options to liquidating it. Does this mean you have to become a gemologist just to sell your jewelry? No. But some homework and note taking can mean a much higher price paid for your jewelry. Let's start with what determines the value of estate jewelry.
Estate is a general term used to describe previously owned. That fact is one of the determining factors. Preowned jewelry by in large is not as valuable as new. Some people will never buy a previous owned engagement set for superstitious reasons. I have had clients who could have saved hundreds of dollars if they would have bought a preowned ring, but refused.
Jewelry is a style driven industry. Some styles are classic and stay around for decades, others last just a few months. Estate jewelry that is out of style can't command premium price. In fact some styles are so out of favor that the jewelry's only value is its intrinsic worth. The other extreme is that the jewelry could be antique. Antique jewelry is highly collectible and may require a specialty option to sell. Knowing if your jewelry is just old and out of style or an antique can mean the difference of hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
Condition is a major determining factor of the price received for your jewelry. Damaged and broken jewelry many times justify the restoration costs but most of the time damaged jewelry is only valued at its intrinsic worth. Jewelry repair in many instances is counter-intuitive. I have seen jewelry that has been mangled in such a way that the cost of restoration is minor and easily justified. On the other hand what appeared to be an insignificant problem rendered the jewelry unrestorable. Jewelry repair is one area you don't want to be a "do it yourselfer". Let the professionals do it, or it could end up costing you a ton of money.
Worn out jewelry impacts the value. It is a difficult repair to bring life back into a piece of jewelry. Most worn out jewelry is valued at its intrinsic worth.
Jewelry looks it's best when cleaned. Properly clean your jewelry before showing it around. If you do not know the 100% correct way to clean your piece of jewelry let a professional jeweler clean it for you. Some jewelry stores may even clean it for free. Warning: the wrong cleaning can damage and even destroy jewelry. If your are unsure of how to clean the jewelry or gem, let the professionals do it.
Here are some cleaning tips. Never clean gold and gems in chlorine. Ammonia based cleaning products are used throughout the jewelry industry, but they can damage some gems. Try and avoid them if you can and know for certain if they well not hurt the gems in your jewelry. Use a mild soap with warm water and a soft toothbrush, then rinse thoroughly for most jewelry. A hard toothbrush and toothpaste or toothpowder will scratch gold and hurt some gems. The best cleaning tip is to know for certain the best cleaners to use on your jewelry and do it carefully.
The jewelry industry has been recycling for millennia. In fact some of the gold in your jewelry could have been in use since the time of Jesus. Damaged beyond repair jewelry is bought at its intrinsic worth. The intrinsic value is the metal (gold, platinum, silver) price plus any gems. The refining process used to recover the metal utilizes strong chemicals and has strict environmental regulations which impact the price given for metal brought to be recycled.
If you would like to know how to calculate the metal price and do the math read on, if not skip to next paragraph. The formula used to calculate the price is the metal price(the daily spot price) multiplied by purity(the true noble metal content) times weight(can be in ounces, pennyweights or grams). The purity is the karat of gold or percentage of noble metal (gold, platinum, silver). 24 karat is pure. 10 karat is 10/24 or.410 gold and the balance of weight is the alloys. 14 karat is 14/24 or.583 gold and 18 karat is 18/24 or.750 gold. Platinum most of the time is 90% pure and 10% alloy. Silver jewelry is usually sterling, which is.925 pure. The three units of weight used with precious metals are troy ounces, pennyweights, and grams. The troy ounce is equal to 20 pennyweights (dwt) or 31.15 grams. So here is an example; say the spot price of gold is $300 and a 14K ring weighing 10 grams would work out like this. $300 (spot price) X.583 (the fineness of gold) equals $174.90 per ounce divided by 31.15 (troy ounce to gram) equals $5.63 per gram times our ring of 10 grams equals $56.30. Just remember to subtract some refining cost and profit for the dealer and you can find out the intrinsic metal value for your jewelry.
Gems are an important part of jewelry. The estate jewelry value could be 99% determined by the gem. On the other hand the gem could add zero to the value. The two critical factors are the gem itself and the condition. Some gems have a higher value then others. A natural ruby is worth many times more then a synthetic ruby. Diamonds are generally more valuable then amethysts. Knowing your gem's grade and rarity will help with understanding its value. The condition of the gem is critical to the value. Some chips and abrasions can justify the repolishing cost. But in most cases chips and scratches will render the gem unappealing and valueless. Tip: careful handling of jewelry retains a higher value then carelessness.
The overview of the determining factors of estate jewelry is style, condition, and intrinsic worth. Remember you don't get paid for the jewelry in relation to what you paid but the condition and demand when you sell. Clean jewelry shows the item at its best and helps in evaluating the design and gems.
How to find the best way to get the most return for the jewelry?
Selling estate jewelry is the art of compromise. There is a balance between dollar paid and quickness of payment and ease of transaction. If you want the high price, fast and easy, you are dreaming. The higher the price gained from the sale of estate jewelry, the longer the time and more difficult the transaction..
Finding another consumer to buy your jewelry is the most profitable but the most difficult, time consuming and problematic. Walking into a dealer's shop is the easiest and fastest way to sell but you are selling at wholesale or less. Finding the balance is a personal judgement call.
Each method of selling estate jewelry has it strengths and liabilities. Besides the price received for the jewelry, the time investment you have to make to sell the jewelry enters the equation. What are your time and energy worth? I have known people who have driven around town for two days just to make $20 more. Don't over look the ease of transaction. Not all people decide to buy and pay cash on the spot. Some individuals take two or three visits just to make up their mind to buy. There could also be a measure of trust in shipping the jewelry across the country or even a payment plan could be the only way a person could afford your jewelry. The balance of dollar paid versus method of payment can be very tricky.
This list of ways to sell estate jewelry is not exhaustive. Personal creativity can show you the best way to sell your jewelry or one the more traditional methods may work out just fine. Examine your options and evaluate the benefits and drawbacks to find the very best way to sell your estate jewelry.
Auctions are the prestigious way to sell estate jewelry. There is an air of sophistication in liquidating jewelry through a major auction house. The nationally known auction houses like Christie's, Sotheby's and the like have pricey set up costs and standards. High end jewelry is best suited for these auctions. There are many regional and local auction houses that can sell estate jewelry in the mid range. Auctions can be very risky, because the end price is unknown, but the risk can bring a very positive selling price. The keys to selling your estate jewelry at auctions are finding the right house for your particular jewelry, knowing the best time to sell, and luck.
On-line auctions offer a lot of advantages and some risks. On-line auctions like e-bay are auctions conducted over the internet reaching a world wide audience. The cost of selling an item is modest if the object sells. Sales are not guaranteed. Which on line auction to use is a critical choice. The large auctions have many offerings and sales but it is easy to get lost in all that activity. Selecting the best category is another challenge. If you choose a smaller on line auction company, many potential buyers will not find your offering. The decision is best made with research on how your particular type of jewelry was sold. E-mail and ask other sellers if they got the price they wanted and how the selling experience was for them.
The trickiest part of on-line auctions is the actual transaction. Who will trust whom first. Normally the buyer sends funds, then the seller sends the item. The seller must also give a period of time for the buyer to return the item for a full refund. The transaction can be problematic or smooth. May all your experiences be trouble free, but the transaction problems I have tracked seem to run between 20% and 35% of the attempts have problems.
