Chinese Wholesale Jewelry Tips
Wholesale Jewelry Verification Example
One of the main things that you need to be concerned about when dealing with wholesale jewelry are fake stones. For someone whose starting out, it can be very difficult to tell real stones from fake stones. Often stones are dyed or are made of glass. They may look natural but in fact are not. In order to avoid being duped, I offer you a few tips.
Coloration:
Coloration of the wholesale jewelry is very important. Keep in mind that natural jewelry stones, especially cheaper ones, are not going to be that vibrant. Be careful of jade because only expensive jade is going to be really green.
Cut into a suspect stone:
This may require damaging a small portion of the jewelry. But, you probably want to take an Exacto knife and cut the stone to see if the color inside is similar to what you are seeing on the outside.
Only deal with trusted suppliers:
Like many would be buyers I have also been duped by chinese wholesalers and factories. Make sure you deal with only reputable organizations. Even if the price is more expensive, its worth the difference especially on the first jewelry deal. You don’t want to fail your first time so pay attention to every detail.
Get the jewelry verified by an independent jewelry verification house:
Surprisingly, there are lot of jewelry verification services in Mainland China. They can provide a “zhengshu” or verification document for every stone. The document certifies on behalf of their company that the stone is genuine. If you need help finding a reputable Chinese jewelry verification service please contact us.
The difference between Bali Silver and 925 Sterling
Bali Silver Example
Bali Silver is frequently found in over seas wholesale and factories. Bali Silver does in fact have silver material in it; it’s just a lower percentage composition. The silver percentage is about 50% to 60%. The lower silver percentage means that it’s cheaper than 925 sterling which must contain 92.5% silver or above. 92.5% or above silver composition makes the jewelry officially “sterling silver.” Make sure that you watch out for bali silver. One way to spot it, is the darker tarnish and the its general lower quality appearance of the jewelry.
The other thing to know about 925 silver jewelry is it often comes with an electronic coating over the silver. Often this coating is comprised of nickle and it gives the jewelry a shiny appearance. Make sure to ask wholesaler or factory if the jewelry includes the electronic coating. In our experience, some clients are comfortable with the coating while others are not. The coating prevents the silver from tarnishing overtime and reduces the need for regular cleanings. Interestingly, pure 925 silver can usually be polished to appear as if it has the coating also.