Collecting antique jewelry can be very fun and very expensive at the same time. The key to collecting antique jewelry is to know where to look. Just being slightly informed can not only save you money but time as well. You can find not only antique jewelry there but just about anything you could ever want. In the case of antique jewelry the seller has usually done his homework on researching the item and will know what its worth. You will definitely want to buy wholesale.

Another good idea is to check out you local newspaper. Many times people holding estate sales and garage sales will have antique jewelry for sale and they have no idea what it’s worth. You can find some great buys. Always remember that you aren’t always going to come out on top. Once in a while however you will get lucky and hit the jackpot. Even in times that you don’t you will still be able to enjoy what you have purchased. Hidden treasures are right around the corner and you never know when you are going to stumble across one. Weekend garage sales and estate sales can very easily become part of your plans and become very addictive. You never know what could be waiting for you.

In the end estate sales will have the best finds. For the most part people who have estate sales are just looking to get rid of stuff and haven’t done any real research as to the value of their items they are selling. Yard sales and garage sales do have good finds but the chances of finding something great are better at the estate sales. Always check eBay. It can’t hurt to keep an eye on what’s out there. You never know what you will be able to find tucked away. Another great tip s to always check the feedback section of sellers on eBay should you choose to buy there. For expensive items use the escrow service and keep in touch with the seller as well.

When you’re looking at different jewelry cleaning solutions, the first thing you should do is read the label carefully. Make sure it doesn’t contain any alcohols or acids, such as ammonia or vinegar. These are strong chemicals that can harm the finish on antique jewelry, as well as any stones or mountings that are in the setting.

Common sense might lead you to think that good old soap and water might be a good choice for cleaning your jewelry, but actually that isn’t true. First of all, it would probably leave a soapy residue on your antique jewelry, and further dull the finish and the clarity of any stones or gems it contains. Even worse, water can dissolve any mounting materials that are used in the piece, such as glues. If that happens, you might lose the stones from the piece, which would indeed be a shame.

If the main problem with your piece of antique jewelry is simply dust, then you can just use a very soft toothbrush to clean deep into its crevices. Use the absolute softest toothbrush that you can find, and make sure that it’s a brand new brush. Old toothbrushes might be fine for cleaning around the kitchen sink, but they definitely won’t do for cleaning jewelry. There might be toothpaste residue in an old toothbrush that scratch and dull the finish on your jewelry piece.

Whatever method you choose to clean your antique jewelry, it’s very important to make sure that it dries very thoroughly after you’re done, and especially before storing it in your jewelry box. The slightest bit of dampness can contribute to rust, pitting on plated metals, verdigris, and other unpleasant consequences.

So that’s basically it – make sure that you use a safe cleaning solution, and treat your piece of antique jewelry very gently by using a very soft toothbrush. If you’re still uncomfortable about doing it on your own, you always have the option of taking it to a professional jeweler, of course. Many jewelry stores will provide this service for free, too. Whatever you do, just make sure that you don’t do anything to modify your antique jewelry.