Jewelry brokers offer a professional service for a fee. Think of a jewelry broker as a hired professional working for you against a very sophisticated market like the jewelry industry. Make sure their allegiance is to you alone. Most jewelry brokers are highly trained in gems and jewelry. Jewelry brokers charge a percentage ranging from 10% to 50% depending on the type of service provided. Brokers can assist with a piece going to a top auction house or find a local dealer willing to pay top dollar fast. Some jewelry brokers also act as a dealer and buy out right for an immediate transaction. Jewelry brokers are usually found in major cities and include a jewelry and diamond finding service.
Pawn shops and secondhand dealers are another type of walk-in and sell option. Most work on a cash evaluation of the jewelry. The cash value on most estate jewelry is a percentage of the intrinsic value. The key to understanding this buying environment is the percentage. Some dealers pay close to 90% of the intrinsic value, while others pay as low as 33%. The only way to find the best price is to physically take the jewelry around to a number of shops. Then sell to the shop that offers the best value.
Consignment offers the incentive of a higher price when sold but the draw back of time. No one knows how long it will take or even if it will sell. The stores that offer consignment range from second hand bargain stores to elite jewelry stores. The type of estate jewelry you have dictates which store will attempt to sell your jewelry. If you have a high end piece in excellent condition the elite location could yield a fine return.
Consignment generally consists of a contract for the amount the jewelry will sell for and the percentage the store will keep. Some contracts have a time limit and who is liable if it is lost or damaged. You must know the details of the contract to understand what will and will not happen. Some stores will pay immediately, others pay after a set time or when you call. Find out what the process is if the store closes or moves. Many people have lost track of their jewelry altogether. Understand what the store's liabilities are and yours. Also, find out how the store is going to sell your jewelry. If they will advertise it or just let it sit in a showcase. Make frequent contacts to keep your jewelry in the mind of the salespeople.
Newspapers offer individuals the best chance to sell to a retail customer. The classified shopping consumer, in all likelihood, comparison shops more then anyone else. They know the prices of your jewelry new and will pay a discount for a used article of jewelry. Also realize that the prices asked for in the paper are rarely achieved and do not reveal the true market value. Some times the jewelry is sold for very much less then advertised or never sold at all. But with some safeguards and timing the classified ad is generally one of the highest prices realized for average estate jewelry.
The retail customer is the highest price you could receive for your estate jewelry. The newspaper is one of many ways to reach the buying public with your message to sell. Public bulletin boards offer a inexpensive way to reach people. Look in your community or work place for bulletin boards. On line bulletin boards could also work out if you find the right one. Net working with friends and family might give a lead to someone willing to buy. Creativity is a powerful tool in reaching the public. Use your imagination and think who would be willing to buy my particular estate jewelry and reach out to them.
Safeguards are critical when selling jewelry to the public. First NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, and NEVER meet an unknown buyer in your house. Personal safety and protection against robbery should be your first priority. If you don't have a way to meet the potential buyer at a public place, then do not sell your jewelry to the general public. Meet the buyer in a public place like a restaurant or shopping mall. I suggest the buyer's bank, because if they wish to buy the jewelry they can go and get the cash now and finish the transaction. In addition the bank should have some security if something goes bad.
Fraud should be next on your mind. Cash is the best transaction, checks of all kinds can be faked. Also be aware of switching of jewelry, con men are on the look out for unsuspecting people.
Some other safeguards are notifying someone of the time and place of your meeting. You can even tell them you will call after the meeting just to check in with someone. It is helpful to have a mobile phone. If you have a pager it is a good idea to give that number in the ad. You get a call back number and they can't find your home address. It is also a good idea to go with someone else. I have met people with another person standing in the background just watching. Sometimes con men work in teams and someone looking at the whole situation can see that it is a bad situation in time to help you not get taken.
I'd like to make one final point: most of the world is filled with wonderful people and everything should go just fine. Trust your instincts. Keep diligent and alert. Don't take risks just to make a little more on the sale of your estate jewelry.
Selling your estate jewelry is not an everyday experience. Enjoy the adventure and learn some new skills. One very positive side effect of selling jewelry is you will learn how to evaluate jewelry. You will become a very wise jewelry buyer. Enjoy the journey.
Daniel Parisi
Diamond & Jewelry Broker, Gemologist
For more information check out http://mygemologist.com
Jewelry Care and Cleaning Guide: How To Care and Protect Your Jewelry
Celebrating a Special Occasion with Jewelry!
Jewelry Care means being careful, how you store and and clean it!
How to care and protect Jewelry?
If your jewelry has value to you, it is valuable enough for you to want to take care of it. Jewelry Care means being careful you do no lose it as well as being careful how you store and clean it.
When you buy jewelry, any jewelry, from the most expensive fine jewelry to inexpensive costume jewelry, you buy it because it is beautiful. The gleam of the metal and the shine or luster and fire of the gems appeal to your aesthetic sense of beauty, based on what you can afford. The better the jewelry, the longer you want to wear it, perhaps even for rest of your life, and the longer you want it to have that like new glow, although some metals and finishes attain a warm patina with wear. What you don't want, however, is scratched or gouged settings and dull gems. Accidents can happen, but all too often the jewelry is damaged by carelessness or not taking the few moments necessary to tend to the jewelry.
In most cases, being careful is the only care jewelry needs. Some types of jewelry, nevertheless, need special care because the gems may be soft, absorbent, or fragile.
Keep in mind that the harder the gem and the higher it is on the Mohs scale of hardness, the more durable it generally is. At time, a hard gem with high or distinct cleavage is apt to be fragile and may break or cleave if it is struck at the right angle. Hardness therefore is not synonymous with toughness. A tough gem may be soft enough to be more easily scratched but it is less apt to break or shatter. These characteristics have pertinence in wearing, cleaning, and storing jewelry, and in remodeling.
Metals have similar characteristic. The purer the silver and gold, the more easily it can be damaged. Also, you must consider the combination of metal in settings with gem or gems. What may be perfectly good to clean a metal, such as sterling silver, may not be the best for the gems. You have to consider the jewelry as a whole, not as simply metal or gems.
These point are tied in with the third point: the care you take with your jewelry to protect it from loss, both when you are wearing it and when you put it away for safekeeping. All the care in cleaning and storing will not matter if you lose the jewelry. The care you should take in this sense involves the precautions you would take to make sure you do not lose something you like and enjoy. That common sense, and it is common sense whether or not the jewelry is insured, and whether or not it is valuable. The precautions you should take with any jewelry that you like and that means anything to you, in fact, are simple common sense.
- Protection of jewelry
First of all, think about what you do when wearing jewelry. Rings are good example of how common sense can prevent loss.
More Rings are probably lost through carelessness than any other type of jewelry, because they are more apt to be taken off when being worn than pins or necklaces, bracelets or even earrings. So, Precaution Number One, if you wear rings, is to wear them at all times, or be careful with them as you are with your money and credit cards.
Men and women, incidentally, tend to regard rings differently.
- Storing and cleaning jewelry
When you take jewelry off, all jewelry and not only rings, what do you do with it? First, you should have a good and safe place for it. Second, that place should keep the jewelry safe not only from loss but also from damage.
The worst place you can put it is in a jewelry box already filled with other jewelry all jumbled together, where it can become scratched or more seriously hurt. The best place you can put jewelry is in individual leather or cloth cases or bags that will protect each piece from being damaged by other pieces of jewelry. If you do not have separate boxes from the jeweler for each piece of jewelry, at least put each piece in an individual case of some kind and do not drop it casually into a jewelry box.
In most cases, a plastic bag is a good substitute for leather or cloth. Plastic, however, should never be used with pearls, opals, and ivory, which need air to retain their beauty. Plastic, nevertheless, does have an advantage for other jewelry in that you can easily see the piece of jewelry that is in the bag. This method, incidentally, is also good for costume jewelry, which can be scratched as easily, if not more so, than precious jewelry.
