Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Body Piercing Tips – Five Things To Consider Before You Get Pierced

Getting a body piercing is becoming more and more popular. Lots of people are enjoying piercings of many types, and with the wide variety of body jewelry available, it is easy to see why. But before you run out and get a piercing there are things that you should consider. There are some drawbacks to piercings, and most of the time when someone has problem with a piercing it is simply because they didn’t think the process through first. In order to make sure that you love your piercing, learn a little about them and think it through before you make any decisions.

belly button piercing

(1) Allergies -The first thing that you should consider is whether you are allergic to any materials. Many people are allergic to nickel, a cheap metal that is used in many pieces of jewelry. Before you get a piercing you need to do everything you can to make sure that you are not allergic to the materials that are in the jewelry. An allergic reaction in a new piercing is bad news, and can lead to pain, infection, and taking the piercing out to allow it to heal. If you aren’t sure whether you have an allergy, play it safe by getting more expensive jewelry made from gold or titanium.

(2) Infections -Make sure that you are capable of keeping your piercing clean while it heals. If you have a job where you get dirty, you may be more susceptible to infections. Take this into account early on to avoid problems.

(3)Visibility -How visible is your piercing going to be? While you may think that a nose ring looks cool, you also need to think about the fact that people are going to stare at it, and not always in the nicest ways. Sometimes people seem to be surprised at the amount of attention a piercing gets, and if you think that this might make you uncomfortable, then maybe you should consider getting pierced somewhere more discreet. Also consider the visibility of any hole or scar should you later decide to get rid of the piercing or if you won’t always be wearing body jewelry.

(4) Social Stigma -Something else you need to take into consideration is what others will think about your piercing. While they are becoming more common, and people are generally more accepting of them than they used to be, sometimes they can still create problems with certain individuals or in certain settings. For example, facial piercings are still banned in most retail and service positions since they unsettle some people. Gauged ear piercings and visible piercings elsewhere are also frowned upon by many employers. If you work somewhere that wants you to look nice, you may find yourself with a problem if you get a piercing that everyone can see. Think about how people will perceive you and your work when you have a piercing. Also be sure to check on the rules and guidelines at work to make sure you aren’t inviting trouble.

(5) Comfort-As cool as you might think certain piercings might look, take a minute to consider if they will also be comfortable. Can you really stand having a stud through your nose or on your tongue? Will the body jewelry in other areas rub or catch on clothing?

By making sure that you think about things such as the above piercing tips, you reduce the chances of being unhappy with your piercing. If you prevent allergic reactions and infection and consider how people will treat you once you have a body piercing, you should be able to relax and enjoy your new adornment. Of course, if you realize that something like a lip or nose piercing isn’t right for you and your lifestyle, you could always get body jewelry somewhere else, such as your ears or bellybutton. Think your piercing choice through carefully, and then enjoy it!

Shop For Affordable and Unique Body Jewelry At Fresh Trends

Related Posts with Thumbnails

View the original article here

DuWop Original Lip Venom Tingly Lip Gloss, Clear 3.5 ml

DuWop Original Lip Venom Tingly Lip Gloss, Clear 3.5 mlLip Venom was the very first lip plumper on the market, creating the lip plumping category for the beauty industry. The tingly gloss uses essential oils to enhance lips' natural color and shape by increasing circulation. The result: fuller bee stung lips.
A tingly gloss that plumps lips naturally
Enhances natural lip color
Plumps with a blend of essential oils
The secret behind Lip Venom is a blend of essential oils, which include cinnamon, wintergreen, and ginger, that cause the blood to rush to the surface of the lips, flushing and swelling them slightly. The gloss also includes jojoba and avocado oil that moisturize and give the lips intense shine. You end up with a shiny, naturally rosy pout that cannot be achieved by wearing ordinary lip gloss.
Lip Venom created the lip plumping category in the cosmetic industry
Plumps using only a blend of pure essential oils of cinnamon, ginger, and wintergreen
Essential oils naturally stimulate by gently increasing circulation to the lips
Jojoba and avocado oils provide intense moisture and shine
get stung.
DuWop Lip Venom is sulfate-free, petro-chemical-free, fragrance-free, dye-free, free of pthalates, no GMO's, no PPG's, no MEA's DEA's, TEA's, is formaldehyde-free, and triclosan-free.
DuWop does not use animal testing on any of their products.

