If you are selling valuable jewelry pieces, the need to buy jewelry display cases should not be overlooked. Jewelry is prone to tarnish, and as you may already know, preventing tarnish is far less daunting than removing it.
Tarnish on jewelry is every retailer’s nightmare. It not only makes the jewelry unappealing to any prospective buyer but also lowers the sale value. Additionally, it affects the entire inventory and may impact a business’ image. As a jewelry retailer or reseller, it’s imperative to understand the things that affect your business as a whole, including sales. In which case, if you are dealing with tarnish, it’s crucial to know why it happens, how to prevent it, and what to do to restore the shine of your pieces. It is also essential to come up with ways to maintain your inventory’s shine so that they are at their best condition.
If you can prevent tarnish from forming on your pieces, you can save yourself lots of time and effort in cleaning the jewelry from time to time. Luckily, this is not difficult to implement. You can just buy jewelry display cases to solve the tarnishing problem once and for all.
What is tarnish?
Tarnish is a layer of corrosion that forms on metals, especially, sterling silver. Chemicals in the air are the leading cause of tarnish – and when the jewelry is exposed to this air, it is bound to tarnish at a much faster rate than if it is enclosed in a case. When jewelry is tarnished, it gets a dark and dull appearance that makes it less appealing and attractive.Although tarnish cannot be avoided entirely, you can prevent it by implementing protective measures. Since you are already aware that tarnish happens due to a chemical reaction between the metal in jewelry and sulfur in the air, your goal should be to limit the amount of air exposure your pieces get. High humidity and temperature are also known to accelerate the discoloration process.
Here’s how to protect your inventory
As with most things, keeping your jewelry pieces clean at all times can help you maintain their luster and beauty for a long time. So, you want to wipe down the parts after every jewelry party or show. You can even schedule a routine cleaning time to ensure that all dust buildup is eliminated before it becomes problematic. Wiping down your pieces removes any grime or dirt that has settled on the jewelry surface and will keep the pieces from tarnishing. While wiping your pieces, it is imperative to use a job-specific solution and material for cleaning. Otherwise, you may end up scratching or damaging the pieces.Using high-quality display cases designed from acid-free materials is also a great way of preventing tarnish. By keeping your pieces in these cases, you get to limit their exposure to open-air, which is known to cause the reaction. On top of that, it also prevents dirt from settling on the jewelry surfaces, minimizing the need to wipe the pieces at all times. What’s more, high-end cases are a great addition to your store. They bring out the goodness of the pieces and make them even more appealing.
When selecting your cases, you should be careful not to buy one that’s made from acidic materials. Some materials to avoid include most cardboards, some types of wood and paper. Certain plastic containers may also constitute chemicals that can severely corrode gemstones, silver backings, and metal. So you need to have this at the back of your mind when selecting storage for your jewelry.
Some retailers use chalk and no-tarnish strips to absorb airborne substances that result in tarnish. However, unlike cases which prevent the reaction for as long as you have the pieces in stock, chalk and no-tarnish strips wear off after weeks of use and will need constant replacement to be effective.
What to do with tarnished jewelry
When your expensive pieces of jewelry tarnish, it doesn’t mean that it’s time to throw them away or sell them for less value than you bought them for. If anything, a tarnished jewelry can still have the same value as a new one – but this will depend on how you take care of it. If you do an inspection on your pieces and notice early signs of tarnishing, it is essential to address the problem immediately to prevent it from spreading further.For dirt and dust, you can follow the process as mentioned above. But if you are dealing with tarnish, then you can try soaking pieces in a solution of warm water, baking soda and salt to remove the tarnish and discoloration.
Keeping your pieces at their original shiny state can be an uphill task, but it is worth the effort. It not only ensures a sparkly and attractive display but also allows you to deliver the best to your clients.
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