Cleaning is also important in retaining and restoring the beauty and luster of jewelry with and without gems. Even gold can discolor from soaps and perspiration. Silver can be especially prone to tarnish, although almost all American sterling silver jewelry is coated with rhodium, an element of platinum, to prevent tarnishing. Any other silver that is worn all the time rarely needs polishing either, since wear retards tarnish. It still may need cleaning, though.
In fact, any metal may need cleaning now and then to remove dirt, soil, or soap film, as may gems. There are, in general, four methods of cleaning jewelry. Although all are safe for cleaning precious metal and diamonds, all are not interchangeable and safe for all kinds of jewelry. These are the methods most commonly suggested and used, but be sure to read further for the exceptions and for the precautions you should take with specific metals and gems.
-Detergents Bath. Mix a mild detergent and warm water in a small bowl or cup. Immerse the jewelry, brushing the pieces with an eyebrow brush. Rinse the jewelry under warm running water, being sure to put the jewelry into a tea strainer or cheesecloth for safety's sake. Pat dry with lintels cloth. Do not use for soft gems or foe any jewelry that is strung, such as ivory or pearls.
- Cold water soak. In a cup or bowl, combine half cold water and half household ammonia. Put the jewelry in and soak for 30 minutes. Do not leave it overnight or for a long period of time. After 30 minutes, remove the jewelry and gently clean the front and back of the setting, if necessary, with an eyebrow brush before swishing the jewelry in the solution again and draining it dry on tissue. Do not use soft gems or any jewelry that is strung, such as ivory or pearls.
- Quick dip. Commercial jewelry cleaners generally employ the quick dip method. Since cleaners vary, you should read instructions carefully and follow them to the letter. Do not use cleaners on nay jewelry not specifically mentioned unless you check with a jeweler first.
- Ultrasonic cleaners. You will find several of these small machines on the market. In general, the principle is that of using high frequency turbulence to clean jewelry soaking in a metal cup of water and detergent. Again, be sure to read and follow the directions with the utmost care and do not use the machine on any jewelry not specifically mentioned. Not all jeweler, feel these machine are safe even for diamonds. Before buying one, therefore, be sure to check with your jeweler and get his advice.
These then are the common methods in general. Specific metals, and gems, require specific care. The methods described below are safe for the specific metals and won't harm most gems. Keep in mind, though, that some gems need special care. Whenever you have any doubt about cleaning jewelry, be sure to consult your jeweler.
1) Copper
Copper will tarnish like silver in presence of moisture and sulfur. In most cases, however, a lacquer is baked on to prevent the jewelry from tarnishing. To clean copper, use any commercial cleaner that specifies it safe for copper. Do not use ammonia, which can erode copper.
2) Gold
The lower the number of karats, the more gold will discolor due to the higher percentage of base metals in the alloy. Mild soap, water and ammonia will remove the discoloration with ease.
One theory goes that you can prevent gold from leaving black mark on the skin by spraying the gold with hair spray. All you actually doing is adding a substance that can add to the tarnish. Keeping gold clean is the best way to avoid skin discoloration. In any case do not use hair spray on any gold with gems.
Gold-filled. Remember, the character of gold filled jewelry is the same as the karat gold that makes up 1/20 of the total weight, except that the jewelry will not last as long as the same jewelry in solid karat gold. Gold-filled jewelry can be cleaned the same way as karat gold, with mild soap, and a drop of ammonia.
Rolled gold plate. Rolled gold plate may contain less gold than rolled gold, but it should be cleaned the same way as gold-filled and karat gold jewelry.
Gold electroplate. Although the layer of gold deposited by electroplating may be 7 to 100 millionths of an inch thick, good gold electroplate can wear as well as rolled gold. It should be wiped clean regularly with a damp, soft cloth, and a mild soap and water solution may be used to remove any makeup. Do not use a treated cloth to clean gold electroplate.
Gold-washed or gold-flashed. Jewelry finished in this manner contains very little gold. The surface layer, in fact, is so thin that it may be negligible and wear off after a few times of being worn. Any cleaning, and particularly any rubbing, any remove the finish entirely.
3) Silver
Any commercial silver cleaner or silver cloth will touch up and clean silver jewelry. Soap, water, and a drop of ammonia will also clean silver that is very lightly tarnished or may just need cleaning to remove makeup and perspiration.
Silver-filled. Clean silver-filled jewelry in the same way as sterling. The older the jewelry, however, the more permanent the patina will be. Such a patina cannot be removed.
Silver plate (or silver electroplate). Silver plate, unlike gold, can last for years and can be cleaned in the same way as sterling silver. It can be re-plated, if necessary, although re-plating is more common in silver tableware than in jewelry.
4) Combination metals
Metals, including precious metals, are sometimes combined with other metals and with enamel. Be very careful in cleaning the metal that you don't clean off the inlay or enamel. The same caution holds true for vermeil, which is sterling silver with karat gold electroplate. If you must rub, rub very gently with soft cloth.
5) Gems
Some gems need special care. That care includes both cleaning and storing gems. Be particularly careful with:
Amber. Amber is the softest of all gems and will be scratched by all other gems. Be careful in wearing it and always store it by itself. It darkens gradually with age and exposures to light and should be kept in a cloth or leather bag case.
Never use a rough clothe or clothe that may have dirt, dust, or grit on it to clean amber because of its softness. Never use acid to clean amber or wear amber when working with acids since acid will decompose amber. Alcohol and other solvents do not normally affect amber, however, unless it is exposed to them for a long period of time. For this reason, be careful not to leave amber in any cleaning solution, except very briefly. Hair spray and perfume can also affect amber.
Coral. Coral is relatively tough. Be careful with twig coral in both storing and wearing, since the thinner the twigs the more easily the coral can break. Remember, coral is not a mineral and its luster may be spoiled by preparations used to clean other jewelry.
Diamonds. Diamonds should be kept apart from other gems to avoid scratching the other gems. This rule holds true for both storage and cleaning. One expert suggests boiling diamonds for 10 minutes in soap, water, and ammonia to clean them.
Ivory. Wash ivory carefully in soapy water, drying it with a damp cloth. Never soak ivory in soap and water, however, since soaking can cause it to crack or break. If you are cleaning ivory beads, do not get the string wet because the string will stay wet and can affect the beads. Do not use commercial jewelry cleaner or acid.
Ivory darken with age. It can be bleached by sunlight or peroxide. If peroxide is used, do not soak the ivory in it, and avoid wetting any string with which ivory beads are strung with the peroxide.
Keep in mind that ivory is permeable and relatively soft, factors tending to make it contract or shrink in cold and expand in heat. The combination of temperatures, along with soaking and drying out, can lead to the cracking of the ivory. Wiping it carefully with a soft, damp cloth, therefore, is probably the best method of cleaning ivory.
Jet. Jet, although tough, is soft and should never be kept with other jewelry that can scratch it. Scratching diminishes its polish and lessens its value to collectors.
Lapis Lazulli. Despite its softness, Lapis Lazulli wears well and is popular for men's jewelry and especially men's rings. Even though it may scratch, the scratches are not difficult for a good jeweler to polish out.
Malachite. Malachite is soft and is not tough like jet. It breaks easily and should be worn with care. It also scratches easily, losing its polish. Be careful wearing it next to your skin, which can turn malachite dark or black.
Moonstone. Moonstone's softness means that it needs care. Moonstones should be kept by themselves and cleaned carefully with only a very soft cloth and soap and water.