Price: $16.00


Click here to buy from Amazon

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Ensuring You Avoid Fake Designer Sunglasses

In today’s market, designer sunglasses can be notoriously expensive, and it’s not surprising that many people try to find a cheaper alternative, both online and in market places. With many designer frames costing well in excess of £100, it’s no surprise that bargain hunters are sucked in by counterfeit frames.

sunglass fashion

In many cases, people know that they’re buying fake goods, but are happy to do so as they’re getting a product that appears very similar, but for a much cheaper price.

However, whilst it’s understandable why you might feel tempted by counterfeit goods, if you do end up buying them you’ll quickly realise why it’s a mistake. Fake products are so cheap for a very good reason; they’re not put together to a high standard, and they feature low quality materials. As a result, you’ll often find counterfeit frames break extremely easily, sometimes coming apart just from everyday use.

In addition to this, fake sunglasses simply won’t protect your eyes from the sun as they should do – particularly pertinent if you’re purchasing sunglasses for young children.

But what about when you don’t realise you’re buying fake frames? How can you spot the fake ones from the real article?

If you’re looking to avoid buying fake products, then as a general rule you shouldn’t purchase anything that seems too good to be true, particularly from market stalls. Generally, designer brands only sell their stock via official retailers and stockists on the high street, so you’ll almost never find genuine designer sunglasses in a market. You should also be extremely careful if you’re travelling abroad – don’t buy from anywhere except official licensed, branded outlets with a permanent shop.

If you’re buying online, it can be a little trickier. There are numerous retailers online that can sell designer brands at reduced prices, mainly because they have much lower overheads (as they don’t have to rent a shop, etc), so don’t be put off just because a retailer can boast low prices. If you come across a website and you’re not sure about the authenticity of the products, then there are certain things you can look for – how old is the website? Does it have any published feedback? Can you find reviews from the brand anywhere online? Do they have a phone number and physical address where you can call or visit? Are they a registered company? Do they operate a money-back guarantee or an authenticity guarantee? These are all pertinent questions, and if you can find a satisfactory answer to all of the above, then chances are you’re looking at an official stockist of genuine, branded products.

Written by John who spends a huge amount of time finding genuine retailers online. My current favourite retailer of genuine designer sunglasses is Direct Sight – check them out at www.directsight.co.uk

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Disclosures: Girl Gloss at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page


View the original article here

L'Oreal Paris True Match Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner, Soft Honey, 0.11-Fluid Ounce

L'Oreal Paris True Match Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner, Soft Honey, 0.11-Fluid OunceDiscover our purest lip care and sheer mineral color in one. 96% of natural origin, new true match Naturale gentle lip conditioner moisturizes lips beautifully with a flush of naturally luminous minerals, conditioning sweet almond oil and soothing vitam.

Price: $9.95


Click here to buy from Amazon

Monday, October 10, 2011

Guest Post: A Quick Nail Care 101

Aside from the daily skin care and regular trip to the salon for hair care, nail care also tops the list of “it’s a girl thing” thing. It’s not just about hygiene but looks and appearance too. Depending on your lifestyle, you can sport either short, medium or long nails but most of the time, short to medium length nails are more advisable because it can easily be maintained and will not cause you any discomforts say when you type on your computer’s keyboards or your cellphone, no need to worry about it splitting or breaking.

bright nail polish

How do we keep our nails healthy, strong, and pretty? Do we need to use products like we do with our skin and hair? Nail care is more than the “what products to use” as it is with “how to use the products”. There are 2 types of treatments that we do with our nails, fingernails and toenails, which are manicure for the hands and pedicure for the feet.

• Manicure – from the Latin words “manus” meaning “hand” and “cure” meaning “care”, manicure is a treatment for the hand and fingernails which includes cutting and filing the nails, shaping the nails, removing dry cuticles, most of the time also buffing and polishing the nails. The hands are also treated with moisturizers and hand lotion.

