As an Australian jeweller, I suspect you make all kinds of errors along with your jewelry that I actually want you were not.
It might be right down to lack of time or dangerous habits, however most definitely it is since you merely do not have sufficient data to grasp what the issues could be and how one can avoid them.
However do not panic: I am right here that can assist you appropriate your errors by itemizing my high 12 jewelry errors and tips on how to keep away from them – on your personal sake. They’re going to provide help to to save lots of time, cash and maintain your jewelry (and your self) wanting nice. What’s to not love about that?
Let’s dive in …
1. Not understanding the supplies used to make jewelry
When searching for jewelry you must all the time be clear on what the items are comprised of. If the vendor does not specify the supplies then it is possible the designs are usually not comprised of silver, gold, rose gold or different valuable metals. In case you’re unclear, then you must all the time ask before you purchase, particularly for greater priced objects.
Simply because a bit of jewelry is gold or silver in color doesn’t suggest it is comprised of these particular metals. Particularly if a bit of jewelry offers the looks of being gold nevertheless it’s cheap, then it is virtually definitely not gold in any respect: at greatest it is going to be very thinly plated. Gold is a really costly metallic and there’s no such factor as low cost gold jewelry. Discover out extra about gold and various kinds of gold utilized in jewelry.
Extra useful jewelry articles:
Base metallic jewelry, equivalent to brass or nickel, is unlikely to put on nicely over time and should flip your pores and skin black or inexperienced. It could even trigger allergic reactions or worse – and that is particularly the case with nickel, which we strongly advocate you keep away from sporting. Thinly plated jewelry might pretty rapidly put on by means of to the bottom metallic beneath.
You must also know what any stones are: whether or not they’re lab grown or pure, or whether or not they’re totally pretend. Any of those choices are advantageous in the suitable circumstances, nevertheless it pays to concentrate on what you are spending your hard-earned cash on.
In fact low price costume jewelry has its place and for those who’re comfortable for a design to be a comparatively quick lived trend piece and your pores and skin will tolerate the supplies, then that is completely okay.
Simply take into accout: data is energy. Learn our useful articles to get the lowdown on gold and sterling silver so that you higher perceive what the deal is with these valuable metals, together with why they’re so priceless and helpful in jewelry. Additionally have a look at our jewelry glossary, which has over 100 definitions for jewelry phrases: it can completely get you in control with jewelry jargon while you’re buying.
2. Carrying the identical jewelry on daily basis
Even I understand how straightforward it’s to slide into the behavior of sporting the identical items day in, time out and virtually by no means taking them off. But it surely’s a great behavior to interrupt for a few causes.
Firstly, your on a regular basis jewelry will get dirty in locations you possibly can’t see or in ways in which you do not essentially discover as a result of the modifications happen slowly. That is particularly the case for stud earrings the place half them is hidden behind your ear lobe, gathering chemical substances from washing your hair and probably resulting in infections.
You need to take off your on a regular basis items commonly to offer them a clear with some heat soapy water and a mushy bristled brush. I like to recommend doing this each 1-2 weeks. See under for extra recommendations on cleansing your jewelry.
Secondly, you may be boring and no one needs that! So have a take into consideration the jewelry you might have in your assortment and the way you should utilize extra of it regularly.
If you do not have a lot jewelry or your assortment has some gaps in it, then provide you with a plan so as to add extra items over time (together with dropping large hints to family members on the proper occasions of yr, after all).
3. Not being inventive with jewelry and equipment
Associated to tip 2: do not be boring!
When the seasons change is a superb time to do some experimenting in entrance of a mirror with completely different outfits and equipment, particularly together with jewelry. Be as inventive as you possibly can with mixtures and make notes of what works for you so you may bear in mind to combine it up as you are getting dressed for work or completely different events.
Additionally make observe of any sorts of items you want you needed to lengthen your wardrobe additional. Making the suitable funding in jewelry and equipment can add a substantial amount of creativity and flexibility to your wardrobe for years to return.
You need to try our 15 high jewelry type ideas for extra recommendation on taking advantage of your jewelry assortment whereas not dropping your self within the course of.