Opals. All kinds of opals are fragile and require care, the most care of any other gem. The polished stones are usually thin and may crack or craze. One cause may be extremely cold weather, indirect sunlight, in hot dishwater, or when handling frozen foods. Cold weather may also cause opals to shrink, which means they can fall out of the setting. Because of their softness, they are easily scratched and may absorb dirt or grit, another reason for avoiding dishwater and being careful in cleaning them.
Opals contain water, sometimes as much as 10%. Thus, they may dry out. For this reason, some experts suggest leaving them in water, in a mixture of water and glycerin, or in mineral oil to keep them from drying out and losing their fire, whenever they are not being worn. Use only a mild soap solution and a soft cloth to clean them. Never put opals in plastic bags, commercial jewelry cleaner, or acid.
Pearls. Both Oriental and cultured pearls are genuine pearls and need a certain amount of special care. Cosmetics (including hair spray), dust, dirt, and particularly perspiration can affects pearls. They should be wiped carefully only with a soft clothe after wearing and kept in satin-lined box, never in a plastic bag. Because their softness, cars should be taken not to scratch them. Pearls need to be worn and allowed to breathe. Do not use commercial jewelry cleaner or acid to clean them.
Peridot. Peridot scratches easily and tends to lose its polish. It should be stored and worn carefully but no special cleaning is necessary.
Topaz. Topaz should be kept in dark, literally. The gems tend to fade or pale in light, and some yellow-brown topazes on display in museums have turned clear after several years. Remember, too, it cleaves easily. It does not require special cleaning methods.
Turquoise. Since turquoise is very porous, it will absorb all sorts of impurities, especially if it is exposed to dirt and grease, such as in working in the yard or in washing dishes.
Turquoise tends to change color with age. It may lighten, darken, or streak. According to an old wives' tale, burying turquoise in dirt restore the color, but the advice does not say for how long or what amount of dirt might be absorbed. You are probably better off learning to appreciate the change in color.
Never expose turquoise to ammonia, which will spoil the surface by pitting or spotting. Jewelry cleaner and acid will also injure or destroy turquoise.
To sum up, one of best methods of cleaning jewelry is simply to use mild soap, water and a drop of ammonia, even though ammonia should not be used with certain gems. Commercial jewelry cleaners are also available at fine jewelers, and these are safe, too, for most, but not all, jewelry. Be surer to read the directions on any commercial cleaner carefully and to follow them.
When in doubt about cleaning any jewelry, ask your jeweler what he would suggest. Remember, a watchmaker is not a jeweler. For expert advice and help, you need a jeweler who knows metal and gems, because in some cases you may be better off bringing the jewelry into the jeweler's for cleaning.
The article above can be used on your web site or newsletter.
When it is published, may I request that you include my name and resource box (the bio, contact and copyright information) that follows the article. I would also appreciate if you could send me an email of notification along with a complimentary copy of the publication.
Copyright 2005 Bijan Aziz.
Bijan Aziz is the owner and Web Master for The Jewelry Hut
http://www.thejewelryhut.com
The best source for fine Diamond, Gemstone, and Pearl Jewelry on the web.
What Makes Handmade Jewelry Handmade?
Over the millennia, jewelry styles and materials have evolved in step with the advances of civilization. From the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, from the Iron Age to the Industrial Revolution (and seemingly back again!), styles have transformed, modernized, and then often returned to their most basic forms and essential elements.
Today, jewelry is primarily machine made, allowing manufacturers to produce uniform jewelry designs much more economically than traditional handcrafting and hand-casting techniques allow. Casting machines now quickly process into uniform molds such components as metals, plastics, and resins, allowing even complex jewelry designs to be produced with speed and uniformity. Mechanical punch presses and forges, likewise, are also commonly employed in the jewelry manufacturing industry today, to help ensure the production of a consistent, highly profitable product.
In the past decade, however, the modern marketplace has experienced a resurgence of interest in handmade jewelry, and a greater value is again being placed on unique and limited edition jewelry designs, made by hand with ancient crafting processes.
With this renewed demand, jewelry artisans the world over are enjoying improved sales and recognition for their talents and skills. Many specialty galleries -- and even major department stores -- now feature an increasing array of handmade jewelry. With the advent and spread of the Internet as a sales tool worldwide, many international jewelry artisans, even located in remote regions, are also enjoying the benefits of direct sales to distant customers.
Novica hosts the largest handmade jewelry marketplace on the Internet, featuring some 15,000 unique designs, direct from master artisans in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Regina Bimadona, director of Novica's regional office in Bali, herself a jewelry artist, works closely with master jewelers in Bali and Java, helping them bring their collections, and the unique stories behind those collections, to appreciative customers worldwide. Bimadona specializes in assisting jewelers who still create limited-edition collections with traditional, handmade techniques.
In the following interview, Bimadona outlines the basic differences between handmade and mass-produced jewelry, and the benefits of and drawbacks to both handmade and machine-made techniques.
CG: What makes handmade jewelry truly handmade?
RB: Handmade jewelry is crafted by hands, instead of mechanically made with machines. Handmade jewelers use old metal-smith skills, simple tools, and a broad variety of techniques to create their desired forms and shapes. In handmade jewelry you can often observe each item's uniqueness, its dissimilarity from similar pieces. You can also usually sense the cultural individuality, meaning, and even history behind many such designs, even if such information is not provided along with the jewelry. Handmade jewelry techniques require considerable concentration, time, skill, creativity, and dedication. This is often clearly recognizable in the finished piece, making fine handmade jewelry stand out from mass-manufactured, uniform items.
CG: Are there other ways buyers can tell the difference between truly handmade jewelry, and mass-produced jewelry that might at first glance appear handmade? For example, some of the jewelry that we find in large department stores today may appear "rustic," but that does not necessarily mean it is actually made by hand.
RB: You will find that true handmade jewelry is typically not identical to other pieces of the same design. It is often easiest to examine jewelry that has considerable decoration -- many aspects. Examine each individual component; you can often clearly see how they are attached and constructed. Mass-produced or machine-made jewelry typically looks more rigid and uniform. Some handmade, traditional-style jewelry appears less perfect than machine-made jewelry, although high quality handmade jewelry should nonetheless be made to last, and this should be apparent in the details. Perhaps surprisingly, I have found that machine-made jewelry often breaks more easily than well-made handmade jewelry. Much of the mass-produced jewelry sold today as "handmade" may indeed be handmade, for example in department stores, but that does not necessarily mean it is of the highest quality. Mass-production facilities typically require artisans to meet efficiency quotas that result in poorly made jewelry, made with cheaper materials -- even if it is technically made by hand. I recommend looking for handmade jewelry that is not mass-produced -- not available in large quantities. High quality handmade jewelry often has an artisan's name and reputation proudly attached to the finished product. Fortunately, quality and uniqueness are typically apparent to the careful observer.
CG: What are the benefits of purchasing handmade jewelry, rather than mass-produced jewelry?
RB: Handmade jewelry offers the pleasure of unique, often rare designs, that are not-identical, typically made by a true artist -- with great love and passion. Jewelry is an art form. I truly believe this strength of feeling comes across in the design process, and in the finished jewelry itself. Mass-produced items simply have less soul. I believe that handmade jewelry also better reflects the wearer's personal touch and style, expressing individuality and interest. To wear mass-produced jewelry, of a common style, to my mind lends the wearer the appearance of being somewhat mass-produced. Mass-produced jewelry can indeed be less expensive to purchase, because it is certainly less expensive to make, but it is not necessarily less expensive to purchase. Regardless, mass-produced jewelry usually brings with it no special meaning or history -- no story, no life. When you wear beautiful handmade jewelry, it is a pleasure to be able to explain to admirers the actual story or history behind what you are wearing, or information about the artist, which is often possible with handmade jewelry bought from individual artisans or their representative galleries. Above all, it is simply a joy to wear jewelry that someone has personally and lovingly created by hand.
