Sunday, May 10, 2009

Get A Good Price For Your Costume Jewelry

Costumes jewelry completely transforms plain looking women into glamor dolls. Nowadays both unsigned and signed costumes jewelry are affordable and completes any attire. If you wish to sell your costume jewelry then you need to spend some time on research and read some books on costume jewelry selling techniques. You can also search the Internet for information to understand the process involved.

Libraries also provide books, so be sure to check the library for some reference books. Remember one thing, while selling costume jewelry; prices may tend to vary as per location, condition and trend or designer signatures. So when you are ready, you can check out some antique pieces in an antique mall or with antique dealer. You can also contact an online dealer for some good suggestions.

First, you should understand the full value of your costume jewelry. There would be great difference if you sell it through a dealer rather than personally.
You can make good money when a dealer sells your costume jewelry to another dealer. You can expect one third of the retail price and this option would really reduce your stress considerably.

Second, you can try and sell it via an auction and of course you might even get more than what you would have, if you sold through a dealer. One can sell costume jewelry through auction houses particularly diamond jewelry, as its of high value as auction houses get you good prices by the end of the day for your prized possession

You can also sell your costume jewelry through online auction. In online auction, you should be able to establish the authenticity of the buyers to check whether they are genuine or they are just bidding for fun. This check also confirms the buyers purchasing capacity as sometimes buyers can be really tricky and buy without paying. This procedure also secures the buyer as he or she can return or complain about the product, if need be. Hence, when you showcase your products online, you should describe the pieces accurately.

If you wish to sell it individually, then you should be able to give the buyer a certificate of appraisal or valuation. In fact, it would be well appreciated if you provide some safety to the investment.

While selling through a dealer look for clarity and be sure that the images showcase the products well. So try and take pictures on a lighter colored fabric.

Inform the dealer about any attached signatures or markings. So, inspect your costume jewelry carefully under bright light and then estimate the worth.

You can also sell your jewelry through consignments and many dealers are ready to bid for this choice. You should understand the procedure thoroughly and then consider this method, as it involves a longer procedure.

So go ahead and sell your collection. It is really thrilling when customers remember you as a lady with class and style for selling good earrings or necklace jewelry in such a busy and cutthroat market place.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about jewelry and diamonds including costume jewelry. When looking for jewelry, we recommend you shop only at the best online jewelry stores for costume jewelry, loose diamonds, diamond rings, costume fashion jewelry, fashion earrings, fashion pendants, costume jewelry, engagement rings, wedding rings, and wedding bands.

How to Care For Diamond Jewelry

Okay, you finally found the perfect diamond ring, earrings or necklace. Now, you need to keep that piece looking as great as it did when you received it.

Probably just tossing your diamonds into a jewelry box is not the greatest idea in the world. It is really heartbreaking to find that beautiful diamond chipped because it was knocked against another diamond in your jewelry box. Sure a diamond is the hardest natural substance on Planet Earth but knock two of them together and something's gotta give. And normally it is a piece of one of the diamonds, or if you are unlucky like I was, both diamonds chip! If you don't have a jewelry box that has the little slots to store your rings in, then put each ring, earring or necklace into a cloth pouch. It takes up more space but if it will save just one of your stones it is worth it!

There is nothing sadder than a diamond without a sparkle and that is so easy to fix. Skin oil, body and hand creams, and just plain dirt (yes, some of us really do forgot to take off our rings when we dig in our gardens and do all the other things that get your hands dirty and well the sad news is your rings get dirty too, just like your hands!) I have been known to forget to take off my rings when I made bread, now that is a real mess to clean. But clean is possible and relatively easy. A little dish soap and water and if needs be an old toothbrush will clean all the gunk from around the stone and shine it up like new! Once in a great while (and I've only had to do it once) the sparkle and shine just is hard to find. Use a weak solution of ammonia and water - I use 2 tablespoons of ammonia to 1/2 cup of water and that old soft toothbrush to get down between the crevices around the stone or stones. Don't be overzealous in your cleaning as you can scratch the gold or silver! Once you've cleaned your rings, necklaces, and earrings just let them air dry and if you feel the overwhelming urge, polish them with a soft dry cloth. Voila! Sparkles!

A good protective measure is to take your diamond rings into a jeweler every once in a while and have the settings checked. Getting a once a year checkup for your diamonds is a good time frame if you wear them all the time. If you only wear them once in awhile, then take them in every couple years. Having lost stones due to carelessness (yes, I know it is hard to believe), I am a firm believer in the ounce of prevention theory! Let the jeweler check them and tighten the settings if needs be. It doesn't matter if you have four-prong, six-prong, and low-profile channel or bezel settings, they come loose just like other settings, so have them checked.

You can always take your diamond jewelry to a jeweler to be cleaned. They have steam or ultrasound cleaners. If you have antique diamond jewelry, I would nix the ultrasound as that can make worn fissures worse.

There is also the alternative of buying (heaven forbid that one!) a jewelry cleaner. Simple, easy, and not really that expensive, it gets my vote every time!

And if you've worn that ring once too often, or the necklace is so last year, well sell it on your favorite online auction. Then you can afford that awesome little diamond bracelet you found there yesterday.

Angee Bart is a regular seller on the auction sites, myejar and eBay, as well as several other online auction sites. Angee has been selling (and buying) on online auctions for more than a decade and is happy to share her knowledge with those who are just starting auction selling and those who have been doing it for years. Everyone, at the very least, should be a buyer on auctions, and really should consider selling. Every household has stuff that is just collecting dust that could be bringing in a few bucks or maybe more than a few bucks! And selling those items using on online auction could really help you weather the recession!