• Pedicure – similar to manicure only this treatment is for the feet and toenails. Unlike with manicure though, pedicure needs a little bit more tools like a pumice stone and pedicure file to remove dry skin and callous from the soles of the feet.

Whether you have your manicure and pedicure regularly done at a professional nail salon or you rather save a few bucks and do it yourself, mani and pedi should be done carefully and using the right products too. Here are some useful tips that you need to know for your nail care:

• Always make sure your hands and feet are clean and dry before you do any further “cleaning” of the nails

• Sanitize your manicure and pedicure tools

• Cut your nails using nail clippers

• Avoid filing your nails back and forth as this motion can cause the nails to split and weaken. File your nails from one corner to the center using a single direction

• When removing your old application of nail polish or stains on your nails, avoid using polish remover with acetone as it can make the nails brittle.

• Manicure and pedicure maintenance should be at least once a week to prevent nails from splitting, drying up, etc.

• If you have weak nails, you can use nails products like OPI Axxium which you apply on your nails to protect it from splitting. • Do not remove your cuticles. That white skin in between your nail’s root and skin is the one responsible from keeping bacteria out and preventing infections. If you feel you’re cuticle is unpleasant to look at and feels hard and dry, simply use a rubber-tipped cuticle pusher with cuticle-removing liquid and gently push it back.

• When you’re applying polish on your nails, use a base coat first and let it dry for a minute or two before applying your colored nail polish and use a top coat afterward, this will strengthen the nail polish.

• Make sure your nails are completely dry before applying any nail polish These are just some easy and simple tips to keep in mind for healthy and pretty nails.

Written by Maria Constantine. To find out more about OPI Axxium, click here.

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Disclosures: Girl Gloss at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page


View the original article here

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze, Continuous Coral, 0.15-Fluid Ounce

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze, Continuous Coral, 0.15-Fluid OunceMade in USA with US and non-US components.

Price: $8.99


Click here to buy from Amazon

How Much Is Your Jewelry Worth?

Are you wondering what your jewelry is worth?  It is generally a good idea to be able to estimate the value of your jewelry.  If you are looking for a more official declaration of value, such as for insurance purposes, you might need to invest in a professional appraisal.  However, if you are just curious, if you want to resell a piece and want to know how much it is worth, or if you are shopping for an insurance policy and need to be able to estimate a total value for all of your jewelry, it helps to be able to do a self-appraisal.

If you’re going to try to appraise your jewelry yourself, however, you really need to invest in what’s called a loupe, a folding, pocket-size magnifying glass used for looking at jewelry.  Loupes come in different magnifying strengths, but generally three lenses are better than one, and a magnification power of about 10X will ensure that you see your jewelry with enough detail to get a good idea of the quality.

Before trying to appraise your jewelry, practice with your loupe so that you learn how to get the clearest view through the lens and get better at noticing details.  You might also pay a visit to your jeweler and ask some questions to get him or her to point out flaws and other things to look for through the loupe.  Of course, buying a loupe and asking a few questions of a real jeweler won’t make you an expert, but it will help you to make a reasonably informed assessment of the value of your jewelry.

Here are a few things to look for when estimating how much your jewelry is worth.

Gold
It’s time to pull out your loupe: Gold should typically be marked if it is at least 10 karat, but gold markings can be small and hard to read with the naked eye.  Gold is typically marked with a number, followed by a k (for karat).  The higher the number (14k, 18k, etc.), the higher the percentage of gold, with 24k being pure gold.  However, markings should not always be entirely relied on if you are trying to get an accurate estimate of the value of your gold jewelry.  You can buy special tests that use nitric acid to identify and test the purity of your gold, or you may be able to take your gold into a jewelry store or a pawn shop and have them test it for you, usually for a small fee.