4. Not cleansing your jewelry
As alluded to above, this can be a large one. So many individuals fail to scrub their jewelry commonly, if in any respect. It may be straightforward to overlook the construct up of normal grime and tarnish, however – imagine me – it is going to be there and it is going to be noticeable to others.
You put on jewelry in opposition to your pores and skin and clothes for prolonged intervals whereas enterprise all kinds of actions, so after all it can want cleansing once in a while, simply as your clothes does.
I like to recommend scheduling a radical clear of your jewelry at the least twice a yr (or extra usually relying on the way you put on and retailer your items and for those who stay in a damp location). The transition into hotter and cooler months of the yr is a superb time to do it. This could contain something from a fast wash with a mild cleaning soap by means of to extra complicated tarnish and dirt removing, relying on the items.
It pays to teach your self about tips on how to clear your jewelry safely and accurately. In case you’re in a rush try our 10 tricks to rapidly clear jewelry as a place to begin, however you must positively delve deeper into our complete jewelry cleansing & care information.
Do not forget so as to add cleansing your jewelry as a recurring process in your diary.
5. Utilizing dangerous jewelry cleansing strategies
Whereas it is higher to make an effort to scrub your jewelry than to to not do it in any respect, not all cleansing strategies are created equal and a few might completely injury your valuable items. So beware!
Cleansing your valuable silver or gold jewelry with toothpaste is de facto not a good suggestion. It is abrasive and it’ll deplete the metallic over time, making heirloom items much less and fewer priceless. It could additionally terminally injury finishes. Similar goes for utilizing baking or bicarb soda paste which is rubbed in opposition to the metallic to scrub it: simply do not do it.
That is particularly a really dangerous concept in terms of alternate options to strong gold, equivalent to gold vermeil, gold stuffed or gold plated. You’re more likely to take away the valuable gold from the floor of your jewelry and it might be troublesome or not possible to restore. Study extra about various kinds of gold that can assist you perceive why.
Utilizing any type of alcohol with gems is more likely to even be a nasty concept. In truth my favorite tip is to make use of alcohol for consuming functions solely, ought to that be your kind of factor! That is particularly necessary for extra porous gems like pearls, opals, turquoise and lapis lazuli.
I like to recommend that you just keep away from harsh chemical substances coming into contact along with your jewelry altogether, except these chemical substances are particularly really useful by professionals for cleansing the kind of jewelry you might have. Learn the care and cleansing articles linked to in tip 4 for recommendation.
6. Carrying your jewelry whereas swimming or showering
There a number of causes to keep away from sporting your jewelry in water.
Firstly, it may be straightforward to lose your items – particularly when showering. If the concept of your valuable gold ring slipping off and happening the drain terrifies you, then it is actually not a good suggestion to take the danger. As an alternative, discover a protected place to place your jewelry when you’re showering and make it a routine.
Additionally you may discover that your earrings, necklaces and gemstone rings are more likely to get gummed up by the residue from shampoos, conditioners and soaps over time. In case you do maintain some items on while you bathe or bathe, then be sure to take them off each few weeks to offer them a great clear: stud earrings particularly, as outlined above.
Particularly, you must keep away from getting pearls and opals moist repeatedly, as long run publicity to water and different chemical substances might completely injury and discolour these stones.
Lastly, for those who’re going for a swim, I like to recommend you allow your jewels safely at residence.
Swimming in swimming pools or the ocean whereas sporting valuable metallic jewelry isn’t really useful. Chlorine utilized in swimming pools or jacuzzis can discolour silver and plenty of gems – and it may possibly even probably weaken gold. As for salt water, it may possibly uninteresting diamonds and erode soldered components in metallic jewelry. And no one needs that.
7. Not storing your jewelry appropriately
Keep away from storing your jewelry in a spot the place humidity is a matter, particularly loos. Sterling silver jewelry particularly will tarnish sooner in humid locations, which means extra time you may must spend cleansing it.
You must also retailer your valuable jewelry away from free flowing air. Partly it can merely get dusty and dirty, however sterling silver and different metals will tarnish quite a bit sooner when left unworn within the open air.
Additionally remember that metallic jewelry which will get jumbled up and might simply rub in opposition to different metallic, gems or arduous surfaces will get broken. You wish to keep away from scratching and scuffing silver and gold particularly, but additionally softer gems.
