Category: Jewelry

A visit to a jewelry store entails a great deal of time and energy to purchase the item of your choice. There are several important details to keep in mind. That being the case, there’s far more planning required to buy customized personal jewelry, a ring or bracelet, a brooch or pendant that is distinctly ‘you’.

The enormous collection of pieces that jewelry stores stock can leave you more confused than when you walked in. To help you narrow down or earmark a few choice pieces, it is best to spend some time online checking out designs and brands that catch your fancy. There are simply scores of websites of branded jewelry stores, stockists and retail agents that you can visit to see up close designs and brands of any item of jewelry that you are looking to buy.

Sometimes you may not find the piece that you are looking for easily available. Its here that you can possibly think of giving space to your creativity by creating your own design or engraved piece of jewelry that will be unique and one-of-a-kind. Most people who go in for customized personal jewelry find that getting something made according to their specifications gives a great deal of creative satisfaction.

Either way, whether buying a readymade piece or ordering one made to your customization, there are some important aspects or ‘points to remember’. It will help to list out these in order of importance that appeals to you but broadly, you will benefit by following these tips.

1. Have a clear budget or cost estimate for the jewelry; this depends on choice of metal.

2. Choose the metal beforehand to help estimate cost; for e.g. silver and metal are far cheaper than gold, platinum or stone studded jewelry. While you cannot arrive at an accurate cost estimate, you should have a clear idea of metal choice because values are bound to fluctuate according to market trends and you should be wise enough to take advantage of any factors that bring in additional value for the money spent.

3. If your heart is set on one or more gemstones in the piece, remember that the category of stone, precious or semi-precious is important. Also the shape, cut, clarity and color of the stone and the setting matter a great deal. Some distinct shapes can send your cost estimate soaring so it is best to get firsthand advice from a friend or a professional jeweler who can advise on the size, shape and setting of stones for your jewelry.

Some abstract designs and metals are fast making an impact in customized personal jewelry. Wire fashioned out of pliant metal can be twisted and shaped into any design or to form letters for a bracelet or pendant that has your name on it. Another unique option is the hand-dyed thread fabric from coconuts with laser engraving for names in a rich color that provides for a great contrast against the light tan of the coconut. These coconuts are sourced from the South Pacific and can be ordered online.

That brings us to some more relevant factors when you consider buying customized jewelry online. Remember that picture reproductions of a product may not always be true to likeness in terms of size, color etc. So it is very essential to be certain you are getting the right product for the right price. Do not hesitate to call and ask for more details if you wish to.

To put things in a nutshell perspective, here are a few points regarding online shopping that will be useful.

1. Take time to read reviews about the company / product you are purchasing

2. Get a detailed description of the item you are ordering

3. Read order form or invoice and see terms and conditions involving return and refund

4. View details of shipping rates and the policies that govern shipping like damage insurance, loss etc.

The best business name should be simple and reflect what your business is about. The brochure gives an introduction to your company and its products. The business card is the key that introduces you and your business and opens business opportunities. The company logo represents your company identity with a simple drawing.

Between the business card and the company logo, I think much more thought is needed to design the company logo which is most difficult. It needs to be simple in design but speak volumes.

In a former article I gave an example of Fashion Jewelry Designer Rose as the name of business and how to design and complete a business card along with the matching business correspondence and envelopes.

What about the company logo?

Hours will be spent trying to design a company logo. Think about the varieties of jewelry that you design and assemble. Have you noticed if you do something that other artists do not do?

It may be something that you do as a habit and not realize its vital importance. This one characteristic is not only your symbol, but it might also be your trademark. If you cannot identify anything that you do, ask friends and relatives if they have noticed that something different you may do which separates you from other jewelry artists?

In this example, let us also say that your trademark is to always include a rose in your jewelry designs. Now, you might illustrate your logo as a gold chain loose at both ends. This suggests that you make many different types of jewelry to be placed between the loose ends and a rose on the clasp which holds the two chains together also bears your name or initial with a special stroke on the underside.

There is no inaccuracy as to who designed this fashion jewelry piece. Now as you become well known or even famous in your original handcrafted jewelry business your company logo which speaks volumes may also double as your trademark.

The rose may be constructed into the parts of the necklace, bracelet, earrings, pendant, or ring design. If the company logo design is complex, people will not remember the name of the jewelry business or the owner. And if you want repeat sales you want your customers to remember who you are.

