As an Australian jeweller, I suspect you are making all types of errors together with your jewelry that I actually want you were not. It might be all the way down to lack of time or unhealthy habits, however most definitely it is since you merely do not have sufficient data to understand what the issues may be.
So I am right here that can assist you appropriate your errors by itemizing my high 12 jewelry errors and the way to keep away from them – in your personal sake. They’ll assist you to save time, cash and maintain your jewelry (and your self!) trying nice.
Let’s get began:
1. Not understanding the supplies used to make jewelry
When searching for jewelry it’s best to all the time be clear on what the items are made out of. If the vendor would not specify the supplies then it is possible the designs will not be made out of silver, gold, rose gold or different valuable metals. In the event you’re unclear, then it’s best to all the time ask before you purchase, particularly for larger priced gadgets.
Simply because a bit of jewelry is gold or silver in color doesn’t suggest it is made out of these particular metals. Particularly if a bit of jewelry offers the looks of being gold nevertheless it’s cheap, then it is nearly actually not gold in any respect: at greatest will probably be very thinly plated. Gold is a really costly steel and there’s no such factor as low-cost gold jewelry. Discover out extra about gold and several types of gold utilized in jewelry.
Base steel jewelry, comparable to brass or nickel, is unlikely to put on properly 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 suggest you keep away from sporting. Thinly plated jewelry might pretty shortly put on via to the bottom steel beneath.
Extra useful jewelry articles:
You also needs to know what any gems are: whether or not they’re lab grown or pure, or whether or not they’re solely faux. Any of those choices are nice in the correct circumstances, nevertheless it pays to pay attention to what you are spending your hard-earned cash on.
After all low price costume jewelry has its place and should you’re blissful for a design to be a comparatively brief lived trend piece and your pores and skin will tolerate the supplies, then that is completely okay.
Simply take note: 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 precious and helpful in jewelry. Additionally take a look at our jewelry glossary, which has over 100 definitions for jewelry phrases: it would completely get you on top of things with jewelry jargon once you’re buying.
2. Carrying the identical jewelry each day
Even I understand how simple it’s to slide into the behavior of sporting the identical items day in, day trip and nearly by no means taking them off. However it’s an excellent 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 adjustments happen slowly. That is particularly the case for stud earrings the place half them is hidden behind your ear lobe, gathering chemical compounds from washing your hair and doubtlessly resulting in infections.
It’s best to take off your on a regular basis items frequently to offer them a clear with some heat soapy water and a gentle bristled brush. I like to recommend doing this each 1-2 weeks. See beneath for extra recommendations on cleansing your jewelry.
Secondly, you may be boring and no one desires that! So have a take into consideration the jewelry you will have in your assortment and the way you should use extra of it frequently.
If you do not have a lot jewelry or your assortment has some gaps in it, then give you a plan so as to add extra items over time (together with dropping large hints to family members on the proper occasions of yr, in fact).
3. Not being artistic with jewelry and equipment
Associated to tip 2: do not be boring!
When the seasons change is a good time to do some experimenting in entrance of a mirror with totally different outfits and equipment, particularly together with jewelry. Be as artistic 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 totally different events.
Additionally make notice of any forms of items you want you needed to prolong your wardrobe additional. Making the correct funding in jewelry and equipment can add a substantial amount of creativity and flexibility to your wardrobe for years to come back.
It’s best to take a look at our 15 high jewelry model suggestions for extra recommendation on benefiting from 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 wash their jewelry frequently, if in any respect. It may be simple to overlook the construct up of normal grime and tarnish, however – imagine me – will probably be there and will probably be noticeable to others.
You put on jewelry towards your pores and skin and clothes for prolonged intervals whereas endeavor all types of actions, so in fact it would want cleansing infrequently, simply as your clothes does.
I like to recommend scheduling a radical clear of your jewelry at the very least twice a yr (or extra typically relying on the way you put on and retailer your items and should you dwell in a moist location). The transition into hotter and cooler months of the yr is a good time to do it. This may contain something from a fast wash with a mild cleaning soap via to extra complicated tarnish and dirt elimination, relying on the items.
It pays to teach your self about the way to clear your jewelry safely and accurately. In the event you’re in a rush take a look at our 10 tricks to shortly clear jewelry as a place to begin, however it’s best to positively delve deeper into our complete jewelry cleansing & care information.
Do not forget so as to add cleansing your jewelry as a recurring activity in your diary.
5. Utilizing unhealthy jewelry cleansing strategies
Whereas it is higher to make an effort to wash your jewelry than to to not do it in any respect, not all cleansing strategies are created equal and a few might completely harm your valuable items. So beware!
