Vintage jewelry can actually make great fashion accessories. It doesn't have to be your granny's jewelry any longer. Make a statement piece by displaying a vintage necklace or a pair of vintage earrings. Vintage seems to be all the new rage and almost every store out there seems to be selling vintage inspired pieces. Why buy "inspired pieces" when you can buy the real thing for a fraction of the cost?

Essential to anyone buying jewelry for reclamation purposes is a pocket-sized gram and carat scale. While a scale can't determine the purity of the gold and silver you encounter in your jewelry hunting, a pocket scale can at least give you a basic starting point to determine fair pricing and valuing of your jewelry finds.

When choosing earrings, test the weight in the store. You can't--and shouldn't--try them on, but holding them in your hand may be able to tell you if they're too heavy for all-day wear or just too heavy. Heavy earrings will eventually become painful. No matter how nice they look, you won't want to wear them if they're not comfortable.

Know what is trendy before you buy a piece of jewelry. Getting a beautiful piece is fantastic; but it's even better when it's on sale! Look for Hand stamped necklaces and handmade bracelets that never go out of style.

Enroll in a beading class, if you're a fan of necklaces and bracelets. If you are buying them all of the time, this can put a dent in your budget. Instead, take a class and make some jewelry yourself. You will save a ton over buying already made products, have something unique to wear, and you can even sell some of your pieces for a profit.

When on vacation, pick up a beautiful piece of jewelry as a thank you to your wife. She may be on vacation, but chasing after the kids or hosing them down after being at the beach is no picnic. Buy her something to remind her of the good times you've had together on your trip.

When purchasing a silver plated piece of jewelry, immediately paint it with a coat of clear nail polish. Doing this will extend the life of the piece. It can also prevent those tiny scrapes and scratches that are so easy to get. Re-paint the piece once every few months for best results.

Use an egg to antique your sterling silver jewelry. Just boil the egg, chop it up, and put it in a bag with your silver piece. In a few hours your jewelry will change colors and then you can polish it to a beautiful antiqued look. This is an effective method because egg contains sulfur, and sulfur causes the reaction when mixed with sterling silver.

Buy your stones loose when you are creating your own jewelry designs. You will be able to pick out a stone that best reflects your desires. Once you find the perfect stone, your ideas for a perfect setting will be much easier to decipher. Any good piece of jewelry starts at the stone.

Deep, rich blue sapphires are commonly known as the birthstone for those born in September. Their dark, mysterious coloring is often thought to have protective powers over anyone who wears the gem in their rings, bracelets, or brooches. Blue sapphire nicely complements purples and deep scarlet accents and looks beautiful with all settings, but especially platinum or silver.

As already indicated, jewelry can be a timeless gift. Its sentimental value often surpasses the monetary value. Jewelry, though, does need some attention, just like anything else you may treasure. Spend the time needed to get the most out of your jewelry. Enjoy!

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