The monetary value of jewellery can range significantly from piece to piece. Objects we place a great deal on may be worth a few dollars, yet something that appears as simple as a necklace may be worth hundreds. So, let's imagine that you came upon a piece of jewellery on the ground or that you purchased a stone that looks fantastic at a yard sale.
If that's the case, you've probably experienced the excitement of pondering the question of whether or not the newly obtained jewel is worth anything at all. Before you take the hidden treasure you found to an appraiser and hand over your cash, there are a few things you can do on your own to prepare it.
The metal itself is the first item that should be taken into consideration. Some manufacturing facilities try to maximise their profits at the expense of consumers by cutting costs wherever they can. One of these methods is to use metal that has been plated. To put it more plainly, this indicates that the actual metal is only used for the plating on the exterior of the jewellery.
On the other hand, on the inside, you will generally find junk metal that has no place being displayed to the public in such a manner. If the plating on the metal ever wears away, the unprotected metal will come into close contact with your skin. But you deserve better, so visit Temples Grace to view the exquisite jewellery that they have to offer.
How To Tell If Your Jewellery Is Valuable
Is It A Respectable Seller?
Be vigilant while bidding on eBay or Shpock or looking through classified ads on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace. The sites are not monitored, so anyone may sign up to sell or buy, yet there are some excellent bargains to be had. Verify the seller's rating and experience. View what other people's experiences have been like on these sites by reading reviews, a feature offered by the vast majority. Check the listing to see if the item is brand new. Is a photo available? Is the merchant showing generic examples or your actual item? Be wary of purchasing anything from an unregulated marketplace, as fakes can flourish there. Even better, stick with reputable jewellers you know you can trust to sell you only authentic pieces.
If you buy vintage jewellery from just any old store, whether it's online or in person, you're guaranteed to get a fake and overpay for it. That's why you should only buy vintage jewellery from stores you know you can trust by doing background checking first. Vintage rings from Berganza are a fantastic example; they have attractive designs and come with useful extras like the year they were made and the designer's story. For example, if you know that a ring was manufactured around 1900, you can be confident that it is indeed an antique.
Check The Branding
Authenticity marks are commonplace on branded goods, especially luxury labels. Verify this to ensure the designer's name is indeed on the item. Many vendors of counterfeit jewellery now include false hallmarks in their products. These may appear authentic at first glance, but red flags become apparent upon closer inspection. Carefully inspect the hallmark on your jewellery for consistency with the designer regarding fonts, layout, and spelling.
Check The Quality
If something isn't authentic, it's usually easy to tell right away because of the poor quality. Be sure the craftsmanship of your jewellery is up to par by giving it a thorough inspection. The links in a necklace or bracelet shouldn't look pinchy but relatively smooth and substantial. Inspecting the mounting and setting of any stone in a piece of jewellery is essential. Costume jewellery can easily pass for the real thing, but a careful inspection will reveal that the rocks are usually just glued in place. These details may seem evident initially, but they're easy to miss in a photograph or online illustration.
Check The Stones
While poorly produced jewellery is usually obvious to spot, a fake gemstone might be warned off by how immaculate it seems. Because gems are composed of minerals, just like any other type of rock, they might include inclusions and other imperfections. Diamonds are also formed naturally, and when viewed under magnification, they frequently exhibit defects comparable to those found in other gemstones. To deceive those not on guard, imitation diamonds and other precious stones are typically crafted out of a combination of plastic and glass, giving them the illusion of being unnaturally flawless.
Did You Receive Certification And Documentation?
Any diamond you buy should come with a certificate verifying its origin and quality. This information can come from any of the reputable gemological institutes. You should insist on receiving certification for your jewellery if it does not go with it. Be careful to read additional instructions, such as cleaning or caring for your jewellery that may come with your purchase. The quality of the printing, as well as the language and spelling, might give away counterfeit goods.
Analyse The Style Of A Piece Of Jewellery
An item of jewellery's design can tell you a lot about its antiquity and authenticity. Because jewellery, like other forms of apparel, can be updated to reflect the aesthetics of the time period in which it is worn. For instance, jewellery from the 1910s to the 1930s typically has white metal. Therefore pieces from this time period should be set in silver, white gold, platinum, or at least a metal that looks like silver. However, due to its high demand, gold was in low supply during World War II. Thus jewellery manufacturers often had to bond gold with silver. If you keep these things in mind while you browse for jewellery, you may be confident that you are getting authentic vintage pieces.