Body piercing jewelry can be described as beauty ornaments that we wear on different parts of our bodies that have been pierced. Body piercing is not a new thing as it was practiced by different communities from all over the world. These communities considered wearing jewelry as a way of enhancing beauty or as a sign of adulthood once the person reached a certain age. Beauty is mostly the reason why people wear such jewelry today. It goes without say that most women and a small percentage of men will have their ears pierced but as far as the rest of the body is concerned, more teens than their parents will have a body piercing. >

This is because most teens consider this to be cool but do they really have an idea on how to properly care for their body piercing jewelry? Buying and wearing one can be very easy as you can buy them from any jewelry store. It takes an extra amount of effort to care for this type of jewelry. First, it is important to know that caring for them is essential because if you do not, it could lead to infection. Infection will be in form of bacteria infection that can result into sickness. What better way to prevent such infections by following these simple tips on how to care for your body piercing jewelry?

The most essential care one can give to their body piercing jewelry is to always wash them especially for jewelry worn around the navel and the tongue. You can do this while having you birth and brushing your teach respectively. But for these two types of body piercing this will not be enough, once in a while you will have to remove the jewelry, clean it effectively and remember to disinfect it. As for the piercing itself, clean it just like you would clean any other body part. When it comes to earrings, do not sleep in them. Remove them once you enter your house and when you have the time clean them with disinfectant especially for those that you rarely wear.

Caring for body piercing jewelry does not stop there. The way you store them is also important. Get a jewelry box and if you cannot afford one then get a small ordinary box and divide it into different compartments. This will enable you to store different jewelry differently rather than having them all in one place. The last essential care you can give your jewelry is not to share them. You can share earrings but please to not borrow or lend someone you tongue ring.

As per the provisions of federal law, the sterling silver jewelry needs to be made from an alloy consisting of least 92.5% pure silver. The remaining 7.2 % of the alloy can compose any type of metal. Normally, the jewelry manufacturers made these jewelries by combining platinum or copper with the pure silver. The high percentage of pure silver is also responsible for providing sterling silver jewelry with the impressive and attractive shine. Also, these jewelries are priced high because of the alloy composing of 92.5% pure silver. However, many people love to appraise the jewelries to buy the best quality items on their predetermined budget.

1. Clean the Jewelry: When you decide to appraise the sterling silver jewelry, you have to start by cleaning the piece thoroughly. Use a soft cloth and clean the jewelry by buffing out the tarnish. You also have to ensure that fingerprints and similar temporary markings are completely wiped off during the cleaning process. If the tarnish is heavy, you have to consider using some specially designed chemicals available in the market as tarnish dip. Many people use silver polish to clean the sterling silver jewelry, but the polish is not strong and effective enough to properly clean the grooves and crevices developed in the jewelry piece.

2. Inspect the Piece Using a Magnifying Glass: Most of the sterling silver jewelry is launched by the manufacturer with quality marks. You can use a magnifying glass and inspect the piece thoroughly to identify the quality marks. Most of the jewelries made of sterling silver normally carried two quality marks. One of these marks will highlight the name, brand or logo of the sterling silver jewelry manufacturer, whereas the second mark will mention sterling, st er., 925 or .925. If the jewelry piece does not mention the silver percentage, the alloy is most likely coin silver and not sterling silver.

3. Consult an Expert: Sometimes the thorough cleaning and inspection using a magnifying glass may not satisfy a skeptical sterling silver jewelry buyer. So these people prefer to avail the professional assistance of an expert. You can contact a person having experience and expertise in identifying and pricing silver jewelry to ensure that you are getting the best and authentic sterling silver jewelry. You can even refer to some on-line material to determine the true price of these jewelries based on specific criterion.

4. Ask Permission of the Seller to Appraise the Jewelry: As the customers frequently request to appraise the sterling silver jewelry before buying the piece, many jewelry store owners retain the services of professional silver appraisers. As you may not be able to fix an appointment with the appraiser, you can always ask the seller to get the jewelry piece identified and appraised. However, it is very much important for a buyer to ensure that the silver appraiser is experienced and reliable.
The method and technique of appraising the sterling silver jewelry will differ based on the convenience of the buyer. You can spend some time in evaluating the piece on your own, or save time by availing the assistance of a professional silver appraiser.