12 Prime Jewelry Errors (that we want you’d cease making)

As an Australian jeweller, I suspect you make all types of errors together with your jewelry that I actually want you were not.

It could possibly be right down to lack of time or dangerous habits, however more than likely it is since you merely do not have sufficient data to grasp what the issues may be and how one can keep away from them.

However do not panic: I am right here that can assist you appropriate your errors by itemizing my prime 12 jewelry errors and keep away from them – to your personal sake. They’re going to make it easier to to avoid wasting 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 looking for jewelry it’s best to at all times be clear on what the items are created from. If the vendor does not specify the supplies then it is seemingly the designs usually are not created from silver, gold, rose gold or different valuable metals. In the event you’re unclear, then it’s best to at all times ask before you purchase, particularly for greater priced objects.

Simply because a bit of jewelry is gold or silver in color doesn’t suggest it is created from these particular metals. Particularly if a bit of jewelry provides the looks of being gold however it’s cheap, then it is nearly definitely not gold in any respect: at greatest it is going to 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 properly over time and should 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 carrying. Thinly plated jewelry could pretty shortly put on by means 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 totally pretend. Any of those choices are positive in the fitting circumstances, however it pays to pay attention to what you are spending your hard-earned cash on.

After all low value costume jewelry has its place and when you’re comfortable 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 be mindful: information 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 valuable 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’s going to completely get you on top of things with jewelry jargon while you’re buying.

2. Sporting the identical jewelry day-after-day

Even I understand how straightforward it’s to slide into the behavior of carrying the identical items day in, time out and nearly by no means taking them off. But it surely’s a great 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.

It’s best to take off your on a regular basis items often to offer them a clear with some heat soapy water and a smooth bristled brush. I like to recommend doing this each 1-2 weeks. See beneath for extra recommendations on cleansing your jewelry.

Secondly, you may be boring and no one desires that! So have a take into consideration the jewelry you will have in your assortment and the way you need to 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 massive hints to family members on the proper instances of 12 months, 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 totally 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 may keep in mind to combine it up as you are getting dressed for work or totally different events.

Additionally make notice of any sorts of items you want you needed to prolong your wardrobe additional. Making the fitting funding in jewelry and equipment can add quite a lot of creativity and flexibility to your wardrobe for years to return.

It’s best to take a look at our 15 prime jewelry model suggestions 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 wash their jewelry often, if in any respect. It may be straightforward to overlook the construct up of normal grime and tarnish, however – imagine me – it is going to be there and it is going to be noticeable to others.

You put on jewelry towards your pores and skin and clothes for prolonged intervals whereas endeavor all types of actions, so after all it’s going to want cleansing every now and then, simply as your clothes does.

I like to recommend scheduling an intensive clear of your jewelry at the very least twice a 12 months (or extra usually relying on the way you put on and retailer your items and when you stay in a moist location). The transition into hotter and cooler months of the 12 months is a superb time to do it. This will contain something from a fast wash with a delicate cleaning soap by means of to extra complicated tarnish and dirt elimination, relying on the items.

It pays to teach your self about clear your jewelry safely and accurately. In the event you’re in a rush take a look at our 10 tricks to shortly clear jewelry as a place to begin, however it’s best to positively delve deeper into our complete jewelry cleansing & care information.

Remember so as to add cleansing your jewelry as a recurring activity 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 harm your valuable items. So beware!

Cleansing your valuable silver or gold jewelry with toothpaste is de facto not a good suggestion. It is abrasive and it’ll deplete the steel over time, making heirloom items much less and fewer useful. It could additionally terminally harm finishes. Similar goes for utilizing baking or bicarb soda paste which is rubbed towards the steel to wash it: simply do not do it.

That is particularly a really dangerous concept in relation to options to stable gold, reminiscent of gold vermeil, gold stuffed 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 unattainable to restore. Study extra about several types of gold that can assist you perceive why.

Utilizing any type of alcohol with gems is prone to even be a nasty concept. The truth is 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 just 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 will have. Learn the care and cleansing articles linked to in tip 4 for recommendation.

6. Sporting your jewelry whereas swimming or showering

There a couple of causes to keep away from carrying your jewelry in water.

Firstly, it may be straightforward to lose your items – particularly when showering. If the concept of your valuable gold ring slipping off and happening the drain terrifies you, then it is actually not a good suggestion to take the chance. As an alternative, 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. In the event you do preserve some items on while you bathe or bathe, then ensure you take them off each few weeks to offer them a great clear: stud earrings particularly, as outlined above.

