With the economy still sluggish, and the emphasis on recycling and living green, a new style is emerging in the jewelry industry that is both extremely interesting, and eco-friendly. Jewelry that is made from authentic vintage components is becoming more and more popular.
There are several advantages to buying jewelry made from vintage jewelry components. The most obvious advantage is the style. Vintage is funky and fun, made from materials and styles that are no longer available. Vintage is one of a kind; no one else will have the exact same jewelry you have, especially if you made it yourself. And vintage style is in right now, so you will be cool, artistic, and in style all at the same time.
But besides the style advantage, vintage is eco-friendly. By using vintage materials to make your jewelry, you are recycling at its best. Reusing vintage parts, keeps the vintage jewelry out of the landfills, where it would sit for a very long time. So you can feel good about saving the earth by wearing and recycling vintage jewelry.
Another advantage is that many vintage jewelry items are cheap, especially compared to new jewelry. Metals used to make jewelry are at an all time high price, and that means that jewelers have to charge more for their work. By shopping carefully for vintage jewelry, you can find some excellent bargains, and create something new from something old.
The best thing about wearing jewelry made from vintage parts is the wonderful history that comes with the age of the vintage jewelry. Vintage means history, and it is fascinating to consider what journey the jewelry has had to bring it to you today. Where did the jewelry originally get made? Who bought it originally? What happened to them during their lifetime? These are the types of questions vintage items can make us think about.
Because most jewelry is made of metal or stone, vintage jewelry is usually in excellent condition even if it is antique and over 100 years old. You may find some wear and tear on gold and silver items that are worn for many years on a daily basis, but metal jewelry is made to hold up well over time, and therefore, chances are that you will find that the antique jewelry you are buying is in as good of condition as it was new.
You will most likely have to clean your new vintage jewelry. Check carefully what materials the jewelry is made of. If your jewelry is made of metal–silver, gold, copper–you should be able to use regular jewelry cleaner that you use on your regular jewelry. Precious stones can be cleaned with mild soap and water and a soft rag. Do not use anything with bristles to clean jewelry. You will find that bristles can damage or scratch both precious metal and some precious and semi-precious stones. If you take good care of your vintage finds, or your remade jewelry, you will be able to keep it for a lifetime and pass it on to someone that you love.
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