CG: Who are some of your favorite handmade jewelry artisans, in your region of the world, and why?
RB: Wayan Sarjana is one of my favorite jewelry artisans in Bali. He has a wonderful personality, in addition to his high quality handmade jewelry. His designs are lovely, his prices are affordable, and his creativity is endless. Locally, Mariella, Priyo Salim, Agung Pribadi, Janice Ripley, and Zayd are a few other personal favorites. Fortunately, they have all agreed to participate on the Novica Web site, along with many of our other finest artisans here, so I have the honor to assist and represent them now. Each of their biographies, and collections, are included in the Novica Handmade Jewelry department, where you will find detailed explanations as to why I admire and recommend these jewelers so highly, as well as other favorite jewelers and artisans.
CG: What inspired you, personally, to learn to make jewelry by hand? When did you begin? What style do you prefer, and what materials?
RB: My background is in art and design. It has always fascinated me to work with my hands -- to let my soul, my mind, and my body link together in the process of making something new and exciting. I enjoy having private conversations with the materials I work with -- to play with these materials within my imaginary space, and to see the evolution and transformation of various components into a new form of existence. It is exciting. Many new ideas and silent conversations begin flowing during the making of any sort of art, including jewelry. I began creating jewelry in 1988, while studying at the Indonesia Art Institute. Then, I often visited a friend's jewelry studio nearby, and that is where I began to learn this art form. A few years later, when one of our big Indonesian magazines held jewelry design competitions, I entered, and twice was a finalist in their competitions, in 1990 and 1991. I enjoy creating both contemporary and traditional styles. I enjoy working with many materials, including sterling silver, gold, copper, wood, leather, bone, amber, and especially natural gemstones and pearls.
CG: Do you still have time to make handmade jewelry these days, or are you too busy with your managerial work?
RB: I wish I had more time to make handmade jewelry today! I am so busy with Novica. Fortunately my Novica work revolves around what I love most. I spend my days meeting with our region's most exciting master artisans and jewelers. Also, because of my personal expertise with art, including handmade jewelry, I can frequently offer helpful business suggestions to the artisans with whom I work, which brings me great personal satisfaction. I do also continue to make a few jewelry designs of my own, and I continue collecting materials, especially gemstones and pearls, for some new jewelry collections I have in mind. Jewelry is such a passionate aspect of life. I enjoy every minute of my work, whether working as a designer myself, or helping others who are dedicated to this beautiful and artistic way of life.
Catherine Gallegos serves as editor-in-chief of Novica (part of the National Geographic family), a retail site featuring the handmade creations of artisans worldwide, including handmade jewelry.
Celebrating a Special Occasion with Jewelry! How to Buy Jewelry? (Part I)
Leave her speechless with our brilliant colorless and fancy colored diamond or bold brilliant gemstone jewelry styles.
Celebrating a Special Occasion with Jewelry!
How to Buy Jewelry? (Part I)
The concept of jewelry implies fashion, ornamentation, and adornments. But jewelry is much more than just that. It reflects your personality and shows what you value in life. It defines your style through colorful stones and gems jewelry.
Colored precious gemstone jewelry is the latest fashion. Colored gemstones are worn in rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants, and bracelets by every one. If you like to own an exceptionally beautiful and exclusive piece of jewelry, you should only consider gemstone jewelry. A piece of colored gemstone jewelry will distinguish you as a class apart from the crowed that wears gems like diamonds. The best way to go around shopping for a special kind of jewelry is to go to the Internet, look at the exquisite designs of colored gemstones or diamonds on white or yellow gold jewelry and select the one that matches your style.
· You are looking at gems and are shown, or viewed one on Internet, an evening Emerald, at a price much lower than what you would expect to pay for an Emerald of the same size. Would you buy the emerald and would you know what you are buying?
· You are admiring a piece of gold jewelry and are told it is 14 Karat gold. Do you know what marking to look for to make sure it is solid 14 Karat gold and not rolled gold, gold electroplate, or gold wash? Do you, in fact, know what 14 Karat and other terms Mean?
· You notice that brooches (or Pins) are the latest fashion in jewelry and are being shown in all fine jewelry stores as well as online jewelry stores. Do you know which you would buy and which might be the better buy, regardless of what you can afford?
· You are cleaning an opal ring, a pair of diamond earrings, and a string of pearls. Do you know the best way to clean them and would clean them together or separately? Also, how would you store them after cleaning?
· You want to buy a diamond ring. Would you look for a fine jewelry store or a fine online jewelry store where the each jewelry piece are clearly marked to show price and quality, a store offering a sale o diamonds, a store where you might be able to bargain for a lower price, or even a store offering of a packet of diamonds at a wholesale price? For that matter, do you know what the four Cs of diamonds are?
These are only a few questions about jewelry that are answered at The Jewelry Hut.
· An evening Emerald, for example, is not an Emerald but any green stone of Emerald color.
· All Karat gold jewelry in the United States and some other countries has to be marked to show its quality, according to law. The term "Karat" refers to the amount of gold used in proportion to another metal or metals.
· Another term for costume jewelry is fashion jewelry, and it can be the better buy for high fashion designs that you may tire of or may go out of fashion in a year or two.
· Certain gems and types of jewelry require special care in cleaning and should not be stored together or in the same way, since may become scratched or lose their luster or color.
· In buying fine jewelry, there are few, if any, bargains: You get what you pay for. Clarity, color, cut, and carat size are the four Cs of diamonds, determining the quality and cost of any diamond.
How to buy jewelry is only the beginning of what you need to know about jewelry.
When you buy a car, you buy the one you like and can afford. The purchase is emotional as much as it is practical, since cars in some way are extensions of ourselves. In addition, you know what you are buying, especially if you buying a well known brand luxury car. There may be features, in other cars that resemble or imitate the best of the best, but the genuine article is usually unmistakable. You know what to look for, what to expect, about what you are going to pay, and even where to go buy the car.
Fine furs have more of a mystique than the average car and they may seem more risky to buy. Yet, with time and patience, you can learn to differentiate among furs and to distinguish fine furs from inferior furs. Granted, you will never have the expertise of the experienced furrier, but you will be able to learn the difference between mink of an inferior quality. In short, you can easily learn what to look for, what to expect, about what you are going to pay, and where is the best place to buy the fur.
Both an expensive fur and a fine car are far more than purchases to keep you warm and provide transportation. They are also luxuries and status symbols. At the same time, the primary reason for the purchase is practical, you buy the car to drive and the fur to wear. You do not consider either an investment that appreciates in value. The criteria are that you like what you buy, that you have a use for it, that you can afford it, although you want to get the most for your money.
Jewelry should be bought the same way, regardless of whether it is fine jewelry of Karat gold, platinum, or silver, has precious gems or not, or whether it is costume jewelry. Even fine jewelry, which is a luxury item and can be as much as a status symbol as a sable coat or a Rolls-Royce although far more permanent and enduring should be bought because you like it, can use it, and can afford it. Jewelry after all, is a form of adornment and decoration.
One criterion you do not want to use for jewelry, any more than you would use it for buying a car or a fur, is whether the jewelry is a good investment or not. Some Jewelers, who are reputable and reliable in other respects, offer jewelry as "an investment." Fine jewelers. In general, however, prefer to point out that jewelry is not really an investment except in beauty. Jewelry, in fact, is a purchase, just like a fur coat or a car. You should appreciate it, of course, although appreciation in that sense is not the same as the appreciation of increase in value of an investment.
