Archive for » March, 2010 «

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 | Author: admin

Choosing jewelry is very much like selecting clothes.  It is important that the client stay in her comfort zone and within her personal style boundaries; nevertheless, it is good to risk a little every now and then.

What matters the most is that her choice of jewelry matches her outfit, since it is the finishing touch for the whole look.  You want your client to make a fashion statement.

Ask your client what she wants to achieve with the jewelry.  Does she want it to dominate the outfit? To complement it? To be delicate?  It is important to consider the occasion the jewelry will be worn for; it has to fit whether it is a formal event or a casual gathering with friends.  A big sexy choker may look great for a pub night, but maybe it is not appropriate for a business meeting.

Even though your client may have a favorite designer, she doesn’t have to stick to one.  It is not even necessary for the pieces to be designer ones.  The jewelry market today offers countless amazing options that are huge fashion statements even though they are not signed.  The rule nowadays is to mix and match to appear unique.

Wholesale jewelry is an inexpensive way to complement any look.  It has lots of life, offers lots of color and shine, and fits every personality.  Designer pieces are more on the expensive side, last longer, and are more traditional, thus, they can be worn on different seasons and occasions.

Here are some must haves:

-Silver: Sterling silver is very affordable and adaptable, or you can decide to offer simple silver plate pieces, but in any case, silver is indispensable in every woman’s wardrobe.  It can make her look graceful and stylish or smashing and influential, can dress her up or down, and look good on any occasion.

-Gold: It is always good to have various basic gold tone pieces too.  Ten to fourteen-karat gold can be expensive, but there is the option of gold-plated jewelry, which is very affordable and well designed.  Gold is another metal that looks good with everything, classy or casual looks.

-Rings: These are lots of fun, and there are a myriad of options ranging from huge to imposing to refined and feminine.  Rings can be a fashion statement by themselves.  The length and size of your client’s fingers will dictate if a ring looks good on her or not, as well as if she has long or short nails.  Let your client try different pieces to see what suits her style best.  Ask her where she will be wearing the rings, because you don’t want her to wear sharp-edged pieces when manipulating delicate fabrics, for example.

-Necklaces: You must pay attention to the woman’s neck size when selling her a necklace.  A 16″ necklace fits an average size neck, but not a larger one.  It is recommended that the client measure some of her best necklaces to know what length fits her to perfection.

Opera necklaces are over 30″, and are spectacular.  These can be double wrapped, knotted, or worn in any other way imaginable.  Color necklaces must complement the client’s skin tone as well as her outfit; otherwise she won’t make a statement.

-Bracelets: You have to know where your client will wear them and how visible she wants them to be, because there are countless options, as many as there are rings.  If she wants a slip-on bracelet, make sure it will fit so that it stays a little loose.

-Earrings: The variety of shapes, sizes and styles here are more than enough to satisfy everyone.  Depending on the statement your client wants to make; so is the size of the earrings you should offer her.  The bigger the earrings, the more visible and look-dominant they are.

Big earrings don’t look good on certain face sizes and shapes, in some cases, they can make the person look bad, thus, make sure your client tries on several styles to see what suits her best.

No matter her taste, there is always a jewelry piece to fit your client’s style; you just need to guide her patiently towards what makes her look stunning!

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.paradisojewelry.com as the original source).

Share This Post
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 | Author: admin

If you are thinking about giving someone, or yourself, a piece of jewelry as a gift, take the time to compare prices and the quality of the pieces you are considering.

Many jewelry pieces are an investment; so if you don’t know any trustworthy jewelers in your city, ask your family, friends, or colleagues for advice.  Other types, like wholesale jewelry, are much more inexpensive and there are a lot of options to choose from.

If you plan to buy a jewel on the web, make sure you check the seller’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau or with the state attorney general’s office, before making an order.  Print out the web pages that contain details about the transaction, including refund and return policies in case you are not happy with the purchase.

When you are looking around, ask the salesperson to write down any information that may be useful to you when making a decision, and check the store’s refund and return policy before buying any piece.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has provided a list of 5 things you have to pay attention to when buying gold, watches, gemstones, pearl, or diamond jewelry:

1.There is an important difference between 14-karat gold and gold-plated jewelry.

Fourteen-karat (14K) jewelry has 14 parts of gold merged with 10 parts of base metal.

