Avoid storing in acidic materials, including some types of wood, most cardboard, and paper. Acidity can tarnish metal and cause pitting on both metal and stones. Plywood and particle board can also cause adverse reactions over time, due to acids in both the wood and the binder. The plasticizers found in most plastics can seriously [...]
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There are several types of storage cases which you can also purchase for your collection, or for an individual item. Jewelry Boxes: The traditional jewelry box can be suitable for a collection. However, some jewelry boxes are collectable on their own, and not really designed to hold more than a very few pieces. When looking [...]
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The most important, basic rule: Each item of jewelry should be isolated from others. If it is not possible to isolate each jewel (e.g., pendants hanging from a bracelet or necklace), then the items should be immobilized so that they do not rub past each other.
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A common, and sure, way to ruin the value of your collection of jewels is to store them improperly. Jewelry is made up of stones and metals of various hardnesses. When thrown together, they will easily scratch, abrade and crack each other. Perfection is highly valued in gemstones, and a valuable, perfect stone can quickly [...]
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Agate : part of the chalcedony quartz family of minerals, most common light gray-blue to beige or reddish to brown layers of color but also available dyed green, moss, orange, dark reds, and mixed colors, hardness 6.5 – 7, the alternative birthstone for September and May. Amber : an organic fossil resin from amber pine [...]
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This is really a personal preferance on the buyers part, here are some definitions to help you determine the quality versus price: Karat – the pureness of gold 24 KT is pure gold, 10 KT is 10 parts pure gold and 14 parts other metals, not to be confused with carat weight. Vermeil – heavy [...]
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If you or a loved one was born in June now is the time to buy an Alexandrite. The prices have never been lower. Discovered in 1830 in Russia and named after Czar Alexander II, who was then Crown Prince of Russia, Alexandrite appears to change color under different forms of light. It can look [...]
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There is so much confusion around Copal Amber and Amber. Copal is a very young amber that has not gone through the entire fossil process. Copal usually comes from Columbia and is tree sap. Yes, it is hard and often has insects inside, but it will craze, crack and it will melt. Natural Amber will [...]
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Opals can be found in a range of colors, from light or white opals to more rare and valuable black opals. Before you start shopping for opal jewelry, learn a little about the many types of opals, how to identify them, and how they relate to each other in value. Black opal: Black opals have [...]
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This is a short guide incorporating simple care tips for brooches and costume jewelry. Have you ever noticed that your brooches and other costume jewelry tend to tarnish and fade sooner than your fine and precious jewelry? Suddenly, you realize that your favorite brooch now looks old and used or worse – it is chipped [...]
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