Costume jewelry has been very popular for many years. The Ancient Egyptians were known to have worn decorative bracelets and beaded necklaces. Cleopatra was probably the first woman to adorn herself in what we know today as costume jewelry.

Costume jewelry is generally known to be produced without the use of precious metals or gemstones. So you will pay a lot less for it than fine jewelry. It is often created with non-precious metals, sometimes gold or silver plated. There are various materials that are traditionally used to make beads, such as wood, amber, pottery, ceramic metals ivory and pearls. Today modern materials such as plastics, nylon and polycarbonate variants are also being used to make beads. Costume jewelry can be antique, period or contemporary.

As you may know, there are some people who cannot wear costume jewelry next to their skin. This is because of their sensitivity to the metals used. So if you are giving costume jewelry as a gift to a friend or loved one, you should make sure that they are not allergic to nickel or copper. This is especially important when it comes to pierced earrings.

To prevent tarnishing in costume jewelry, it should be cleaned on a regular basis. This is very simple to do with a mild soap and water. The jewelry should be soaked and then dried thoroughly before putting it away. You can also use anti- tarnish paper to wrap and store you jewelry for long periods of time. However, regular cleaning is the best defense against tarnishing.

Costume jewelry, unlike fine jewelry is meant to be fun rather than impressive. It should be a fashion accessory rather than an investment. Since you normally will not pay as much for costume jewelry as you would for fine jewelry, it’s alright to experiment with different colors and styles. If you become bored with it after a while, you won’t feel like you wasted a lot of money. So enjoy the freedom of expression with costume jewelry.

Which gives you more pain – paying your taxes, visiting the dentist for a long overdue root canal treatment or selling fine jewelry? Yes, some things in life are painful whichever way you look at it. That said, if you are thinking of selling jewelry, there is a silver lining. This could be the best time to sell such items. For one thing, the price of precious metals and stones is at an all-time high. Besides, many pieces of fine jewelry are fetching a premium because of a number of qualities like fine craftsmanship, rarity and antiquity. So, here are some tips to help you sell your fine jewelry at a premium.

When buying old jewelry, you need to be aware of one inescapable fact: old jewelry generally gets lesser money than new. This is because most buyers prefer to buy new. So, it is only natural that pre-owned jewelry undergo some amount of depreciation. However, it is also true that certain pre-owned pieces become more valuable as time goes by. Therefore, a piece that has gone completely out of fashion may have little value other than the value of the metal and stones. On the other hand, certain styles are so rare that they may acquire the status of antique pieces. If your fine old jewelry gets the ‘antique’ tag, they can fetch you a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars more.

Clean your jewelry before getting it appraised. If you do not know how to clean it, get a professional to do it for you. It is well worth the investment.
Calculating the price of gem stones is a little different from calculating the price of precious metals. A lot depends on the condition of the stones. Natural stones are costlier than synthetic stones. Damaged stones may be worthless. However, small scratches may be removed by polishing the stone. Keep these factors in mind when you get ready to sell old jewelry whether they contain gold, platinum or precious stones in order to get the best price for your old jewelry.