Jewelry is an incredible gift and accessory. A jewelry selection should be well-thought-out, whether it is a gift or a personal accessory. Many people find it difficult to choose jewelry owing to the different options available and the ever-changing trends. Here are some great tips that will help you when choosing jewelry.
Quality
One of the things you should look out for when choosing jewelry is quality. Knowing to tell the quality of jewelry will help you choose the best piece based on your budget. The three things to consider when checking quality are hallmarks, weight, and prongs.
When looking for jewelry, inspect the items for hallmarks. One hallmark will tell you the metal content of the item while the other will tell you about the country of origin, manufacturer, or designer. You will find these marks on the inside of bracelets or rings, the clasp of necklaces, or on the post of earrings. All jewelry should have some hallmarks.
Examples of gold hallmarks include 10K, 18K, and 585. For platinum, you will find PLAT, PLATINUM, or 950. Silver hallmarks include Sterling, Silver, 800.
Another example of exceptional jewelry hallmark includes Tacori, Cartier, and Tiffany & Co. It is often advisable to go for jewelry that has some type of hallmark.
If your item looks vintage and does not have a hallmark, it is understandable since the markings may have worn out. In such cases, you need to have the jewelry appraised. However, if it is new and does not have any hallmark, this could be a sign that the piece is not valuable.
Another thing to consider when checking quality is the weight of the item. When valuing bangles and chains, bear in mind, the heavier and longer your platinum or gold jewelry, the more valuable the piece. Gold and silver are heavier than pewter and brass. If you come across a gold chain that is lighter than a similar gold chain you own, the chain is probably fake.
The last thing you need to inspect when checking quality are prongs. High-quality jewelry use prongs. If you find jewelry with no prongs holding it, it is most likely costume jewelry, which is not valuable. Most of the high-quality jewelry have each stone in a prong setting or intricate bezel.
Jewelry Trends
When choosing jewelry, you need to consider the trend that is best suited for you. There are different jewelry trends, all differing in quality and application. Understanding the features of varying jewelry trends is crucial in picking the right piece based on your preferences and needs.
There are five main trends of jewelry: cluster, cocktail, solitaire, costume, and engagement. Cluster jewelry consists of a group of a small gemstone set closely tied together to provide an overall impression of a larger stone. For example, you could have cluster earrings and cluster rings.
Cocktail jewelry consists of bold settings featuring a center stone with multiple surrounding stones. On the other hand, solitaire is jewelry that has one gemstone. This type is most associated with rings but is also used for earrings and necklaces.
Costume jewelry is cheap and made from inexpensive stones and metals. Sometimes many choices are usually between original jewelry and costume jewelry. Costume jewelry is also called fashion jewelry because it is made from semi-precious or imitation stones.
Engagement jewelry is associated with rings. Most conventional wedding ring sets have an engagement ring and wedding ring. Engagement rings are mostly made from diamonds, but there are some made from gemstones. The wedding ring comes above the engagement band to complete the set.
Casual, everyday outfits look good with semiprecious stones. An agate gemstone is common but versatile, perfect for making DIY jewelry for everyday wear. Thus, it will not go out of trend. Agate will look good in most outfits because of its neutral color combination and eye-catching pattern. Agate jewelry can add details to a minimalist outfit. Or it can complement clothing that has interesting patterns. Agate pieces will be great additions to your jewelry collection for times when you feel like accessorizing but want to keep it simple yet interesting.
Jewelry Jargon
Differentiating the jewelry jargon is an essential skill for a collector, enthusiast, or dealer, but it could also help you pick jewelry. There are many terms used to classify jewelry out there, but you are most likely to come across antique, estate, and vintage. It is crucial to understand how to classify jewelry based on these terms. If in doubt, you may ask your dealer to help you identify items. For example, iced out jewelry is a fast growing fashion category and jewellery in this space can range in quality and price greatly.
Antique jewelry refers to pieces that have a minimum of 100 years old. This means jewelry that dates back to the late 1800s is considered antique. Antique jewelry can either be fine or costume pieces. Antique costume jewelry is jewelry that is not made with gemstones, platinum, or gold.