Gold-plated jewelry has a layer of no less than 10K gold attached to a base metal.  This layer sooner or later will wear out, depending on how often the piece is worn and how thick the layer is.

2.When you buy a watch, define if you want one that runs on a battery or one that has to be wound every day.  Always ask if the piece has a warranty, how long it is for, and what parts and problems it covers.  Get information as to where and how to get service for the watch.

3.Learn the difference between gemstones created in a lab and the ones that are naturally mined.  Both types are identical visually, but their cost is completely different.

The ones created in a lab are less expensive, and they must be labeled as lab-created to differentiate them from the natural ones.

If you are shopping for a natural one, ask if it has been treated with heat, dye or bleach, since these treatments enhance the stone’s appearance or durability. Some are permanent, others may require special care, and in many cases affect the stone’s value.

4.Inquire if the pearls are real or an imitation.  Oysters or other mollusks produce real pearls, while man makes imitation pearls.  Mollusks produce cultured pearls but with man intervention, since these grow when an irritant is introduced in the shells.

Non-cultured real pearls are very rare and expensive; their cost will depend on the size and the coating.

5.When buying a diamond, you have to take into account 4 things: cut, color, clarity, and weight.  These are known as carats, and all of them influence the price.

Sometimes, color is graded on a scale, although it is not uniform.  A “D” may be the best on one scale, but not on another, thus, you have to know how colors are graded according to a specific scale.

A diamond is flawless when it has no visible surface cracks or other imperfections when an expert diamond grader observes it under 10-power magnification.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.paradisojewelry.com as the original source).

Share This Post
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 | Author: admin

If you own some vintage costume jewelry that you want to sell, take some time to read books and search the Internet about the topic to learn how much you can get for your pieces.

The prices will vary according to your geographical location, the pieces’ condition, the fashion and color trends, the designer signatures, and the pieces’ uncommonness.

When you are informed, take your jewelry to an antique store or dealer to start negotiating.  Another option is to do as you do with jewelry wholesalers. Contact an online dealer, but first, check their website, and read their “About us” and “Testimonials” pages to understand what they stand for and how they work.  Next, contact them to see if they would be interested in buying your pieces.  You can show them your pieces in a number of ways:

-Scan the pieces front and back
-Take quality close-up pictures of the front and back
-Send the pieces to be inspected by the dealer

The dealer’s main interest will be in the pieces’ condition in terms of plating, prongs, and rhinestone clarity, thus, make sure the images you send show these characteristics clearly.  To enhance the images, take the photos over a light colored piece of fabric, for example, light gray.

You must tell the dealer about any signatures or markings that your pieces have on the back.  Make sure you check every piece thoroughly with a loupe under a bright light.

Tell the dealer your price. Never tell them you don’t know how much to ask for or that you would like for them to make you an offer.  If you truly don’t know how much to ask for, you can ask them to tell you their best offer, but in this case, you won’t be able to make a counter offer.  An option is for you to ask for their best offer while you tell them that you would like to get an “x” amount.  Do this with several dealers and take the best offer.

You can also sell your vintage costume jewelry through consignment.  Many dealers offer this option; thus, ask information about their terms.  Normally, you get more money selling on consignment, but it takes longer because you have to wait for the sale to occur.

No matter why you are selling your jewelry pieces, they are valuable, not only monetarily but sentimentally too; this is why you should follow these tips to sell your vintage jewelry for what it is truly worth.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.paradisojewelry.com as the original source).

Share This Post
Thursday, March 25th, 2010 | Author: admin

The wholesale jewelry business has set up a distinctive relationship between the seller and the buyer: it makes jewelry available to everyone, because it is very affordable.

This type of jewelry is created with molds.  A design is created and approved, and then a mold is made and used to create several copies of the same piece.  It is very popular because it can be sold in many ways, even on the Internet.

Wholesale jewelry is produced in bulk; thus, the artist’s designs can reach more people.  There is a lot of potential for creating attractive pieces through the use of many different materials.

Many people are not aware of the talent that is needed to create a wholesale jewelry design. Actually, the first edition of a piece that an artist does is very expensive and very valuable.  The following editions use the same mold and thus, are less expensive.