What you should buy in fine jewelry, particularly platinum and karat gold, depends on you, your life style, and your preferences. You may be a woman who does not feel dressed without earrings, in which case you may want gold or diamond earrings that you can wear often with enjoyment. Or you may be a man or woman whose taste runs toward rings. A necklace, pendant or a bracelet could also be indispensable.
In any case, shop around. Look at styles and prices before you buy. Get an idea of what jewelry costs and how that compares to what you have to spend. Once you see an item you like, check its price against the prices of similar items in other jewelry stores or online stores. The major purpose is to give you an idea of value and to help you be satisfied, in all respects, after you have made the purchase.
Look in jewelry stores and the boutiques and the better online jewelry stores that often carry fine jewelry. But do not look for or expect or wait for sales. The finest jewelry stores rarely discount fine jewelry. If a style does not sell, it is more profitable for them to melt down the metal and reset the gems than it is for them to sell at a big discount. In this respect, fine jewelry is like no other luxury purchases, since the components can be reused.
Stores other the finest jewelry stores (or online) may offer jewelry at a discount. It may be a style that has not sold well, or the stores may be willing to make less profit or their overhead may be less. These are legitimate reasons to discount the price of a fine jewelry. If the discount is much over 25%, however, you should ask, "80% or 50% off of what price?" Despite laws prohibiting misleading advertising and the stand of reputable jewelers' associations against it, there are still fraudulent advertising and selling practices going on.
For this reason, you want to read the part two of this article, about "How to buy fine Jewelry?" To understand what are the kinds of jewelry.
To Web Masters:
The article above can be used on your web site or newsletter.
When it is published, may I request that you include my name and resource box (the bio, contact and copyright information) that follows the article. I would also appreciate if you could send me an email of notification along with a complimentary copy of the publication.
Copyright 2005 Bijan Aziz.
Bijan Aziz is the owner and Web Master for The Jewelry Hut http://www.thejewelryhut.com The best source for fine Diamond, Gemstone, and Pearl Jewelry on the web. You can view the this article at The Jewelry Hut Jewelry Archives: http://www.thejewelryhut.com/html/newsandpressrelease.html
Why You Should Buy Genuine Gold Jewelry Over Fake Jewelry
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of children's jewelry that is with excessive cadmium and made in China. The move is made out of children's jewelry contains toxic metal cadmium, if it is ingested by children accidentally, it will cause adverse health effects and harmful to kidneys and bones.
When talking about buying jewelry for gift ideas, genuine gold jewelry should always on your minds. It is because genuine gold jewelry will never do any harm to our body. In fact, the gold element is good for health; gold element has been widely used as food ingredient and for facial treatment nowadays. It is because gold element is like vitamins and minerals, it is something that we need to sustain balance of internal healthiness, but we are not going to supplement easily as we thought. By wearing genuine gold jewelry, gold element will be absorbed by skin from time to time, it is the reason why gold jewelry is forever loved by ancient Chinese and Indians.
Yes, some people will buy fake jewelry because it is cheap in price, in a price range of 20 bucks or something; you would own a piece of jewelry that seems to be just as good as genuine gold jewelry. So why should I spend more for gold jewelry? However, if you are looking at the price per every 3 months, you should always notice that $20-buck fuck jewelry can serve you for a few months only. However, a genuine gold jewelry can serve you forever.
Do you have the experience that you bought a favorite fake jewelry, you love to wear it everywhere for a period of time, and then put it in the shelf for months, and one day when you want to wear it again, it has already become rusty, stained or discolored? If this happens, it means the fake jewelry has oxidized and might be causing chemical sensitive to skin if you dare to wear it.
These are bad experience, aren't they? So you have to think about it, you pay 20 bucks to buy fake jewelry, only to wear it for a few months at the end. What's more, you will never know what the chemical compositions are in the fake jewelry, and how bad they are going to damage and cost your health.
However, if you buy genuine gold jewelry, it will not discolor. It will not have stains. The glitter of diamonds is kept forever. You will have your favorite jewelry just like a new piece whenever you need it.
300 bucks to buy genuine gold jewelry with diamonds or other gemstones in fancy design, but you will have it for the rest of your life. When compared to spending $20 bucks for fake jewelry for a few months, $300 spend in genuine gold jewelry is absolutely more wisely spend and well thought. Taken that you own the gold jewelry for 20 years, you are buying the real piece for $3.75 for every 3 months!
If you don't like the design after wearing it for too long, we have lifetime revamp services to help you revamp the jewelry, and then you would give it to junior generation as a nice gift from senior peel.
What is more, our diamond jewelry is produced with international standard. All materials are genuine, no matter it is talking about diamond, sapphire or ruby, 18K white gold, rose gold or yellow gold. We provide 100% refund guarantee to our valued customers.
Please visit our online store http://www.myengagementdiamondring.com to seek for your favorite design jewelry.
For more information or enquiries, please contact:
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Email: enquiry@mygagementdiamondring.com
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Author: Grace Siu is interested in writing articles in baby health and jewelry beauty.
Where Can I Sell My Gold Jewelry?
If you think you are the only with that kind of problem, you are not alone because in today's hard economic times, many people want to get their hands on fast and easy money and the first thought they may have is to sell expensive belongings they do not use, including gold jewelry, gold coins, gold watches and other gold items. Others just want to get rid of gold items that are no longer useful or they don't want, such as scrap gold, old broken gold jewelry or jewelry that has just lost its appeal or is ugly and outdated. So they would ask themselves the same question, "Where can I sell my gold jewelry to get cash?"
The answer to your problem of "Where can I sell my gold jewelry" is not difficult if you know how to look for the places that can offer your jewelry up for sale or sell it directly to a mail-in buyer that is a gold refinery. A gold refinery will purify your gold items for a commercial market. There are several solutions to the problem of "Where can I sell my gold jewelry" but the three fastest solutions are selling your jewelry to a pawn shop, jewelry store, or an online mail-in buyer. A pawn shop offers secured loans with your jewelry or gold items used as collateral. The jewelry store buys personal adornments made of precious gems or metals.
Because of the nature of the loan and the fast convenience that pawn shops traditionally offer; they give the lowest cash payouts for you gold jewelry and items. Though it is the easiest and fastest method of getting quick cash, as it is possible to secure a transaction in less than 5 minutes, you will also greatly suffer the consequences of getting the least cash amount for your gold items. A pawn shop will pay you a small percentage of the value they will sell it for, not the value that your item is worth. Because a pawn shop is actually a reseller it will usually reject damaged or broken gold jewelry or items.
You can go directly to the store, since many jewelers today have their own websites, you can contact them through email or their contact numbers about making an appraisal of the items you will sell. However, because they are also a reseller and have to make a profit they will also not give you the top cash payout for your jewelry or watches.
The newest and best place to sell your gold jewelry is through an online mail-in buyer that is also a gold refinery.
You send your items using their gold pack with prepaid postage, the buyer appraises the value of your items based on the weight, karat and spot price of gold, and a check is then mailed to you as payment. They use industry standard procedures and equipment and the spot price of gold that day in determining the value and cash payout. A cash for gold buyer has low turnaround times and will mail your check the following business day after the gold pack is received. The advantage of using an online cash for gold buyer is that you get more than double or triple the cash payout as compared to other options.
If you know someone who badly needs cash and approaches you with the same question, "Where can I sell my gold jewelry?" just tell them the same answers you learned here. You can be assured they will be knowledged on the process of selling their gold jewelry or items within a short period of time and will also be satisfied with their transaction and thank you for the referral.