Estate jewelry is used to mean used jewelry. A good example is a ring owned by a reputable king like George III or any jewelry collected or purchased from a wealthy or renowned person. It also applies to fine and costume jewelry.
Vintage is wrongly considered anything from a bygone era; however, this applies to cars and clothing. When it comes to jewelry, vintage is costume jewelry. In many cases, any jewelry that is older than 20 years is considered to be vintage.
Vintage jewelry ranges from plastics like celluloid to couture pieces. The quality of vintage jewelry can be high or low, and so can the values.
How to Classify Rings, Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings
It is good to be able to classify different types of jewelry. This will make your decision easier. A little bit of research will help you get a good grasp of the different styles applicable to each category.
Rings are made for different parts of the body, i.e., fingers, toes, eyebrows, nose, and bellybutton. Rings are classified as delicate, gemstone, and statement rings. When choosing rings, consider the size of your wrist and also the bracelets you are wearing.
Necklaces are mainly classified as layered and statement. Layered neckpieces are for casual wear, whereas statement neckpieces are used to make a positive impression. You also need to be able to differentiate neckpieces in terms of length, whereby you have a collar, princess, choker, and many other types of names.
Earrings come as either delicate earrings, chandelier earrings, or statement earrings. If you are preparing for a party and do not know which earrings to wear, go with chandelier earrings. When wearing chandelier or statement earrings, you should avoid many jewelry pieces. If you have a lot of jewelry on your neck and hands, go for delicate earrings.
Bracelets are also classified as delicate and statement. Cuffed or pearl bracelets are mainly used as centerpieces. With bracelets, you have the freedom to wear more than ten pieces at a time.
Outfit
The outfit you are wearing will determine the jewelry you should wear. In some cases, the jewelry determines the outfit you are going to wear. A rule of thumb is to ensure that your outfit is relevant to the jewelry you choose. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is to contrast colors.
In modern trends, people do not match outfits and jewelry. Choose colors that are a direct contrast with your clothes. The outfit types will also affect your jewelry choice. For example, if you have a short skirt, you should wear large earrings or chandelier earrings.
Neckline
When choosing an outfit to match your jewelry, you need to consider the neckline. The jewelry you choose should go well with your neckline. For example, if you have a deep V-neck outfit, an opera or matinee jewelry piece will be most appropriate. If your outfit has a sweetheart neckline, you can pick a collar necklace.
If your dress has a short neckline, avoid collar necklaces or chokers. If you are unsure which jewelry to pick based on your outfit’s neckline, go with small pendants. These varieties are suited for every type of neckline.
Situations
Another way to choose jewelry is based on the situation. For everyday wear, the popular form of jewelry is a watch. Antique watches look amazing with any outfit. You can also use pendants and studded earrings with your regular wear. The best rule for everyday wear is to limit your jewelry pieces to three.
If you are choosing jewelry for office wear, you need to be cautious. Some jewelry will affect the quality of your work. For example, large hand bracelets will make you less productive when typing on your computer. During job presentations, you should also mind the jewelry you choose because you will catch the attention of a large audience.
If you are going to a party, consider a princess necklace. Party situations give you a great deal of freedom and flexibility. For example, you can wear one ring with a massive gemstone on one hand and four small rings on your other hand. Avoid wearing too much jewelry as it will obstruct the style you are aiming for.
Endnote
There is no magic formula for picking jewelry. However, it is vital to gather as much information as you can about jewelry to avoid making gross fashion mistakes. The foundation for understanding jewelry is to learn about quality, types, jewelry jargon, and classification of jewelry. When choosing jewelry, it is also essential to consider the situation or occasion, your outfit, and features such as neckline, wrist, and shape of the face, and so on. Picking jewelry is an art that is perfected with time; therefore, take your time to familiarize yourself with the different aspects of jewelry, and you will soon be able to pick jewelry without batting an eyelid.