Cleansing your valuable silver or gold jewelry with toothpaste is actually not a good suggestion. It is abrasive and it’ll deplete the steel over time, making heirloom items much less and fewer precious. It could additionally terminally harm finishes. Similar goes for utilizing baking or bicarb soda paste which is rubbed towards the steel to wash it: simply do not do it.
That is particularly a really unhealthy concept in the case of alternate options to strong gold, comparable to gold vermeil, gold crammed or gold plated. You might be prone to take away the valuable gold from the floor of your jewelry and it might be tough or unimaginable to restore. Study extra about several types of gold that can assist you perceive why.
Utilizing any type of alcohol with gems is prone to even be a foul concept. The truth is my favorite tip is to make use of alcohol for ingesting functions solely, ought to that be your type 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 compounds coming into contact together with your jewelry altogether, except these chemical compounds are particularly advisable by professionals for cleansing the kind of jewelry you will 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 simple to lose your items – particularly when showering. If the thought 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 whilst you’re showering and make it a routine.
Additionally you may discover that your earrings, necklaces and gemstone rings are prone to get gummed up by the residue from shampoos, conditioners and soaps over time. In the event you do maintain some items on once you bathe or bathe, then be sure to take them off each few weeks to offer them an excellent clear: stud earrings particularly, as outlined above.
Particularly, it’s best to keep away from getting pearls and opals moist repeatedly, as long run publicity to water and different chemical compounds might completely harm and discolour these stones.
Lastly, should you’re going for a swim, I like to recommend you allow your jewels safely at dwelling.
Swimming in swimming pools or the ocean whereas sporting valuable steel jewelry isn’t advisable. Chlorine utilized in swimming pools or jacuzzis can discolour silver and lots of gems – and it might probably even doubtlessly weaken gold. As for salt water, it might probably uninteresting diamonds and erode soldered components in steel jewelry. And no one desires that.
7. Not storing your jewelry appropriately
Keep away from storing your jewelry in a spot the place humidity is a matter, particularly bogs. Sterling silver jewelry particularly will tarnish quicker in humid locations, that means extra time you may must spend cleansing it.
You also needs to retailer your valuable jewelry away from free flowing air. Partly it would merely get dusty and dirty, however sterling silver and different metals will tarnish lots quicker when left unworn within the open air.
Additionally bear in mind that steel jewelry which will get jumbled up and may simply rub towards different steel, gems or laborious surfaces will get broken. You wish to keep away from scratching and scuffing silver and gold particularly, but in addition 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 may restrict the publicity to flowing air and humidity. Relying in your storage arrange it might probably additionally assist to forestall scratching and tangling. The reward packing containers which include our on-line jewelry store orders can be excellent.
In the event you favor to show your jewelry on a necklace tree or related, then be ready to wash it way more frequently – and do not forget to mud it too!
8. Not clasping necklaces after taking them off
Associated to 7: it’s best to all the time clasp your necklaces once you take them off. This may assist to keep away from tangled chains which may be very tough to drag aside. As a jeweller, I spend loads of time untangling lengths of chain and I can guarantee you that it isn’t loads of enjoyable.
In the event you’re nonetheless having hassle with tangles, then take a look at utilizing straws or different tubing that can assist you out. You’ll be able to put one finish of the necklace via the straw earlier than clasping it, which is able to make tangles just about unimaginable for many necklaces.
9. Not contemplating the ethics behind the jewelry you purchase
This tip is one I am particularly keen about as jewelry generally is a little bit of an moral minefield (and we genuinely work laborious to be as moral and eco-friendly as attainable).
Listed here are some points I like to recommend you contemplate when buying:
- Does the jewelry enterprise use recycled valuable metals the place attainable? 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 acceptable? Too low-cost means nearly actually implies that somebody is being ripped off someplace alongside the road (and it might even be you!).
- Take a look at our article on the way to really help impartial 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 realize the forms of outlets 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.
Generally their items are sourced from folks 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 incorrect.
In the event 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 an excellent popularity. It is properly definitely worth the funding for this type of jewelry.
In the event you’re on the lookout for extra up to date, artisan model jewelry then discover impartial 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 you could 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 nearly each outfit, have a take into consideration the differing types and lengths of necklace that may go properly with several types of necklines. You may discover it would add much more curiosity and elegance to your wardrobe.
It is a good suggestion to have an array of necklace lengths out there in your jewelry assortment. You also needs to decide up necklace extenders so you possibly can simply differ the lengths of the necklaces and pendants you like to put on.
Fortunately we’ve got a necklace lengths and elegance 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 once you purchase rings: it is best averted. Take the time to get your ring measurement proper earlier than buying and to know what the problems are.
Take a look at our ring measurement measuring information article, together with our ring measurement conversion chart for plenty of suggestions. Crucial tip is to spend money on a hoop sizer earlier than you buy – and even go to a jeweller in particular person to get an correct measurement.
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