Look For hallmarks
Examining the piece for hallmarks should be one of the first things you do after purchasing jewellery. The metal content of an item can be determined from one hallmark and its country of origin, designer, or maker from a second. In most cases, you can find these inscriptions on the necklace clasp, ring shank, bracelet shank, or earring back. All fine jewellery should be hallmarked unless it is over 100 years old or the hallmark has worn away.
The hallmarks 18K, 14K, 10K, 750, 585, and 375 indicate the gold's purity. Platinum is typically hallmarked with the numbers 950, PLAT, or PLAT. 925, Silver 800, and Sterling are all familiar silver hallmarks. There are many trademarks to choose from, but rest assured that the mere presence of a hallmark on your jewellery indicates its quality.
A word of advice: if your piece looks like an antique but has no hallmark, you should have it appraised. The absence of hallmarks on a seemingly new piece of jewellery is a strong indicator that it is, in fact, just costume jewellery.
Check The Weight Of The Item.
When evaluating necklaces or bracelets, this is of fundamental importance. Gold and silver are usually more substantial than brass and pewter, often used as imitations. A broad gold chain that is noticeably lighter than another similar gold chain is probably not real gold but a cheaper imitation.
False links in a chain look and feel artificial. Jewellery made of solid gold is uniformly shiny, substantial, and smooth. For instance, if a gold-coloured chain is darker or even silvery in areas that undergo heavy wear, it is probably a gold-plated chain and not very valuable. When a piece of jewellery made of solid gold or platinum wears down, the exposed metal should maintain its original hue. White gold is an exception to this rule.
The length and weight of your gold or platinum jewellery are the most critical factors in determining its worth.
Inspect The Prongs
Even though some high-end costume jewellery uses prongs like fine jewellery, most stones are glued into place. If the cameo in your brooch appears glued into the setting rather than held in place by prongs, it is likely costume jewellery and not worth anything. Except for pearls, all stones in fine jewellery will be set in elaborate bezels or prongs.
Some pieces of vintage costume jewellery can be expensive, mainly if they feature numerous sparkling stones in prongs. Sometimes these items can be as precious as a good jewellery set. Be sure the piece is authentic vintage jewellery, in good condition, set with many sparkling, unblemished stones of various colours and free of dirt and grime.
No Filler Either, Thanks
Another telltale symptom of low-quality body jewellery is the presence of fillers. To save cost, combining a genuine metal with another metal is not recommended. While this practice is common among businesses looking to cut costs, it raises employee health concerns. Many people are allergic to nickel, the most commonly used low-grade metal filler known to irritate the skin. The situation is quite risky. Don't even think about it.
High Quality Threading Only
Threading is another critical consideration. Although the external and internal threading may appear identical at first glance, there is a significant difference between the two. How can you notice the difference now? Determine what will penetrate the surface of the skin when examining a piece. This is quite risky if that part has to thread on it. When putting it on or taking it off, you could easily cut or puncture your skin with a sharp object. It is recommended that the post of any body jewellery be smooth and rounded for the sake of safety.
Sterilised For Wear
When it comes to jewellery of higher quality, it is always better to sterilise it first before wearing it. Because of its ability to destroy pathogens and bacteria so thoroughly, steam under high pressure and heated to a high temperature is ideally suited for this application. The proliferation of microbes on an object can be encouraged by specific methods, such as boiling.
A Mirror Finish
An excellent indicator of high-quality body jewellery is a mirror-like sheen. It will not only make your skin glow, but it will also be gentle on your skin. After some time, your skin will react negatively to roughness or defects, leading to inflammation, desensitisation, and other issues. If your piercing is still healing, you should take great care to avoid doing this, as it may slow the healing process and increase scar tissue formation. Make sure your work is as brilliant as a diamond! Otherwise, you'll come to regret your decision deeply.
Always Long-Lasting
The more money you spend, the longer your investment will last. Cheaper materials or sloppy craftsmanship can shorten the lifespan of a piece of jewellery. To that end, you should only purchase jewellery made from pure metals (gold being the finest), guarantee only high-quality gemstones, avoid wearing plastic, and so on.
Everything about it, inside and out, must be flawless to pass inspection. You shouldn't find any flaws like rough spots or uneven colouring anywhere. If there are, the item should be returned for adjustment or replacement. Never put your safety in jeopardy.
Now, it's hardly a walk in the park to go out and look for these indicators in the wild. The best option is to get in touch with the store you plan to buy from and enquire about the quality of their body jewellery. Knowing whether or not what they produce is of excellent quality and safe to wear can be helped by asking the questions we've discussed.
When you doubt the quality of a piercing jewellery company, it's always a good idea to check with a professional studio. Lastly, the cost is a strong predictor of value. Many shoppers, especially those who aren't as savvy, can't resist the allure of cheap body jewellery.