Silver
Like gold, silver is typically marked.  For instance, sterling silver is usually marked 925 (which stands for 92.5 percent silver) or STERLING.  Other silver jewelry stamps include 800 and 900, which are typically German or European silver, and 950, which is Mexican silver.  Some silver jewelry, such as Native American jewelry, is often not marked at all.  Like with gold, you can use an acid test to help you identify or confirm the silver content, but a quick home test can help you tell if a piece is really silver or not: Place a drop of French’s mustard on the silver and heat it (carefully!) with a cigarette lighter, or by placing the piece in the sun for a couple of days.  The mustard will cause real silver to tarnish.  Don’t worry, though — the tarnish can be easily cleaned away with silver cleaner or vinegar.

Diamonds
An appraisal of diamond jewelry depends upon four things: the cut of the stone, the clarity (whether there are imperfections), the weight (or carat), and the color (few diamonds are perfectly clear).  In order to see any imperfections that affect the value of your diamonds, you will need to examine the stone using your loupe.  For instance, through the loupe you may be able to see cracks, chips, or larger blemishes that are invisible to the naked eye.  You should also look at the setting to determine if the prongs hold the stone securely in place.

Determining Value
Any time you are trying to estimate the value of something you own, be sure to look at what similar items are selling for.  This is especially useful if you are want to know how much money you will get if you sell the jewelry, or if you are trying to estimate how much it will cost you to replace it.  eBay and other sites that sell secondhand jewelry are always good places to check — save any auctions or listings of pieces comparable to yours.  In addition, you might want to browse brick-and-mortar secondhand jewelry stores and pawnshops in your area.  Be sure to talk to the jewelers in these stores, and ask questions about how they determine the price of their pieces.

Finally, be sure to document your jewelry thoroughly with photographs.  Take photos from every angle, and take notes on any flaws or special features, whether or not they show up well in the pictures.  A good quality digital camera will allow you to take lots of pictures in the hopes of getting a few really good ones.  Also, digital files can be backed up offsite, so that you still have your records in case something happens to your property.

Cameron Harris is a freelance writer for Since1910.com. Since1910.com is a family owned, fifth generation couture retail Jewelry business, established in downtown Brooklyn, New York in the year 1910. They provide consumers with a variety of jewelry such as Since1910.com designer engagement rings.

Related Posts with Thumbnails

View the original article here

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Body Piercing Tips – Five Things To Consider Before You Get Pierced

Getting a body piercing is becoming more and more popular. Lots of people are enjoying piercings of many types, and with the wide variety of body jewelry available, it is easy to see why. But before you run out and get a piercing there are things that you should consider. There are some drawbacks to piercings, and most of the time when someone has problem with a piercing it is simply because they didn’t think the process through first. In order to make sure that you love your piercing, learn a little about them and think it through before you make any decisions.

belly button piercing

(1) Allergies -The first thing that you should consider is whether you are allergic to any materials. Many people are allergic to nickel, a cheap metal that is used in many pieces of jewelry. Before you get a piercing you need to do everything you can to make sure that you are not allergic to the materials that are in the jewelry. An allergic reaction in a new piercing is bad news, and can lead to pain, infection, and taking the piercing out to allow it to heal. If you aren’t sure whether you have an allergy, play it safe by getting more expensive jewelry made from gold or titanium.

(2) Infections -Make sure that you are capable of keeping your piercing clean while it heals. If you have a job where you get dirty, you may be more susceptible to infections. Take this into account early on to avoid problems.

(3)Visibility -How visible is your piercing going to be? While you may think that a nose ring looks cool, you also need to think about the fact that people are going to stare at it, and not always in the nicest ways. Sometimes people seem to be surprised at the amount of attention a piercing gets, and if you think that this might make you uncomfortable, then maybe you should consider getting pierced somewhere more discreet. Also consider the visibility of any hole or scar should you later decide to get rid of the piercing or if you won’t always be wearing body jewelry.

(4) Social Stigma -Something else you need to take into consideration is what others will think about your piercing. While they are becoming more common, and people are generally more accepting of them than they used to be, sometimes they can still create problems with certain individuals or in certain settings. For example, facial piercings are still banned in most retail and service positions since they unsettle some people. Gauged ear piercings and visible piercings elsewhere are also frowned upon by many employers. If you work somewhere that wants you to look nice, you may find yourself with a problem if you get a piercing that everyone can see. Think about how people will perceive you and your work when you have a piercing. Also be sure to check on the rules and guidelines at work to make sure you aren’t inviting trouble.

