12 Prime Jewelry Errors (that we want you’d cease making)
As an Australian jeweller, I suspect you make all kinds 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 dangerous habits, however almost certainly it is since you merely haven’t got sufficient info to understand what the issues could be and how one can keep away from them.
However do not panic: I am right here that can assist you appropriate your errors by itemizing my prime 12 jewelry errors and easy methods to keep away from them – to your personal sake. They will enable you to avoid wasting time, cash and hold your jewelry (and your self) trying nice. What’s to not love about that?
Let’s dive in …
1. Not understanding the supplies used to make jewelry
When purchasing for jewelry you need to all the time be clear on what the items are constructed from. If the vendor would not specify the supplies then it is possible the designs usually are not constructed from silver, gold, rose gold or different valuable metals. In case you’re unclear, then you need to all the time ask before you purchase, particularly for larger priced objects.
Simply because a chunk of jewelry is gold or silver in color doesn’t suggest it is constructed from these particular metals. Specifically if a chunk 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 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.
Extra useful jewelry articles:
Base steel jewelry, reminiscent of brass or nickel, is unlikely to put on properly over time and should flip your pores and skin black or inexperienced. It might 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 rapidly put on by way of to the bottom steel beneath.
You must also know what any stones are: whether or not they’re lab grown or pure, or whether or not they’re completely faux. Any of those choices are fantastic in the appropriate circumstances, nevertheless it pays to pay attention to what you are spending your hard-earned cash on.
In fact low price costume jewelry has its place and when you’re comfortable 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 be mindful: information 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 beneficial 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 on top of things with jewelry jargon while you’re purchasing.
2. Carrying the identical jewelry every single day
Even I understand how straightforward it’s to slide into the behavior of sporting the identical items day in, day trip 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 may’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 compounds from washing your hair and doubtlessly resulting in infections.
It’s best to take off your on a regular basis items repeatedly to present them a clear with some heat soapy water and a smooth 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 person desires that! So have a take into consideration the jewelry you will have in your assortment and the way you need to use extra of it frequently.
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 huge hints to family members on the proper instances of 12 months, in fact).
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 totally different outfits and equipment, particularly together with jewelry. Be as inventive as you may with combos 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 word of any sorts of items you would like you needed to lengthen your wardrobe additional. Making the appropriate funding in jewelry and equipment can add an excessive amount of creativity and flexibility to your wardrobe for years to return.
It’s best to take a look at our 15 prime jewelry fashion ideas for extra recommendation on taking advantage of your jewelry assortment whereas not shedding your self within the course of.
4. Not cleansing your jewelry
As alluded to above, this can be a huge one. So many individuals fail to wash their jewelry repeatedly, if in any respect. It may be straightforward to overlook the construct up of basic 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 towards your pores and skin and clothes for prolonged durations whereas enterprise all kinds of actions, so in fact it can want cleansing now and again, simply as your clothes does.
I like to recommend scheduling a radical clear of your jewelry at the least twice a 12 months (or extra usually relying on the way you put on and retailer your items and when you stay in a moist location). The transition into hotter and cooler months of the 12 months is a superb time to do it. This may contain something from a fast wash with a mild cleaning soap by way of to extra complicated tarnish and dirt removing, relying on the items.
It pays to teach your self about easy methods to clear your jewelry safely and appropriately. In case you’re in a rush take a look at our 10 tricks to rapidly clear jewelry as a place to begin, however you need to 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 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 absolutely not a good suggestion. It is abrasive and it’ll deplete the steel over time, making heirloom items much less and fewer beneficial. It might 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 dangerous concept with regards to options to stable gold, reminiscent of gold vermeil, gold crammed or gold plated. You’re more likely to take away the dear gold from the floor of your jewelry and it might be troublesome or unattainable to restore. Be taught extra about several types of gold that can assist you perceive why.
