Hints for Buying jewelry Online

August 22, 2013 by  
Filed under Front Page

Hints for Buying jewelry Online

by opalauctions

www.jewelry-auctioned.com

Costume Jewelry, both signed and unsigned, is an affordable way to complete your look. Costume Jewelry can be bought for a low price and has plenty of life. Heck, we see costume jewelry back to the 1920s still in excellent condition. What’s great with costume jewelry is you can use it, get tired of it, put it away or give it away and have still gotten good value for your money.

Designer pieces tend to cost a little more, last a little longer, and they usually follow more traditional lines so you can wear them for more than one or two seasons.   It is always best to pick your jewelry due to your personal taste not what others say you should like.

Sterling Silver is affordable and very versatile. If you don’t want to spend the money for sterling, then purchase some silver plate pieces. Silver is a must have for any wardrobe! You can go from dainty and delicate to large and noticeable. It can be dressed up or down and is acceptable for any event or occasion.

Have some gold plated pieces in your wardrobe basics also. 10-14k gold may be a bit best choice since the strength of the jewelry will be more affordable and will give you good value for the cost. Gold, like silver, can be dressed up or dressed down and is perfect for a very classy look.

When purchasing rings, you can have great fun – again the choices are endless from large and overwhelming to dainty and feminine. The length and size of your fingers plays an important role in what will look good. For example, long skinny fingers don’t look good with huge oversized rings, yet on a woman that has long thicker fingers they look exquisite. Long nails? Short nails? it all makes a difference. Play and see what you like, and what looks good. Also, determine where you will be wearing these rings. For example, if you’re working around fine fabrics, you’ll not want any rings that have sharp edges that could snag. Your rings are also part of your total statement.

A necklace pendant shown next to a loop of its...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When purchasing necklaces, be certain you know your neck size so that you get a good fit. This is very important when purchasing online as you don’t get a chance to try it on. If your neck is average in size then a 16″ necklace will look great, however if you have a somewhat larger than average neck then a 16″ necklace could be too tight. Measure the length of some of your favourite necklaces you already own. This will give you a good indication of what length you prefer. Opera necklaces which are over 30″ are terrific. They can be double wrapped, knotted, or whatever else your imagination comes up with. When choosing colored necklaces, make sure to pick a color that complements your skin tone. It may match your outfit fabulously but if it doesn’t match or complement your skin tone your look could be lost.

When purchasing bracelets, you’ll need to decide where you’re going to wear them, and how noticeable you want them to be. The availability of size and shape is endless – you can go from large bangle bracelets to dainty gem bracelets. If it is a slip-on bracelet, be sure that it will fit over your hand. Make certain to measure your wrist as the fit of a bracelet is very important. Too large and it will look sloppy and may even slide off. Too small and it can constrict your wrist movement.

Your hands are your expressive area and many of us “talk with our hands.” (they are also the smallest part of our body!) Try wearing three bracelets on one wrist – its a sign of power. They don’t have to match either so step out and do something different. Don’t forget to wear a dainty bracelet with your watch.

When purchasing earrings, realize that the shapes and styles are endless – from dangles to chandeliers to hoops to studs to buttons. There are materials from enamel to beads to gems to metal to wood. The size of the earrings is very important to the statement you’re making. The larger the earring, the more noticeable and the more incorporated they become into your total look. Large earrings aren’t for everyone – depending on your face size and shape they may actually detract rather than attract. Experiment and find what looks best on you.  Do remember that many are allergic to the metals found in costume jewelry,  Gold and Silver are best for those with sensitive skin when buying earrings.

Another thing to remember with purchasing your earrings is that tiny earrings make you look larger and larger earrings make you look smaller. Large earrings can give you the appearance of losing 10 pounds! (We all love that) Pick something that is in proportion to your size but most women can wear nickle to quarter size without any problem. Pick your earrings to the opposite shape of your face – they will be more complimentary. If you have a round face and wear round earrings your face will appear much rounder.