(5) Comfort-As cool as you might think certain piercings might look, take a minute to consider if they will also be comfortable. Can you really stand having a stud through your nose or on your tongue? Will the body jewelry in other areas rub or catch on clothing?

By making sure that you think about things such as the above piercing tips, you reduce the chances of being unhappy with your piercing. If you prevent allergic reactions and infection and consider how people will treat you once you have a body piercing, you should be able to relax and enjoy your new adornment. Of course, if you realize that something like a lip or nose piercing isn’t right for you and your lifestyle, you could always get body jewelry somewhere else, such as your ears or bellybutton. Think your piercing choice through carefully, and then enjoy it!

Shop For Affordable and Unique Body Jewelry At Fresh Trends

Related Posts with Thumbnails

View the original article here

DuWop Original Lip Venom Tingly Lip Gloss, Clear 3.5 ml

DuWop Original Lip Venom Tingly Lip Gloss, Clear 3.5 mlLip Venom was the very first lip plumper on the market, creating the lip plumping category for the beauty industry. The tingly gloss uses essential oils to enhance lips' natural color and shape by increasing circulation. The result: fuller bee stung lips.
A tingly gloss that plumps lips naturally
Enhances natural lip color
Plumps with a blend of essential oils
The secret behind Lip Venom is a blend of essential oils, which include cinnamon, wintergreen, and ginger, that cause the blood to rush to the surface of the lips, flushing and swelling them slightly. The gloss also includes jojoba and avocado oil that moisturize and give the lips intense shine. You end up with a shiny, naturally rosy pout that cannot be achieved by wearing ordinary lip gloss.
Lip Venom created the lip plumping category in the cosmetic industry
Plumps using only a blend of pure essential oils of cinnamon, ginger, and wintergreen
Essential oils naturally stimulate by gently increasing circulation to the lips
Jojoba and avocado oils provide intense moisture and shine
get stung.
DuWop Lip Venom is sulfate-free, petro-chemical-free, fragrance-free, dye-free, free of pthalates, no GMO's, no PPG's, no MEA's DEA's, TEA's, is formaldehyde-free, and triclosan-free.
DuWop does not use animal testing on any of their products.

Price: $16.00


Click here to buy from Amazon

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Ensuring You Avoid Fake Designer Sunglasses

In today’s market, designer sunglasses can be notoriously expensive, and it’s not surprising that many people try to find a cheaper alternative, both online and in market places. With many designer frames costing well in excess of £100, it’s no surprise that bargain hunters are sucked in by counterfeit frames.

sunglass fashion

In many cases, people know that they’re buying fake goods, but are happy to do so as they’re getting a product that appears very similar, but for a much cheaper price.

However, whilst it’s understandable why you might feel tempted by counterfeit goods, if you do end up buying them you’ll quickly realise why it’s a mistake. Fake products are so cheap for a very good reason; they’re not put together to a high standard, and they feature low quality materials. As a result, you’ll often find counterfeit frames break extremely easily, sometimes coming apart just from everyday use.

In addition to this, fake sunglasses simply won’t protect your eyes from the sun as they should do – particularly pertinent if you’re purchasing sunglasses for young children.

But what about when you don’t realise you’re buying fake frames? How can you spot the fake ones from the real article?

If you’re looking to avoid buying fake products, then as a general rule you shouldn’t purchase anything that seems too good to be true, particularly from market stalls. Generally, designer brands only sell their stock via official retailers and stockists on the high street, so you’ll almost never find genuine designer sunglasses in a market. You should also be extremely careful if you’re travelling abroad – don’t buy from anywhere except official licensed, branded outlets with a permanent shop.

If you’re buying online, it can be a little trickier. There are numerous retailers online that can sell designer brands at reduced prices, mainly because they have much lower overheads (as they don’t have to rent a shop, etc), so don’t be put off just because a retailer can boast low prices. If you come across a website and you’re not sure about the authenticity of the products, then there are certain things you can look for – how old is the website? Does it have any published feedback? Can you find reviews from the brand anywhere online? Do they have a phone number and physical address where you can call or visit? Are they a registered company? Do they operate a money-back guarantee or an authenticity guarantee? These are all pertinent questions, and if you can find a satisfactory answer to all of the above, then chances are you’re looking at an official stockist of genuine, branded products.