I like to recommend storing your jewelry in a devoted jewelry field, jewelry roll and even maintain each bit (or pair) in its personal small padded field. This can restrict the publicity to flowing air and humidity. Relying in your storage arrange it may possibly additionally assist to stop scratching and tangling. The present bins which include our on-line jewelry orders shall be excellent.
In case you desire to show your jewelry on a necklace tree or comparable, then be ready to scrub it way more commonly – and do not forget to mud it too!
8. Not clasping necklaces after taking them off
Associated to 7: you must all the time clasp your necklaces while you take them off. This can assist to keep away from tangled chains which may be very troublesome to tug aside. As a jeweller, I spend lots of time untangling lengths of chain and I can guarantee you that it isn’t lots of enjoyable.
In case you’re nonetheless having hassle with tangles, then have a look at utilizing straws or different tubing that can assist you out. You’ll be able to put one finish of the necklace by means of the straw earlier than clasping it, which can make tangles just about not possible for many necklaces.
9. Not contemplating the ethics behind the jewelry you purchase
This tip is one I am particularly obsessed with as jewelry could be a little bit of an moral minefield (and we genuinely work arduous to be as moral and eco-friendly as potential).
Listed here are some points I like to recommend you contemplate when buying:
- Does the jewelry enterprise use recycled valuable metals the place potential? Does it recycle its personal metals?
- Are gems ethically sourced – particularly diamonds and different excessive worth stones, which have the potential to come from warfare zones?
- Are lab grown or simulated gems used when appropriate? These are usually extra moral and sustainable than mined stones whereas nonetheless being top quality.
- Does the vendor design and make their very own jewelry items? If not, the place are the items made and are working situations moral?
- Is the vendor up entrance about the kind of supplies used of their designs?
- Are the costs applicable? Too low cost means virtually definitely signifies that somebody is being ripped off someplace alongside the road (and it may even be you!).
- Try our article on tips on how to really assist unbiased designers and why it is nice to buy small, store native and handmade.
10. Shopping for jewelry from low cost retail chain shops
I am not naming any names, however you already know the sorts of retailers I am speaking about: they’re the large jewelry chain shops you see in lots of buying malls and on-line. They promise a world of sentimental sparkles for not some huge cash.
Typically their items are sourced from individuals working in very poor situations and sometimes the workmanship is shoddy – to the purpose of their jewelry not being repairable if and when one thing goes mistaken.
In case you’re on the lookout for excessive finish ‘conventional’ jewelry, particularly if it is meant to be a valuable sentimental piece, then discover a smaller scale manufacturing jeweller with a great repute. It is nicely well worth the funding for this kind of jewelry.
In case you’re on the lookout for extra up to date, artisan type jewelry then discover unbiased designers you want (hopefully together with Simone Walsh Jewelry) and patronise them as a lot as you possibly can to assist them keep afloat.
These approaches to buying jewelry will end in a a lot better funding for you. You may additionally profit from the texture good issue by buying from companies which you can really really feel comfy supporting and serving to to flourish.
11. Not selecting a necklace to match your neckline
As an alternative of all the time throwing in your favorite necklace or pendant with virtually each outfit, have a take into consideration the different sorts and lengths of necklace that may go nicely with various kinds of necklines. You may discover it can add much more curiosity and magnificence to your wardrobe.
It is a good suggestion to have an array of necklace lengths out there in your jewelry assortment. You must also decide up necklace extenders so you possibly can simply range the lengths of the necklaces and pendants you like to put on.
Fortunately we now have a necklace lengths and magnificence information with a useful chart that can assist you work all of it out. You are welcome!
12. Failing to find out your ring measurement earlier than buying
Not figuring out your ring measurement accurately will solely result in frustration, delays and presumably extra prices while you purchase rings: it is best averted. Take the time to get your ring measurement proper earlier than buying and to grasp what the problems are.
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Try our ring measurement measuring information article, together with our ring measurement conversion chart for plenty of ideas. An important tip is to spend money on a hoop sizer earlier than you buy – and even go to a jeweller in individual to get an correct measurement.