Your jewelry choices are endless – no matter what your tastes, your likes, your dislikes. You’ll be able to complete your look just the way you want it with little effort. So be sure to make your fashion statement.

Gold, for as long as mankind has existed has been sought after for many different purposes. History has shown gold used as an expression of wealth and social standing whereas; recent history has witnessed the usage of gold to be for more creative and artistic reasons.

Gold has is versatile and although used for many different purposes it’s more common (and fitting) function is found in jewelry. When choosing to have gold as jewelry, the purchaser has many different choices to make. Gold is available in the colours white yellow and rose. Gold is also available in an assortment of carat (k). 24 k gold is the purest form of gold however, as this is easily broken, gold is usually mixed with copper, zinc and nickel to create 9k, 10k, 14k, 18k and 22k respectively. Mixed with copper, gold becomes more durable however, loses some of its shine.

Silver is a white metal which holds both the highest electrical and thermal conductivity out of all metals. Silver is generally produced as a by-product of the refining of gold, lead, copper and zinc.

History has been witness to Silver being used as a versatile metal both within the home (cutlery, cups, and pens) and in industry (coins, anti-biotic and electrical contacts). The widest use of Silver that has ever been found is in jewelry. Silver is hard and difficult to tarnish metal allowing for its wearer to go about their business without the stress of worrying about their precious jewelry breaking. Silver can also withstand enormous amounts of polishing and it difficult to tarnish with chemical products producing yet another reason for this metal to be popular amongst jewelry wearers.

Another popular reason for people to wear silver is the strength and durability that it exhibits allows for silver to be not only fashioned into numerous shapes and sizes but also, silver can be easily engraved. This enables silver jewelry to be given as gifts for momentous occasions with the added benefit or retaining sentiment.

Platinum is a gray-white metal which has proved to be resistant to corrosion. History has shown many different uses for platinum (emission control devices and currency) however, recent history has witnessed platinum mainly incorporated in the making of fine jewelry.

Platinum has greater worth then both gold and silver but further, displays greater durability which has assisted greatly with increasing Platinum’s worth. The jewelry that platinum can be made into is unlimited although has included such things are royal brooches and pendants. Platinum is becoming the number one choice in wedding and engagement rings and has seen a rise in popularity amongst young persons choosing to wear platinum necklaces and earrings to their proms. Ametrine gems are so precious and rare that they can be harvested in only one mine in the world. The first known usage of Ametrine was that of royal dowry in the seventeenth century.

The Ametrine gem is usually found to be in a rectangular shape and consists of dual colour blending, namely, yellow and purple. Due to this unique colouring quality mixed with the exceptional durability of the gem, there are no limitations on what jewellers have master-pieced. Earrings, rings, necklaces and brooches are only the beginnings of what have been with this precious gem.

Amethyst is the formation of an iron and aluminium complex reacting to quartz, creating a violet colour. In the past, Amethyst gems have been used as protection during battles, however, in recent history, an Amethyst jewel has been widely recognised as a birth stone for those born in the month of February.

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How to Buy Silver Jewelry for Sale from an Online Jewelry Store

August 21, 2013 by  
Filed under Front Page

English: Silver jewelry from Midyat - Turkey.

by jewelist

Buying sterling silver jewelry for sale is not difficult, provided you know what to look for. Not all silver jewelry is going to be real silver. It is important that you know how to tell what is real silver and what is not, particularly when buying from online jewelry stores.

One of the first things that you should look for when buying silver jewelry for sale from online jewelry stores is clear pictures. Without a clear picture of the jewelry in question, you have no idea of what it is really made of. Legitimate jewelry sites will offer very clear and detailed pictures and in some cases, there will be different views of each piece. You should be able to clearly see any small details on the piece. No matter what specific piece of jewelry you are purchasing, you should always look for a clear image of that piece before buying.