24K Gold Jewelry Is More Than A Solid Gold Investment - It Is True Portable Wealth?
24k gold jewelry is solid gold. Since it was discovered in ancient times gold has been recognized as an extremely desirable form of wealth. Because it is in limited supply and the fact that there is no good alternative to gold, it is enthusiastically sought after. One way that you can store your wealth in gold that is portable is by buying solid gold jewelry.
Easy to transport, this jewelry made of 24k solid gold is the modern way to obtain beautiful, practical, portable wealth. Going country to country you do not even have to worry about declaring it or storing it in your luggage and wondering if it will get lost. You can simply wear it; on display for beauty or inside your clothing if you desire to be discreet.
You will always be able to keep tabs on where your gold is. And because it is a globally accepted medium of exchange no matter what country you are in, you have a recognized form of wealth right on you. Its value will not change because of the country you are in.
You don't have to be rich to buy 24k gold jewelry these days. It's not like you're having to outlay money to meet minimum purchase requirements for gold bullion bars or coins.
Fine jewelry made of pure solid gold is an alternate form of investment as solid gold jewelry is not affected by the political climate that is often hostile to investing in gold bullion.
Because gold prices are not paper investments its value is not altered when stock markets plunge. Buying gold is a more stable form of enduring wealth, and buying jewelry comprised of 24k gold has even more advantages.
Jewelry is treated completely different by Governments than gold bullion bars or coins. It is commonly immune to taxation on gains or other regulations, and in the past it has never been confiscated by the powers that be.
Because it is a finite metal difficult to extract from the ground, who knows if one day the laws of the past might be reinstated and you are forced to give up or sell your gold bullion or coins at a set, below market price. Solid gold jewelry worn on your person can make you sleep feeling a lot safer about your wealth preservation.
One country that has an ancient tradition of using pure gold jewelry to buy goods and services is Thailand. Their money is called the baht, and its name is derived from baht gold jewelry. The people often traded links in their baht necklace for their purchases. Today you can buy a pure gold baht chain designed in the tradition of these 24k gold necklaces.
24k gold matching jewelry pieces are a wonderful gift to give someone else. For birthdays, Valentines Day or Christmas, you can't go wrong giving a 24k gold chain or a solid gold bracelet. A solid gold ring worn daily will wear down but a 24k gold necklace is convenient to either wear or store away temporarily.
Buying 24k gold jewelry is a fantastic way to say "I love you" to a spouse or child. Apart from it's eternal beauty it is a permanent store of portable wealth.
Trade in some of your paper based money based on political promises for a beautiful, portable, wealth preserving solid gold alternative today. Get the details at http://InvestLetters.com/blog/24k-gold-jewelry/.
Selling Gold Jewelry? Read This First!
You can almost say it's another gold rush! What with gold trading at near record high prices, people are digging for gold in their homes looking to cash in on their unwanted gold jewelry and coins.
But don't rush just yet - there are some things you should know about selling gold for cash so that you don't get ripped off by unscrupulous buyers.
Selling Gold Jewelry - Do I Scrap it?
Most of us have all sorts of jewelry lying around - old gold jewelry, new gold jewelry and gold jewelry that's, well, to be quite frank about it, junk gold jewelry. It could be a class ring you wore the summer you graduated high school and never again; a bracelet you got as a gift on your 13th birthday that is too sweet and girlie for your grown-up tastes; a gold chain your college beau bought you once upon a time and which has since - like your relationship - broken apart; a gold watch of grandpa's that stopped working long ago and no one in your family wanted to wear anyway; and all those assorted gold earrings that have been sad singletons since their mates went missing.
This type of gold jewelry is only worth its weight in gold and so it is perfect for the scrap heap. The only thing that matters when you sell gold jewelry for scrap is the quality and the quantity of gold in the item. All the gold buyer wants from your miscellaneous jewelry is to melt it down and recover its precious metal.
And when selling gold, it is not only jewelry you should consider. Have any gold dental crowns or dental bridgework? Any bits of gold you got from panning? A plain wedding band that from your hated ex spouse? These can all get scrapped too - turning junk taking up space into cash in your pocket.
Selling Gold Jewelry - The Basics
What a buyer is willing to pay you for your gold jewelry is determined by the following factors:
*the karat of the metal
*the weight of the piece
*the price of gold the day you are selling
*the refining or assaying fee
*the buyer's profit margin
The price of gold, which this week was up to $1,150 an ounce, refers to the price being offered on pure 24 karat gold.
Other karats of gold will bring in less because because the percentage of gold is lower, and that is all the buyer is after. For your reference, 22 karat is 91.7% gold, 18 karat is 75% gold, 14 karat is 58.3% gold and 10 karat is 41.7% gold.
Multiply these by the weight of the piece and you have a base figure. Then come the deductions.
A small bit of gold is always lost in the process of melting down, not to mention the cost involved to do it, so these are taken off the value of your pieces.
The last deduction is the profit the buyer wants to make on the deal, and it is this part of the calculation that can lead to wildly varying offers when one buyer is OK with a 15% profit margin and another wants nothing less than 40%.
When it is all said and done, your various bits of gold jewelry probably won't add up to that much relative to what the items cost retail, but hundreds and even thousands of dollars can be made.
Of course, when you think about selling gold jewelry, it doesn't all have to be junk. If you have pieces that are beautiful or gem-encrusted but you don't wear anymore, see what a local jeweler would pay you for it and then shop it around. Or sell it online. And with the high price of gold, you can also try making a mint selling gold coins if you have any.
How to Buy Quality Silver Jewelry
First, consider the source. Look for jewelry stores online or off-line that offer quality jewelry pieces at an affordable rate. Be sure the store is reputable and offers informative descriptions and accurate photos of the silver jewelry that's being offered. Store clerks or online sales representatives should provide prompt answers to your questions and be willing to help you find that special silver jewelry chain, earrings, pendants or other items for your needs. If shopping online, be sure the company offers secure ordering methods before entering your credit card information.
Know the difference between custom or handmade silver jewelry and manufactured jewelry. Handmade jewelry offers added benefits such as the ability to order your silver chains "by the inch" and the ability to choose the type of clasp you want for necklaces, bracelets or anklets. If you want specialty jewelry, use keywords in the search field online to search for specific types of jewelry, such as "handcrafted Bali jewelry" or "handmade silver herringbone chains."
Sterling Silver Markings
Be sure you're getting a true silver product by looking for the markings of sterling silver. Sterling silver contains 92.5 percent silver, or 925 parts per thousand. Fine silver is 99.9 percent silver, but is also softer and may easily be scratched or damaged. Sterling silver is durable for everyday wear and more affordable. If buying sterling silver with gemstones, make sure the stones are of high quality as well as the silver jewelry itself.
Take Accurate Measurements
If ordering handmade jewelry, be sure to measure properly to ensure you'll get the right size. Handmade jewelry may or may not be refundable because it has been made to your specifications. If you need a silver chain, be sure to measure your neckline properly and allow an extra inch or two for breathing room. There's nothing worse than receiving a beautiful necklace that's too tight! Also take appropriate measurements for silver rings, bracelets, cufflinks and anklets.
Accessorize Before You Buy
Learn to imagine what the jewelry will look like when wearing it with certain outfits or colors. Try to find silver jewelry that will go well with several outfits so you can get more wear out of your jewelry items. You can buy a silver chain and wear several different silver pendants with the same chain depending on your mood for the day or the type of outfit you're wearing.
Buy silver rings, earrings and even hair barrettes to match your chains to complete your ensemble. Look for silver jewelry that expresses your personality, whether bold, shy or colorful! Do you go for the daring look or a more traditional style? Silver jewelry comes in so many styles that it's easy to find exactly what you need.