Written by John who spends a huge amount of time finding genuine retailers online. My current favourite retailer of genuine designer sunglasses is Direct Sight – check them out at www.directsight.co.uk

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Disclosures: Girl Gloss at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page


View the original article here

L'Oreal Paris True Match Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner, Soft Honey, 0.11-Fluid Ounce

L'Oreal Paris True Match Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner, Soft Honey, 0.11-Fluid OunceDiscover our purest lip care and sheer mineral color in one. 96% of natural origin, new true match Naturale gentle lip conditioner moisturizes lips beautifully with a flush of naturally luminous minerals, conditioning sweet almond oil and soothing vitam.

Price: $9.95


Click here to buy from Amazon

Monday, October 10, 2011

Guest Post: A Quick Nail Care 101

Aside from the daily skin care and regular trip to the salon for hair care, nail care also tops the list of “it’s a girl thing” thing. It’s not just about hygiene but looks and appearance too. Depending on your lifestyle, you can sport either short, medium or long nails but most of the time, short to medium length nails are more advisable because it can easily be maintained and will not cause you any discomforts say when you type on your computer’s keyboards or your cellphone, no need to worry about it splitting or breaking.

bright nail polish

How do we keep our nails healthy, strong, and pretty? Do we need to use products like we do with our skin and hair? Nail care is more than the “what products to use” as it is with “how to use the products”. There are 2 types of treatments that we do with our nails, fingernails and toenails, which are manicure for the hands and pedicure for the feet.

• Manicure – from the Latin words “manus” meaning “hand” and “cure” meaning “care”, manicure is a treatment for the hand and fingernails which includes cutting and filing the nails, shaping the nails, removing dry cuticles, most of the time also buffing and polishing the nails. The hands are also treated with moisturizers and hand lotion.

• Pedicure – similar to manicure only this treatment is for the feet and toenails. Unlike with manicure though, pedicure needs a little bit more tools like a pumice stone and pedicure file to remove dry skin and callous from the soles of the feet.

Whether you have your manicure and pedicure regularly done at a professional nail salon or you rather save a few bucks and do it yourself, mani and pedi should be done carefully and using the right products too. Here are some useful tips that you need to know for your nail care:

• Always make sure your hands and feet are clean and dry before you do any further “cleaning” of the nails

• Sanitize your manicure and pedicure tools

• Cut your nails using nail clippers

• Avoid filing your nails back and forth as this motion can cause the nails to split and weaken. File your nails from one corner to the center using a single direction

• When removing your old application of nail polish or stains on your nails, avoid using polish remover with acetone as it can make the nails brittle.

• Manicure and pedicure maintenance should be at least once a week to prevent nails from splitting, drying up, etc.

• If you have weak nails, you can use nails products like OPI Axxium which you apply on your nails to protect it from splitting. • Do not remove your cuticles. That white skin in between your nail’s root and skin is the one responsible from keeping bacteria out and preventing infections. If you feel you’re cuticle is unpleasant to look at and feels hard and dry, simply use a rubber-tipped cuticle pusher with cuticle-removing liquid and gently push it back.

• When you’re applying polish on your nails, use a base coat first and let it dry for a minute or two before applying your colored nail polish and use a top coat afterward, this will strengthen the nail polish.

• Make sure your nails are completely dry before applying any nail polish These are just some easy and simple tips to keep in mind for healthy and pretty nails.

Written by Maria Constantine. To find out more about OPI Axxium, click here.

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Disclosures: Girl Gloss at times reviews products provided by a representative of the company. When we do so, we specifically state so. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page


View the original article here

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze, Continuous Coral, 0.15-Fluid Ounce

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze, Continuous Coral, 0.15-Fluid OunceMade in USA with US and non-US components.

Price: $8.99


Click here to buy from Amazon

How Much Is Your Jewelry Worth?