You should never purchase jewelry, or anything else for that matter, from a site that you do not trust. Take some time and look into the history of the store. Find out how long they have been in business and you can look for consumer reviews or testimonials that give you a clear idea of whether or not this specific store is trustworthy. You certainly do not want to purchase silver jewelry from a store that does not seem trustworthy. Take the time to ensure that the store offers a clear policy for purchases, find out the policy regarding returns or exchanges and learn a bit about the store in general. Again, not all online jewelry stores are the same so it is important that you do a bit of homework before you buy.

Customer service is essential when buying anything online. If you are purchasing silver jewelry for sale, make sure that the online store you are using offers a good customer service department. You want to know that you can get your questions answered and that you can get assistance should something go wrong with your order. Legitimate online stores such as jewelrykind.com, will offer several ways of contact including email, telephone support and online chat.

Finally, if you are purchasing silver jewelry, you want to be sure that you are getting actual silver jewelry and not a cheaper metal that is silver plated. Make sure that you check the details and information on the pieces that you are planning to purchase. They should state that they are sterling silver and not anything that has a plated covering.

There are a number of legitimate online jewelry stores that offer beautiful rings, earrings, necklaces and a host of other lovely jewelry pieces. You need to be certain that you are ordering from one of these legitimate stores and not simply a site that is passing off cheap jewelry for something of value. Take the time to learn more about the store, check the pictures and always look for evidence that the store is indeed selling legitimate silver jewelry.

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Growing Your Business Without Hiring a Sales Team

Sale

Sale (Photo credit: Gerard Stolk (vers la Septuagésime))

Growing Your Business Without Hiring a Sales Team

If you own a small business, there are a few key functions that you just can’t get wrong.

  • You need to have a good product or service.
  • You need to have a reliable method of distribution.
  • You need to be able to collect money and pay your team.

And you need to be able to sell.

A great product and a great company without sales will be done quickly. But lots of entrepreneurs would rather have a root canal than go on a sales call…let alone do cold calling and prospecting.

Hiring a sales team is both expensive and high risk.

So how is a small business supposed to grow?

Consider sales outsourcing. With sales outsourcing, you find independent sales professionals who already selling to your target market. The sales professionals learn your product or service and then offer it to their existing client base, sometimes growing that base around your offering as well.

So let’s say that you are a small business owner, and your company makes custom jewelry. You can hire a sales rep who will offer your jewelry to retailers and through trade shows within his territory. You will pay him a salary for his time and efforts, and you will probably pay him a bonus for meeting or exceeding his sales goals. And of course, you’ll pay payroll and other employee taxes. If his starting salary is $60,000, then his fully loaded cost with taxes, expenses, etc may well be $100,000 or more. He’s going to have to sell a lot of jewelry…and fast. You own 100% of that risk.

If you outsource your sales, you’ll probably contract…not with ONE sales rep, but with several sales pros. They won’t represent you jewelry exclusively; they may carry other partner products and services – like different kinds of jewelry and accessories; maybe belts and scarves and watches. You will pay a commission to these sales reps when they close sales. You pay them from received revenues. There are other costs, like company literature, samples, communications and field support, but generally these costs are fixed, regardless what type of sales team you have. With outsourcing your sales, you accomplish two key elements of successful business ownership:

  • You hold onto your cash, not paying salaries/taxes/expenses where you can hold your money until the sales are completed
  • You pay on performance. Just like you are paid, as an entrepreneur.

If this is such a great strategy, why doesn’t everybody do it? The harsh truth is that it’s hard work to have a successful outsourced team. Independent sales reps are demanding and time consuming and often push you to grow your product in new ways. Great independent sales reps are not great ‘team players’. They are just great ‘doers’.  There are trade-offs with sales outsourcing. But the rewards can be so sweet.

If you want to learn more, we’re here to help. We’re all about independent sales reps and the companies that contract with them. http://www.repright.com.

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