As an Australian jeweller, I suspect you are making all kinds of errors along with your jewelry that I actually want you were not.
It may very well be right down to lack of time or unhealthy habits, however almost definitely it is since you merely haven’t got sufficient data to understand what the issues is perhaps and how one can avoid them.
However do not panic: I am right here that can assist you appropriate your errors by itemizing my prime 12 jewelry errors and how one can keep away from them – on your personal sake. They’re going to allow you to to avoid wasting time, cash and preserve 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 searching for jewelry it is best to all the time be clear on what the items are produced from. If the vendor does not specify the supplies then it is seemingly the designs usually are not produced from silver, gold, rose gold or different treasured metals. In the event you’re unclear, then it is 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 does not imply it is produced from these particular metals. Particularly if a bit of jewelry provides the looks of being gold but it surely’s cheap, then it is nearly actually not gold in any respect: at greatest it will likely 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, corresponding to brass or nickel, is unlikely to put on nicely over time and will 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 could pretty rapidly put on by way of to the bottom steel beneath.
You also needs to know what any stones are: whether or not they’re lab grown or pure, or whether or not they’re solely pretend. Any of those choices are effective in the appropriate circumstances, but it surely pays to concentrate on what you are spending your hard-earned cash on.
In fact low value costume jewelry has its place and in the event 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 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 treasured metals, together with why they’re so useful and helpful in jewelry. Additionally take a look at our jewelry glossary, which has over 100 definitions for jewelry phrases: it should completely get you up to the mark with jewelry jargon while you’re purchasing.
2. Sporting 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 nearly by no means taking them off. However it’s a superb 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 probably resulting in infections.
You must take off your on a regular basis items commonly to present them a clear with some heat soapy water and a delicate bristled brush. I like to recommend doing this each 1-2 weeks. See beneath for extra recommendations on cleansing your jewelry.
Secondly, you will be boring and no person desires that! So have a take into consideration the jewelry you could have in your assortment and the way you need to use extra of it regularly.
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 massive hints to family members on the proper occasions of yr, after all).
3. Not being artistic 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 artistic as you possibly can with mixtures and make notes of what works for you so you will 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 appropriate funding in jewelry and equipment can add quite a lot of creativity and flexibility to your wardrobe for years to come back.
You must try our 15 prime jewelry fashion ideas 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, it is a massive 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 will likely be there and it will likely 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 after all it should want cleansing on occasion, simply as your clothes does.
I like to recommend scheduling an intensive clear of your jewelry not less than twice a yr (or extra typically relying on the way you put on and retailer your items and in the event you dwell in a moist location). The transition into hotter and cooler months of the yr is a superb time to do it. This may contain something from a fast wash with a delicate cleaning soap by way of to extra complicated tarnish and dirt removing, relying on the items.
It pays to coach your self about how one can clear your jewelry safely and accurately. In the event you’re in a rush try our 10 tricks to rapidly clear jewelry as a place to begin, however it is best to undoubtedly 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 scrub your jewelry than to to not do it in any respect, not all cleansing strategies are created equal and a few could completely harm your treasured items. So beware!
Cleansing your treasured silver or gold jewelry with toothpaste is admittedly not a good suggestion. It is abrasive and it’ll deplete the steel over time, making heirloom items much less and fewer useful. It might additionally terminally harm finishes. Similar goes for utilizing baking or bicarb soda paste which is rubbed towards the steel to scrub it: simply do not do it.
That is particularly a really unhealthy thought relating to alternate options to stable gold, corresponding 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 could be tough or not possible to restore. Study extra about several types of gold that can assist you perceive why.
Utilizing any type of alcohol with gem stones is prone to even be a foul thought. Actually my favorite tip is to make use of alcohol for ingesting functions solely, ought to that be your kind of factor! That is particularly vital 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 along with your jewelry altogether, until these chemical compounds are particularly beneficial by professionals for cleansing the kind of jewelry you could have. Learn the care and cleansing articles linked to in tip 4 for recommendation.
6. Sporting 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 treasured 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 will 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 preserve some items on while you bathe or bathe, then be sure you take them off each few weeks to present them a superb clear: stud earrings particularly, as outlined above.
Particularly, it is best to keep away from getting pearls and opals moist repeatedly, as long run publicity to water and different chemical compounds could completely harm and discolour these stones.
Lastly, in the event you’re going for a swim, I like to recommend you permit your jewels safely at residence.
Swimming in swimming pools or the ocean whereas sporting treasured steel jewelry is rarely beneficial. Chlorine utilized in swimming pools or jacuzzis can discolour silver and plenty of gem stones – and it may even probably weaken gold. As for salt water, it may 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, that means extra time you will have to spend cleansing it.
You also needs to retailer your treasured jewelry away from free flowing air. Partially it should 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 might simply rub towards different steel, gem stones or onerous surfaces will get broken. You wish to keep away from scratching and scuffing silver and gold particularly, but in addition softer gem stones.
I like to recommend storing your jewelry in a devoted jewelry field, jewelry roll and even preserve every 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 additionally assist to forestall scratching and tangling. The present containers which include our on-line jewelry orders might be good.
In the event you desire to show your jewelry on a necklace tree or related, then be ready to scrub it rather more commonly – and do not forget to mud it too!
8. Not clasping necklaces after taking them off
Associated to 7: it is best to all the time clasp your necklaces while you take them off. This can assist to keep away from tangled chains which could be very tough to drag aside. As a jeweller, I spend numerous time untangling lengths of chain and I can guarantee you that it is not numerous enjoyable.
In the event you’re nonetheless having bother with tangles, then take a look at utilizing straws or different tubing that can assist you out. You may put one finish of the necklace by way 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 captivated with as jewelry generally is a little bit of an moral minefield (and we genuinely work onerous to be as moral and eco-friendly as attainable).
Listed below are some points I like to recommend you take into account when purchasing:
- Does the jewelry enterprise use recycled treasured metals the place attainable? 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 situations moral?
- Is the vendor up entrance about the kind of supplies used of their designs?
- Are the costs applicable? 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 how one can actually 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 already know the sorts of retailers I am speaking about: they’re the massive 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.
Typically their items are sourced from individuals working in very poor situations and infrequently 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 supposed to be a treasured sentimental piece, then discover a smaller scale manufacturing jeweller with a superb fame. It is nicely definitely worth the funding for this kind of jewelry.
In the event you’re on the lookout for extra modern, artisan fashion 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 lead to a significantly better funding for you. You will additionally profit from the texture good issue by purchasing from companies which you can actually really feel snug 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 different sorts and lengths of necklace that can go nicely with several types of necklines. You will discover it should 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 also needs to choose up necklace extenders so you possibly can simply range the lengths of the necklaces and pendants you like to put on.
Fortunately we’ve got 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 dimension earlier than purchasing
Not figuring out your ring dimension 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 dimension proper earlier than purchasing and to grasp what the problems are.
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Take a look at our ring dimension measuring information article, together with our ring dimension conversion chart for plenty of ideas. An important tip is to put money into a hoop sizer earlier than you buy – and even go to a jeweller in individual to get an correct dimension.
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