Are you wondering what your jewelry is worth?  It is generally a good idea to be able to estimate the value of your jewelry.  If you are looking for a more official declaration of value, such as for insurance purposes, you might need to invest in a professional appraisal.  However, if you are just curious, if you want to resell a piece and want to know how much it is worth, or if you are shopping for an insurance policy and need to be able to estimate a total value for all of your jewelry, it helps to be able to do a self-appraisal.

If you’re going to try to appraise your jewelry yourself, however, you really need to invest in what’s called a loupe, a folding, pocket-size magnifying glass used for looking at jewelry.  Loupes come in different magnifying strengths, but generally three lenses are better than one, and a magnification power of about 10X will ensure that you see your jewelry with enough detail to get a good idea of the quality.

Before trying to appraise your jewelry, practice with your loupe so that you learn how to get the clearest view through the lens and get better at noticing details.  You might also pay a visit to your jeweler and ask some questions to get him or her to point out flaws and other things to look for through the loupe.  Of course, buying a loupe and asking a few questions of a real jeweler won’t make you an expert, but it will help you to make a reasonably informed assessment of the value of your jewelry.

Here are a few things to look for when estimating how much your jewelry is worth.

Gold
It’s time to pull out your loupe: Gold should typically be marked if it is at least 10 karat, but gold markings can be small and hard to read with the naked eye.  Gold is typically marked with a number, followed by a k (for karat).  The higher the number (14k, 18k, etc.), the higher the percentage of gold, with 24k being pure gold.  However, markings should not always be entirely relied on if you are trying to get an accurate estimate of the value of your gold jewelry.  You can buy special tests that use nitric acid to identify and test the purity of your gold, or you may be able to take your gold into a jewelry store or a pawn shop and have them test it for you, usually for a small fee.

Silver
Like gold, silver is typically marked.  For instance, sterling silver is usually marked 925 (which stands for 92.5 percent silver) or STERLING.  Other silver jewelry stamps include 800 and 900, which are typically German or European silver, and 950, which is Mexican silver.  Some silver jewelry, such as Native American jewelry, is often not marked at all.  Like with gold, you can use an acid test to help you identify or confirm the silver content, but a quick home test can help you tell if a piece is really silver or not: Place a drop of French’s mustard on the silver and heat it (carefully!) with a cigarette lighter, or by placing the piece in the sun for a couple of days.  The mustard will cause real silver to tarnish.  Don’t worry, though — the tarnish can be easily cleaned away with silver cleaner or vinegar.

Diamonds
An appraisal of diamond jewelry depends upon four things: the cut of the stone, the clarity (whether there are imperfections), the weight (or carat), and the color (few diamonds are perfectly clear).  In order to see any imperfections that affect the value of your diamonds, you will need to examine the stone using your loupe.  For instance, through the loupe you may be able to see cracks, chips, or larger blemishes that are invisible to the naked eye.  You should also look at the setting to determine if the prongs hold the stone securely in place.

Determining Value
Any time you are trying to estimate the value of something you own, be sure to look at what similar items are selling for.  This is especially useful if you are want to know how much money you will get if you sell the jewelry, or if you are trying to estimate how much it will cost you to replace it.  eBay and other sites that sell secondhand jewelry are always good places to check — save any auctions or listings of pieces comparable to yours.  In addition, you might want to browse brick-and-mortar secondhand jewelry stores and pawnshops in your area.  Be sure to talk to the jewelers in these stores, and ask questions about how they determine the price of their pieces.

Finally, be sure to document your jewelry thoroughly with photographs.  Take photos from every angle, and take notes on any flaws or special features, whether or not they show up well in the pictures.  A good quality digital camera will allow you to take lots of pictures in the hopes of getting a few really good ones.  Also, digital files can be backed up offsite, so that you still have your records in case something happens to your property.

Cameron Harris is a freelance writer for Since1910.com. Since1910.com is a family owned, fifth generation couture retail Jewelry business, established in downtown Brooklyn, New York in the year 1910. They provide consumers with a variety of jewelry such as Since1910.com designer engagement rings.

Related Posts with Thumbnails

View the original article here