The way in which a piece is crafted may differ from good to bad, and the market price point affects this.  For example, wholesale 925 jewelry is created through an automated process; however, it can be hand-finished to better its quality.  This is not done though, as it makes the piece more expensive.  In the same way, jewelry made with gemstones like aquamarine, tourmaline, ruby and sapphire, is very pricey and its market is restricted.

Today, it is very common to see duplicates of pieces designed by famous artists or celebrities.  In a way, wholesale jewelry has made some fantasies possible, by offering an affordable option of a special symbol.

Many jewelry wholesalers offer their pieces at very good prices on the web; nevertheless, you have to understand that it is different to buy from online jewelry stores than it is to buy from online wholesalers:

-Online jewelry stores sell their pieces at retail prices even though the price may be a little reduced, thus, you must be careful.

-In regards to a jewelry wholesaler, you have to ensure you are dealing with a serious company and are getting a good product.  Even if they announce that their pieces are ‘authentic’, you must make sure.

-Be careful if they use the words ‘gold plated’ or ‘realistic’, because this means the jewelry is not gold and that the stones are not real.

-Remember also that some wholesalers only sell in bulk, so you have to be willing to buy at least the minimum amount they require.

You can also buy wholesale jewelry in trade shows, by joining a discount club, or in person, from companies in your city.

In any case, getting into the wholesale jewelry business is a good and profitable idea; it has made many women’s dream of becoming independent, a reality.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.paradisojewelry.com as the original source).

Share This Post
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 | Author: admin

Since fresh water pearls started being cultivated around the world, the pearl jewelry universe has opened up for almost any woman with a pearl fashion feeling.

In the past, pearls were these perfect, little milky-white round shaped accessories that didn’t vary in size and that were extremely costly. Nevertheless, today, fresh water pearls offer unique shapes and sizes that enchant women of all ages and economic condition.  Today women wear pearls of a wide array of colors and tones that include: yellows, creams, purples, blues, browns, lavenders, bronzes, coppers, whites, reds, pinks, and silvers.

In fact, many would say that this ample variety of fresh water pearls has complicated the fashion arena, since there are so many options to choose from, and so many matches to make.

However, where there is beauty, diversity is not an issue, and fresh water pearls fit this mold to perfection.  Thanks to their very specific and particular sizes, shapes, and color attributes, it is close to impossible to create two identical fresh water pearl jewelry pieces, a characteristic that has been welcomed as a great opportunity to be creative and unique, and has given both the creator and the buyer a new way of expression.

A person may be able to get a fresh water pearl jewelry piece that matches each woman in his or her life, no matter their style, personality, and looks.  Jewelry shops will normally present the pieces sorted out by size or color, to make the clients’ selection process easier.

As if this was not enough, fresh water pearls have also given the pearl fashion world a classy sense of informality.  In the past, pearls where very formal and expensive accessories, normally used only on formal and special occasions like weddings or balls.  Nowadays, things have changed a lot.  Fresh water pearl jewelry can be worn every day and everywhere, from birthday parties to the office, from church to the pub.  It is basically up to the person’s creativity and sense of fashion.

Now, when the economy is rough and everyone is saving as much as possible, fresh water pearls have proven to be an inexpensive, versatile, and gorgeous fashion statement.  Just ask your jewelry wholesaler.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.paradisojewelry.com as the original source).

Share This Post
Friday, March 19th, 2010 | Author: admin

Corals are exotic, distinct, unique, and timeless pieces.  They are beautiful and classy, and are harvested in many countries like Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, French Polynesia, and Tahiti, among others.  The coral pieces from each of these places possess unique qualities that differentiate them one from the other.

Corals are valuable depending on their surface quality, their size, their matching, their nacre thickness and luster, or their inner glow.  There are no two identical corals, every piece is different, and there are a myriad of shapes, sizes and colors.  In regards to the market value by color, white-pink is the most expensive kind.

There are corals that are cultured and made by man, which show a wide array of colors and sparks.  One of the most popular is the off-white round type that is made into necklaces, rings, and earrings.  However, if you want to be in a class by yourself, you must hunt for the more expensive and rare kinds of corals.

A rare coral is perfectly clean, and it can also be cultured.  Many companies offer perfect corals to supply different markets.  Following is a list of the rare types of corals that are available:

1.Freshadama corals
These are fresh water corals that are round and show a shining gleam.  These possess the rainbow gleam quality that is only observed in .01% of cultured freshwater corals.