Utilizing any type of alcohol with gem stones is more likely to even be a nasty concept. The truth is my favorite tip is to make use of alcohol for ingesting functions solely, ought to that be your form of factor! That is particularly necessary for extra porous gems like pearls, opals, turquoise and lapis lazuli.
I like to recommend that you simply keep away from harsh chemical compounds coming into contact together with your jewelry altogether, except these chemical compounds are particularly beneficial 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 couple 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 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 chance. As a substitute, discover a secure 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 hold some items on while you bathe or bathe, then be sure to take them off each few weeks to present them a great clear: stud earrings particularly, as outlined above.
Specifically, you need 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, when 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 beneficial. Chlorine utilized in swimming pools or jacuzzis can discolour silver and lots of gem stones – and it might even doubtlessly weaken gold. As for salt water, it might boring diamonds and erode soldered components in steel jewelry. And no person 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 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. Partially it can merely get dusty and dirty, however sterling silver and different metals will tarnish rather a lot sooner when left unworn within the open air.
Additionally remember that steel jewelry which will get jumbled up and may simply rub towards different steel, gem stones or arduous surfaces will get broken. You need to keep away from scratching and scuffing silver and gold particularly, but additionally softer gem stones.
I like to recommend storing your jewelry in a devoted jewelry field, jewelry roll and even hold each bit (or pair) in its personal small padded field. It will restrict the publicity to flowing air and humidity. Relying in your storage arrange it might additionally assist to forestall scratching and tangling. The present packing containers which include our on-line jewelry orders might be good.
In case you desire to show your jewelry on a necklace tree or related, then be ready to wash it way more repeatedly – and do not forget to mud it too!
8. Not clasping necklaces after taking them off
Associated to 7: you need to all the time clasp your necklaces while you take them off. It will assist to keep away from tangled chains which may be very troublesome to drag 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 possibly can put one finish of the necklace by way of the straw earlier than clasping it, which is able to make tangles just about unattainable 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 below are some points I like to recommend you contemplate when purchasing:
- Does the jewelry enterprise use recycled valuable metals the place potential? Does it recycle its personal metals?
- Are gem stones ethically sourced – particularly diamonds and different excessive worth stones, which have the potential to come from battle zones?
- Are lab grown or simulated gem stones used when appropriate? These are typically extra moral and sustainable than mined stones whereas nonetheless being prime quality.
- Does the vendor design and make their very own jewelry items? If not, the place are the items made and are working circumstances moral?
- Is the vendor up entrance about the kind of supplies used of their designs?
- Are the costs acceptable? Too low-cost means virtually definitely signifies that somebody is being ripped off someplace alongside the road (and it may even be you!).
- Take a look at our article on easy methods to really assist 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 sorts of retailers I am speaking about: they’re the large jewelry chain shops you see in lots of purchasing 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 circumstances and infrequently the workmanship is shoddy – to the purpose of their jewelry not being repairable if and when one thing goes fallacious.
In case you’re in search of 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 popularity. It is properly definitely worth the funding for this form of jewelry.
In case you’re in search of extra up to date, artisan fashion jewelry then discover impartial designers you want (hopefully together with Simone Walsh Jewelry) and patronise them as a lot as you may to assist them keep afloat.
These approaches to buying jewelry will lead to a a lot better funding for you. You will additionally profit from the texture good issue by purchasing from companies that you may really really feel snug supporting and serving to to flourish.
11. Not selecting a necklace to match your neckline
As a substitute 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 properly with several types of necklines. You will discover it can add much more curiosity and elegance to your wardrobe.
It is a good suggestion to have an array of necklace lengths accessible in your jewelry assortment. You must also choose up necklace extenders so you may simply differ the lengths of the necklaces and pendants you like to put on.
Fortunately we’ve 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 purchasing
Not figuring out your ring measurement appropriately 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 purchasing and to grasp what the problems are.
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Take a look at our ring measurement measuring information article, together with our ring measurement conversion chart for many ideas. Crucial 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.