Particularly, it’s 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, when you’re going for a swim, I like to recommend you allow your jewels safely at house.

Swimming in swimming pools or the ocean whereas carrying valuable steel jewelry isn’t really helpful. Chlorine utilized in swimming pools or jacuzzis can discolour silver and plenty of gems – and it could possibly even probably weaken gold. As for salt water, it could possibly uninteresting diamonds and erode soldered components in steel jewelry. And no one desires that.

7. Not storing your jewelry appropriately

Keep away from storing your jewelry in a spot the place humidity is a matter, particularly loos. Sterling silver jewelry particularly will tarnish quicker in humid locations, which means extra time you may must spend cleansing it.

You also needs to retailer your valuable jewelry away from free flowing air. Partly it’s going to merely get dusty and dirty, however sterling silver and different metals will tarnish quite a bit quicker when left unworn within the open air.

Additionally remember that steel jewelry which will get jumbled up and might simply rub towards different steel, gems or laborious surfaces will get broken. You wish to keep away from scratching and scuffing silver and gold particularly, but in addition softer gems.

I like to recommend storing your jewelry in a devoted jewelry field, jewelry roll and even preserve each bit (or pair) in its personal small padded field. It will restrict the publicity to flowing air and humidity. Relying in your storage arrange it could possibly additionally assist to forestall scratching and tangling. The reward packing containers which include our on-line jewelry orders can be good.

In the event you choose to show your jewelry on a necklace tree or comparable, then be ready to wash it way more often – and do not forget to mud it too!

8. Not clasping necklaces after taking them off

Associated to 7: it’s best to at all times clasp your necklaces while you take them off. It will assist to keep away from tangled chains which may be very tough to tug aside. As a jeweller, I spend quite a lot of time untangling lengths of chain and I can guarantee you that it isn’t quite a lot of 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 means of the straw earlier than clasping it, which can make tangles just about unattainable for many necklaces.

9. Not contemplating the ethics behind the jewelry you purchase

This tip is one I am particularly keen about as jewelry is usually a little bit of an moral minefield (and we genuinely work laborious to be as moral and eco-friendly as attainable).

Listed here are some points I like to recommend you take into account when buying:

• Does the jewelry enterprise use recycled valuable metals the place attainable? Does it recycle its personal metals?
• Are gems ethically sourced – particularly diamonds and different excessive worth stones, which have the potential to come from conflict zones?
• Are lab grown or simulated gems 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 circumstances 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!).
• Try our article on really 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 realize the sorts of retailers I am speaking about: they’re the large jewelry chain shops you see in lots of buying malls and on-line. They promise a world of sentimental sparkles for not some huge cash.

Typically their items are sourced from folks working in very poor circumstances and infrequently the workmanship is shoddy – to the purpose of their jewelry not being repairable if and when one thing goes fallacious.

In the event you’re in search of excessive finish ‘conventional’ jewelry, particularly if it is supposed to be a valuable sentimental piece, then discover a smaller scale manufacturing jeweller with a great fame. It is properly definitely worth the funding for this kind of jewelry.

In the event you’re in search of extra up to date, artisan model jewelry then discover unbiased 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 buying from companies you could really really feel snug supporting and serving to to flourish.

11. Not selecting a necklace to match your neckline

As an alternative 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 properly with several types of necklines. You will discover it’s going to add much more curiosity and magnificence to your wardrobe.

It is a good suggestion to have an array of necklace lengths accessible in your jewelry assortment. You also needs to decide up necklace extenders so you possibly can simply fluctuate the lengths of the necklaces and pendants you like to put on.

Fortunately we now have 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 buying

Not figuring out your ring dimension accurately will solely result in frustration, delays and presumably further prices while you purchase rings: it is best averted. Take the time to get your ring dimension proper earlier than buying and to grasp what the problems are.

(Studying this on an internet site that is not simonewalsh.com? Bear in mind that the content material has been stolen, infringing the copyright of a small enterprise. ABN: 65108844126)

Try our ring dimension measuring information article, together with our ring dimension conversion chart for many suggestions. Crucial tip is to spend money on a hoop sizer earlier than you buy – and even go to a jeweller in particular person to get an correct dimension.

Different jewelry assets: