Girls of all ages love jewels!

Even the tiniest of girls love to have a little sparkle on their wrist!  But with all the jewels to choose from out there, how do you know which will be a quality, heirloom piece of jewelry that your little one can keep forever, maybe to pass down to her own little girl?  Here are a few things to look for:

What size do I purchase?

The first thing to do is read the auction carefully to make sure it is for custom sizing.  The reason it may seem to be a bargain could be because it is an "as is" sale~~ in other words, it measures a certain length and the bracelet in the photo is the exact bracelet you will get.  It may unfortunately not be the size you need.  So how DO you know what size to order?  While every designer has their own measuring technique, the basic rule of thumb is to measure the wrist of the person it is for around the thickest part, and then add 1/2" for the clasp.  For example, if the wrist measurement is 5.0", you will need a bracelet that is 5.5" long.  Make sure that an extender chain for growth is included~~ most reputable sellers include this free of charge.

It's all about the details!

Carefully crafted pieces stand out in a crowd.  Look for tightly wrapped wire loops on the dangles, (especially on fringe bracelets) and jump rings (soldered are better!) or more tightly wrapped loops attaching clasps and charms.  Look closely at the photos.  I see MANY pieces out there that have less than stellar wraps on these dangles.  Little ones tend to be hard on their jewels~~ you always want to think of safety first, as even the highest quality piece of jewelry make break.  Sterling silver and leading brand Austrian crystals are staples in the jewelry world~~ make sure it says the piece is made from these.  MANY pieces are created using base metal findings (head pins, clasps, and such)~~ do not assume it is sterling unless it states that in the auction!  Other beautiful components may be handmade lamp work beads, Czech glass, freshwater pearls, polymer clay beads, and gemstones.  The possibilities are endless!

Really take a good look at the photos in the auction.  The photos should be clear, crisp, and give you a good view of the piece.  More than one photo is always helpful, too.  I find most designers love to include close-ups of their work.  They WANT you do to the time and effort that went into the piece that interests you! 

Do a little research...

Always check the seller feedback for customer responses to the pieces.  Remember~~ a low feedback score does not mean a poor jewelry designer!  Children's boutique jewelry has become very popular here in the past few years.  While there are many veteran sellers that make beautiful pieces and have many returning customers, there are just as many new designers out there!  Seek them out and give them a chance~~ you may be pleasantly surprised! 

You get what you pay for!

I'm a firm believer in this in all aspects of life!  Be willing to pay a little extra for an unique, hand-crafted piece of jewelry.  The pieces you find from reputable designers on Ebay are NOT manufactured in a factory, but created lovingly for you and your little one in our home studios.  Many are one-of-a-kind creations that you would never find in any department store.  Keep that in mind when looking at the pieces.  We'll be happy you did!