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.
Buy real gemstones, not fake knock-offs. Real gemstones, like diamonds, give off a gorgeous sparkle that can be spotted from a mile away. Fake gems are dull and glassy and aren’t even worth wearing. If you can’t afford a real gemstone, why not buy Swarovski crystal? They’re gorgeous, too, and have their own special sparkle to share.
Enroll in a beading class, if you’re a fan of necklaces and bracelets. If you are buying them all of the time, this can put a dent in your budget. Instead, take a class and make some jewelry yourself. You will save a ton over buying already made products, have something unique to wear, and you can even sell some of your pieces for a profit.
Buy dainty jewelry for slender women, and chunkier jewelry for a larger lady. If your wife is petite, then a tiny watch is appropriate. Buy the same watch for your six-foot tall spouse and it might not even fit on her wrist! Whatever you do, DON’T buy men’s jewelry for a woman! She’ll know the second she lays eyes on it and could be offended.
The first step to a bridal outfit is the dress, and then everything else, including your jewelry, should be selected afterward. Your jewelry should not only match your dress, but highlight and color that is found in it. If you have sequins that shine opalescent pink, then highlight that with a rose topaz earring, for example.
Get everything in writing. If the salesperson tells you that the gem has a warranty, or that it is on sale for a certain price next week, you want to have a record of that. Keeping a detailed written account of whatever information passed between you and the salesperson can help you be on top of any discrepancies that may appear later on.
When buying gold, be sure that your receipt is clearly marked with the karat weight, as well as the manufacturer. These are things you need to know in case you later want to appraise or sell the piece, or perhaps have it re-sized. The information included is also necessary for any returns processes you may have to go through.
You can safely clean your jewelry at home. Mix a small amount of mild detergent in water. Allow your dirty jewelry to soak for several minutes and then gently scrub it with a soft toothbrush. Finish the cleaning by rinsing your jewelry in clean water and allowing it to air dry.
Dry saunas and steam rooms can cause damage to jewelry. Because of the high temperature and moisture in saunas, they can cause serious damage to your jewelry.
When giving a woman jewelry is it important to be creative when giving it to her. Women love excitement, and if you can find a fun and exciting way to give her the jewelry she may like it even more. She will forever have a story to tell to her friends and family about how sweet and creative you were when you gave her the piece of jewelry.
When it comes to taking care of your jewelry, be sure that you take it off before using any sort of personal care products. This is important because items such as hair gel, hand lotion, and shaving cream can cause damage to your jewelry. This may either be permanent damage, or time consuming temporary disfigurement.
If you want to sell jewelry, learn the properties of each stone. Certain stones correspond to astrological signs or elements. Tell these stories to your customers: people are generally excited about finding the stone that was made for them. If your customers do not seem interested by this aspect, find another approach.
There’s nothing worse than losing a piece of jewelry due to a delicate clasp. Some gold jewelry will have a weak clasp in order to keep the integrity of the piece (soft gold), but you can sacrifice a little bit of gold on your necklace or bracelet and have a jeweler put a sturdier clasp on to ensure safety.
Have you ever had a gold or silver chain knot up and kink? It’s difficult to get them to go back to normal, and often this requires a jeweler’s expertise. However, before you call up that jeweler, try using a little cooking or baby oil to try and get those kinks out of your necklace. It works!
When shopping for expensive jewelry, bring a trusted friend or family member along. It can also be a confusing one, with so many choices available. Bringing a second person along gives you an extra set of eyes, as well as, an important second opinion.
If you are low on cash but still want to make some jewelry, you can make paper beads! These are bright and colorful and also, very fun to make for yourself or if you have children. All you need is some old magazines that you may have laying around!
If you want to shop for jewelry, consider selling some. Take anything you don’t wear regularly to a pawn shop or other establishment and have it looked it. Some of the pieces might actually be worth far more than you think given the prices of gold and silver. Also, having a salesperson quote prices will quickly cause emotional reactions you can use to gauge whether or not you really want to keep certain pieces. Sell the ones you are comfortable with, or trade. Keep the ones you want with increased awareness of their value, both to you and financially.
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.
