Collecting antique jewelry
Antique collecting regardless of type and kind can be difficult.
But, it is harder if you prefer to include antique jewelry in your collection.
This is because antique jewelry requires more knowledge and the utmost care in
order to retain its original value.
Although collecting antique jewelry is more meticulous compared to
others, it won't be a hard task if you familiarize yourself with the things that
you need to know. Today, more and more people prefer collecting jewelry because
the items are more beautiful to look at - especially when used. Aside from the
desire to possess exquisite pieces of antique jewelry, many people collect them
because they can generate a huge amount of money once they are offered for sale.
But, since replication and restoration are standard procedures with
most jewelry today, you should be very careful in buying pieces for your
collection. To avoid buying fakes or even restored ones, which have less value,
the first thing that you should do is to look for a professional appraisal of
the item to ensure its authenticity. While doing this, take note of the date
when the jewelry was authenticated and seek the assistance of an expert to
interpret it for you.
When you are sure about the authenticity of the item, closely
examine and inspect the overall condition by testing its parts such as the
prongs on rings, the sockets of the stone in earrings and in bracelets, and the
pendant in necklaces. Check for any cracks and if there are any, make sure that
you get an estimated cost of the repairs. (TIP: In collecting antique jewelry
that has diamonds in it, ask for a certificate from the Gemological Institute of
America (GIA) so you can be sure that it is authentic.)
If you are collecting antique, or vintage jewelry just because you
love it, visit the
Vintage Store at Sage Hill Farms for some lovely, and lovingly selected
necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more. Vintage collecting is a lovely way to
connect to the past and add treasures to your list of heirlooms.
After purchasing
Maintaining the value of antique jewelry starts at the moment you
purchase it. It means that for you to retain and increase its market value, you
should have proper storage for it and you have enough knowledge on how to clean
it.
Seasoned antique jewelry collectors say that knowing how to clean
an antique piece is very important in protecting your investment. Since the cost
of antique jewelry pieces is a serious investment, people who collect them
should be very particular in maintaining them. Cleaning a piece of antique
jewelry depends on the type of jewelry. The materials used in the jewelry piece
also plays a very big role in cleaning it because a wrong cleaning agent could
damage the item.
(TIP: If you are into collecting antique jewelry as a business,
make sure that you hire the services of a professional to assess the value of
the pieces you have.)