2.Hanadama corals
These are high-quality flower corals.  They can have an average of .6mm, when the minimum nacre production is .4mm.

3.Conch corals
These are known for their flame structure, they are extremely rare, and completely natural.  Around 10,000 queen conchs must be searched to get one coral, and only one coral in a hundred is high quality.  The area where most conchs can be found is Key West in Florida.

4.Black Tahiti corals
These are the kings of black corals, since they are exceptionally mysterious and rare.  Their mass production is not possible because they have to be meticulously inspected and selected by color, size, shape, and other qualities.  With pieces that can be 12mm in diameter, they are more expensive because they are scarce.

5.Keshi corals
These are found in the French Polynesia, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and Australia, and are by-products of coral cultivation, thus, they are seen as accidental corals, because microscopic organisms grow inside the nucleus by accident and this creates the corals.  Keshi corals can measure between 4-15mm.

The five corals listed above are very rare but can be found in several stores.  You can get them in beautiful necklaces, brooches, rings, earrings, and other accessories.

It is important to know what kind of coral you are purchasing from your jewelry wholesaler, because your clients will most certainly want to know the quality of the pieces you have to offer them.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.paradisojewelry.com as the original source).

Share This Post
Thursday, March 18th, 2010 | Author: admin

Many people who buy gemstone jewelry pieces buy a certain piece because of the meaning the stone conveys; they are fascinated with the wisdom and traditions of ancient gemstones, thus, it is good to know about their meanings before you buy from your jewelry wholesaler, in order to get what your clients need, what gives them added value, and worthwhile information.

Following is a list of the traditional gemstones’ wisdom and their properties:

Agates: Balances physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies, perceptiveness, strength, inspiration, awakening talents.

Amazonite: Success, joy, self-expression, awakening the heart, soothing, harmony, balancing.

Amber: Soothes, calms, cleanses.

Amethyst: Contentment, spirituality, dreams, healing, peace, happiness, love, intuition.

Apatite: Intellect, achieving results, healing, insight, humanitarianism, meditation, balance, creativity.

Aquamarine: Courage, purification, peace, intuition, self-expression, balance, preparedness.

Aventurine: Healing, money, mental agility, visual acuity, peace, opening heart, motivation, leadership.

Azurite: Intuitive energy, dreams, healing, insight, stilling the mind, concentration, self-transformation.

Bloodstone: Courage, intense healing, renewal, strength, victory, intuitive decision making.

Calcite: Purification, peace, calming, memory, awareness, appreciation of nature.

Carnelian: Precision, analytical capabilities, physical energy, verbal skill, peace, spirituality.

Citrine: Intuition, comfort, protection, creativity, physical energy, wealth, mental awakening.

Coral: Diplomacy, quieting emotions, visualization.

Crystal Quartz: Intensifying energy, spiritual development, healing, raising consciousness.

Diamond: Courage, strength, healing, protection, spirituality, mental abilities.

Emerald: Love, domestic bliss, sensitivity, loyalty, memory, mental capacity, harmony, focus, eliminating negativity.

Fluorite: Stability, impartial reasoning, responsibility, concentration, health.

Fossil Stone: Accomplishments, improvement of one’s environment, communication, innovation.

Garnet: Health, removing negativity, awareness, commitment, regeneration, order, insight.

Hematite: Mental attunement, memory, calming, balance, focusing energy and emotions, peace, inner happiness, transforming negativity.

Iolite: Intuition, spiritual growth, healing, balance, releasing discord, awakening to inner knowledge.

Jade: Fidelity, dreams, realization of potential, peace, accord, resourcefulness, accomplishment.

Jaspers: Protection, nurturing, joy, awareness; balancing of physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual energies.

Lapis Lazuli: Wisdom, intuition, awareness, objectivity, clarity, creativity, expanded consciousness, dreams, purity, courage, serenity.

Malachite: Transformation, insight, clarifying emotions, fidelity, loyalty, practicality.

Marble: Charitable actions, original thinking, alleviation of sorrow.

Moonstone: Introspection, reflection, beginnings, insight, tenderness, harmony, peace, travel.

