As an Australian jeweller, I suspect you make 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 dangerous habits, however probably it is since you merely do not have sufficient data to understand what the issues is likely to be and how one can keep away from them.
However do not panic: I am right here that will help you right your errors by itemizing my prime 12 jewelry errors and easy methods to keep away from them – in your personal sake. They’re going to enable you to save lots of time, cash and preserve 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 at all times be clear on what the items are comprised of. If the vendor does not specify the supplies then it is possible the designs usually are not comprised of silver, gold, rose gold or different valuable metals. Should you’re unclear, then you must at all times 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 comprised of these particular metals. Particularly if a bit of jewelry provides the looks of being gold but it surely’s cheap, then it is nearly definitely 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.
Base steel jewelry, reminiscent of brass or nickel, is unlikely to put on nicely over time and will 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 could pretty shortly put on by to the bottom steel beneath.
Extra helpful jewelry articles:
You must also know what any gem stones are: whether or not they’re lab grown or pure, or whether or not they’re totally faux. Any of those choices are wonderful in the appropriate circumstances, but it surely pays to pay attention to what you are spending your hard-earned cash on.
In fact low value costume jewelry has its place and when you’re pleased for a design to be a comparatively brief lived style piece and your pores and skin will tolerate the supplies, then that is completely okay.
Simply remember: data is energy. Learn our helpful 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 take a look at our jewelry glossary, which has over 100 definitions for jewelry phrases: it’s going to completely get you in control with jewelry jargon if you’re procuring.
2. Carrying the identical jewelry daily
Even I understand how straightforward it’s to slide into the behavior of sporting the identical items day in, day trip and nearly by no means taking them off. Nevertheless it’s an excellent behavior to interrupt for a few causes.
Firstly, your on a regular basis jewelry will get dirty in locations you’ll be able to’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 usually to offer them a clear with some heat soapy water and a tender 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 have got 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 provide you with a plan so as to add extra items over time (together with dropping large 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 good 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’ll be able to 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 completely different events.
Additionally make notice of any varieties of items you would like 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 return.
You must take a look at our 15 prime jewelry model suggestions for extra recommendation on benefiting from your jewelry assortment whereas not shedding your self within the course of.
4. Not cleansing your jewelry
As alluded to above, it is a large one. So many individuals fail to wash their jewelry usually, if in any respect. It may be straightforward to overlook the construct up of basic grime and tarnish, however – imagine me – it will likely be there and it will likely be noticeable to others.
You put on jewelry in opposition to your pores and skin and clothes for prolonged durations whereas enterprise all types of actions, so in fact it’s going to want cleansing once in a while, simply as your clothes does.
I like to recommend scheduling an intensive clear of your jewelry not less than twice a 12 months (or extra usually relying on the way you put on and retailer your items and when you dwell in a moist location). The transition into hotter and cooler months of the 12 months is a good time to do it. This may contain something from a fast wash with a delicate cleaning soap by 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 accurately. Should you’re in a rush take a look at our 10 tricks to shortly clear jewelry as a place to begin, however you must undoubtedly 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 could completely injury your valuable items. So beware!
Cleansing your valuable silver or gold jewelry with toothpaste is basically not a good suggestion. It is abrasive and it’ll deplete the steel 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 steel to wash it: simply do not do it.
That is particularly a really dangerous concept relating to alternate options to stable gold, reminiscent of gold vermeil, gold crammed or gold plated. You might be prone to take away the dear gold from the floor of your jewelry and it could be troublesome or not possible to restore. Study extra about several types of gold that will help you perceive why.
Utilizing any type of alcohol with gem stones is prone to even be a foul concept. In truth my favorite tip is to make use of alcohol for ingesting functions solely, ought to that be your kind of factor! That is particularly essential 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, until these chemical compounds are particularly really helpful by professionals for cleansing the kind of jewelry you have got. Learn the care and cleansing articles linked to in tip 4 for recommendation.
6. Carrying your jewelry whereas swimming or showering
There just a few 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 taking place the drain terrifies you, then it is actually not a good suggestion to take the chance. As a substitute, 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. Should you do preserve some items on if you bathe or bathe, then ensure you take them off each few weeks to offer them an excellent 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 compounds could completely injury and discolour these stones.
Lastly, when you’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 steel jewelry is rarely really helpful. Chlorine utilized in swimming pools or jacuzzis can discolour silver and lots of gem stones – and it could possibly even probably weaken gold. As for salt water, it could possibly uninteresting diamonds and erode soldered elements in steel 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 bogs. Sterling silver jewelry particularly will tarnish sooner in humid locations, that means extra time you may have to spend cleansing it.
You must also retailer your valuable jewelry away from free flowing air. Partially it’s going to 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 in opposition to different steel, gem stones or onerous surfaces will get broken. You need 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 may restrict the publicity to flowing air and humidity. Relying in your storage arrange it could possibly additionally assist to stop scratching and tangling. The present packing containers which include our on-line jewelry orders will probably be good.
Should you desire to show your jewelry on a necklace tree or comparable, then be ready to wash it rather more usually – and do not forget to mud it too!
8. Not clasping necklaces after taking them off
Associated to 7: you must at all times clasp your necklaces if you take them off. This may assist to keep away from tangled chains which may be very troublesome to drag aside. As a jeweller, I spend numerous time untangling lengths of chain and I can guarantee you that it isn’t numerous enjoyable.
Should you’re nonetheless having bother with tangles, then take a look at utilizing straws or different tubing that will help you out. You possibly can put one finish of the necklace by 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 is usually a little bit of an moral minefield (and we genuinely work onerous to be as moral and eco-friendly as doable).
Listed here are some points I like to recommend you think about when procuring:
- Does the jewelry enterprise use recycled valuable metals the place doable? 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 struggle zones?
- Are lab grown or simulated gem stones 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 nearly definitely implies 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 actually 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 understand the varieties of retailers I am speaking about: they’re the massive jewelry chain shops you see in lots of procuring 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.
Should 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 an excellent repute. It is nicely well worth the funding for this kind of jewelry.
Should you’re in search of extra modern, artisan model jewelry then discover unbiased designers you want (hopefully together with Simone Walsh Jewelry) and patronise them as a lot as you’ll be able to 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 procuring from companies which you could actually really feel comfy supporting and serving to to flourish.
11. Not selecting a necklace to match your neckline
As a substitute of at all times 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 nicely with several types of necklines. You will discover it’s going to 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’ll be able to simply differ the lengths of the necklaces and pendants you like to put on.
Fortunately now we have a necklace lengths and elegance information with a helpful chart that will help you work all of it out. You are welcome!
12. Failing to find out your ring dimension earlier than procuring
Not figuring out your ring dimension accurately will solely result in frustration, delays and probably further prices if you purchase rings: it is best prevented. Take the time to get your ring dimension proper earlier than procuring and to grasp what the problems are.
Take a look at our ring dimension measuring information article, together with our ring dimension conversion chart for plenty of suggestions. An important tip is to put money into a hoop sizer earlier than you buy – and even go to a jeweller in particular person to get an correct dimension.