Silver jewelry also makes a wonderful gift for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries or any gift occasion. Beautiful handmade silver jewelry is something you might want to consider as a gift or collectible jewelry that you can pass on as a family heirloom. Whether buying for yourself or that special someone, use these tips to find high quality silver jewelry today.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about Silver Jewelry.
How to Test If Your Sterling Silver Jewelry is Real Or Fake
Sterling silver has been gaining tremendous popularity as a metal that is widely used for the creation of a variety of items like flatware, jewelry, and other common items. This is simply because of the fact that the sterling alloy offers great looks to any type of jewelry designed using it. Genuine silver has been found to be of soft nature that cannot be used alone for creation of any hard kind of substance. Therefore, it is important to make sure that silver is mixed with more durable metals like copper or nickel to provide it with sufficient durability.
In order to qualify as a sterling silver alloy there should be 9.25 pure silver within the alloy composition. Rest 0.075 should come from non-silver metals that provide sufficient strength to the alloy. Another formation that is extensively used in the creation of jewelry is the overlay of silver on top of a base metal.
This is basically silver plating of the jewelry that allows coating of silver on the jewelry. However, the serious drawback is that silver plating will be worn away with continuous use. Therefore, after a certain period of time the lesser quality metal will be visible in the jewelry. There is a need to identify real sterling silver using its authentication mark, which proves that the alloy is not fake. This authentication mark is crafted into the alloy with wordings such as sterling 925 or S/S.
In case of jewelry, this marking can be easily spotted on the clasp or the underside of the utensils. For all those jewelry where the marking is absent, there is a big chance that there is absence of genuine silver in them. Another important way through which you can test whether your sterling silver jewelry is real or fake is by observing the coloring of the jewelry in a close manner.
It has been found that genuine silver is less shiny and much more cooler in tone than actual silver. In case there are areas on the jewelry, where the silver metal has been worn out then it is a surety that the item is not sterling silver. Another way of determining genuine nature of the silver jewelry is to make sure that you use a light-colored cloth for rubbing the item. In case of black marks in the cloth, it is guaranteed that the item is sterling silver.
The main reason for this is the fact that silver oxidizes and tarnishes when it is exposed to air. When you rub the jewelry using cloth then this tarnish is rubbed on to it thereby proving that it is sterling silver. The best method is to take the sterling silver jewelry to a reputed jewelry store and get the item tested for its purity.
Nitric acid is mainly used for testing purposes. This is because nitric acid is a strong industrial chemical that will make sure to discolor non-silver materials due to high copper content in them. Once the nitric acid is applied, it tends to leave a permanent green spot thereby proving the fact that the jewelry is genuine or not. It is therefore important to make sure that the substance is applied on the jewelry in a non-copious spot.
Let's Recap What We've Learned in this Article:
1) Rub your silver jewelry using a clean cloth. If the item leaves black marks in it, the item is sterling silver.
2) Nitric acid is the best solution to test silver jewelry. Once applied, it leaves a permanent green mark to prove if the jewelry is real or fake.
Sterling Silver Jewelry is essential to any collection. Enjoy it!
Sterling Silver Jewelry Care
Man has known about the metal silver and has used it since as far back as 3000 B.C. Pure silver is a metal element with Shiny white metallic luster and it is very malleable and ductile. To a certain extent it is also a scarce and costly metal though not as much in comparison to gold and platinum. Pure silver is the very best conductor of heat and electricity amongst all metals.
The symbol Ag has been derived from the Latin word Argentum which means silver. The name silver itself comes from from the Old English Anglo-Saxon word 'seolfor' meaning silver.
Silver has an atomic number of 47, occupies period 5, group 11 and block d in the periodic table and is classified as a transition metal.
Silver ore occurs in nature in native form and the metal also occurs in ores of copper, copper-nickel, gold, lead and lead-zinc. It is found in Canada, Mexico, Peru, Australia and the USA.
Pure silver does not react with air or water but reacts with hydrogen sulphide, Ozone and air containing sulphur which causes it to tarnish. The classic example of this occurs when boiled egg is handed out in a silver dish. Boiled egg releases hydrogen sulphide gas and tarnishes the dish.
Silver compounds find numerous uses in photography, printed circuits, dental compounds, brazing, electrical contacts, batteries and superior mirror production. Silver fulminate is used as an explosive.
Pure silver which is also called fine silver is very tender and jewelry items and other articles made of pure silver would not retain their shapes. In order to overcome this difficulty, a tiny quantity of another metal is combined with pure silver to lend the desired hardness to the alloy. Though many other metals can make up the remaining non-silver part, long term experience has proven copper to be the ideal choice which improves the hardness and durability of the alloy without affecting its color or luster. The alloy so acquired is called sterling silver.
Sterling silver is greatly valued for producing jewelry and tableware. It has many other ornamental uses and it is also widely used in coinage.
Copper-silver alloy containing 72% silver and 28% copper known for its thermal conductivity finds industrial uses in electronics.
Sterling silver has a very special characteristic in sound resonance. For this reason, some brasswind instruments producers create musical instruments out of this metal. Leading saxophone manufacturers like Selmer, P.Mauriat, and Yanagisawa, have created some of their saxophones made from sterling silver and they believe that the instruments will become more resonant in sound performance.
It has been stipulated by FTC, The US Federal Trade Commission that jewelry in the United States can bear silver markings or be described as silver, solid silver, sterling silver, sterling, or with the abbreviation Steronly if it contains at least 92.5 percent pure silver.
The minimum silver content can also be declared as 925 parts per thousand of pure silver, so you might see the figures 925 or 92.5 used to specify silver content.
Under federal law, the marking must be accompanied by a maker's mark or registered trademark.
Sterling silver is a very well-liked medium amongst people for crafting jewelry and can be used to make all kinds of jewelry, from earrings to bracelets to rings, necklaces and pendants. Its popularity may be based on the fact that the elegance of sterling silver jewelry is comparable to other precious metals while at the same time its price remains in the affordable range.
Sterling silver appears flawlessly shiny & white when it is new. But, it might lose some of its sparkle and become dirtier and darker with passage of time. Although pure silver is unyielding to tarnish and does not react with air or moisture, it might react with hydrogen sulphide or sulphur in ambient air causing it to tarnish. Moreover the copper content readily reacts with air causing a coat of tarnish on its surface.
To minimize scratches and other damage, store your sterling silver jewelry in tarnish prevention cloths or bags. The treated cloth slows down the tarnishing process and keeps the jewelry from rubbing against harder jewelry that might scratch it. Keep your sterling silver jewelry in a cool, dry place.
Do not let your silver to come near household chemical substances like bleaching agents or ammonia. The chlorine in the chlorinated water of your swimming pool can also harm silver.
An important thing to do is to wipe sterling silver jewelry with a clean polishing cloth after you have worn them. This will get the dust, dirt and sweat out of the nooks and corners of the jewelry.
Polishing cloths are a good choice for cleaning your sterling silver jewelry. Steer clear of using toothpaste to clean sterling silver, toothpaste is abrasive and can leave marks on your jewelry.
Care should be taken to prevent the build up of tarnish overtime with regular wearing and frequent cleaning. To clean your silver, use polishes formulated specifically to remove tarnish. Tarnish is most effortlessly removed when it first becomes noticeable.
With steady long term use sterling silver jewelry often develops a beautiful patina, a kind of glow mixed with darkened areas. If you happen to like this look you can keep it as it is. Or else, you can use a polish cloth to restore the jewelry to its original appearance.
With regular care and some safeguards your silver will last you a lifetime.
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