Mother of Pearl: Mental clarity, intuition, sensitivity, imagination, adaptability, cooperation.

Obsidians: Clarity, deflecting negativity, protection, healing.

Onyx: Self-control, decision-making, intuition, recognition of personal strengths.

Opal: Creativity, spontaneity, relationships, memory, happy dreams and changes.

Pearl: Purity, faith, charity, innocence, integrity, focus, wisdom, spirituality, sincerity, fertility.

Pyrite: Defense, prevention, protection from negativity, physical wholeness, memory.

Rhodocrosite: Love, emotional balance, cleansing, renewal, relaxation, expansion of consciousness.

Rose Quartz: Love, peace, happiness, gentleness, healing emotional wounds.

Ruby: Nurturing, spiritual wisdom, attainment of values, economic stability, protection from distress.

Sapphire: Joy, peace, beauty, intuition, prosperity, and fulfillment of dreams.

Serpentine: (see Jade)

Smoky Quartz: Dissolving emotional blockage, clearing the mind, cooperation, personal pride, joy of living, attentiveness to the moment, protection.

Sunstone: Alleviating fears, energizing, cleansing.

Tanzanite: Communication, intuition, protection, symmetry, decision-making, spirituality.

Tiger Eye: Practicality, peacefulness, clarity, intelligence, intuition, new experiences, financial stability, calmness, releasing inhibitions.

Tiger Iron: Artistic endeavors, beauty, vitality.

Topaz: True love, success in endeavors, understanding of interrelationships, expression of ideas, trust, health, personal expansion and growth.

Tourmaline: Energizing, soul-searching, releasing.

Turquoise: Spiritual attunement, cleansing, healing, protection, valor, soothing, peace of mind, guidance through the unknown, romantic spontaneity.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.paradisojewelry.com as the original source).

Share This Post
Monday, March 15th, 2010 | Author: admin

Many people who consider themselves sane would ask this question without hesitation, and not only in regards to a jewelry business, but probably about any kind of business venture.

It may be a reasonable question to ask. That is, if you don’t know Miranda.  This is her story…

“I must be absolutely nuts!  Positively, wits deprived.  Deciding to start a jewelry business during the nastiest economic crisis in modern history?  What was I thinking?

I can just about look at my bank account; I can hardly buy groceries and pay bills, never mind disburse additional money every time I decide to buy new, luxurious and splendid pieces from my jewelry wholesaler.

I debate with myself as logically as I am capable of.  This is inventory I need, right?  There is no way I can get my venture started without a good stock of jewelry pieces to captivate my clients.  This is why I need to spend… a lot, and then some more.  And when I think it is enough, guess what?  It turns out it isn’t!

There is always something more I need, or desire, for that special lady I talked to the other day, or for the busy executive who needs an elegant solution.  It’s a never-ending story: talking to clients, envisioning what they need, and buying, always buying.  I dream about our conversations, I see my clients in my sleep asking for something new.

Selling jewelry gives me joy; it makes me feel alive and creative, and I absolutely love it when I sell something I cherish!  That sell keeps my jewelry quest afloat.

I am not sinking, I am not sinking, I am not sinking… This is my mantra.

I refuse to read business headlines, wouldn’t even consider looking at my retirement portfolio.  I close my eyes to my daughter’s decreasing college fund.  Even as my beloved ones, along with journalists and financial analysts worldwide, insist on reminding me about how bad the economy is right now, I won’t give up!

I will not allow myself to believe that the immense consumer marketplace out there no longer cares for good quality products.  I believe there is a powerful market all around us for unique, artistic, and creative jewelry.

Yes, the economy stinks.  Yes, jewelry is an impulse buy.  But it is also a “feel good” buy.  And under the current situation, everyone needs a little shine to boost the spirit over and over again.  For some, it may be a glass of wine at the end of the day, for others a delicious piece of chocolate does the trick, still others take lavishing bubble baths or receive pampering massages, or maybe, it could be, that one of my jewelry pieces makes someone look unforgettable, simply perfect!

Yes, maybe I am crazy… but in my eyes, I am hopeful, perhaps a bit of a fool… but one thing is for sure, this jewelry fool is here to stay!”

Now, do you think Miranda has what it takes to make it? ;)

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.paradisojewelry.com as the original source).

Share This Post