What does jewelry personally mean to you? Do you have knowledge about the different types of jewelry and how you can determine high-quality jewelry? These tips should help you understand the complex world of jewelry. Read the following tips for the guidance you need to understand how to buy, care, and enjoy your jewelry.
Jewelry should be stored in an air-tight and humid free area. To maximize protection, put your jewelry in a jewelry box or a small drawstring bag. Both air and humidity can lead to tarnished metal. Silver polishes work well to remove tarnish, but certain metals, such as bronze, may not polish well. The polish may remove the surface coating and then the metal underneath, such as copper, becomes visible.
Clean all of your jewelry with a polishing cloth. This is a chemical-free method to maintain the appearance of your fine jewelry. You just have to polish each piece the same as you would polish glass using the two-sided cloth. Use the side of the cloth that is designed for polishing to remove fingerprints, dust and other surface imperfections, and then use the opposite side to buff the jewelry and make it gleam.
When you go shopping for sterling silver jewelry pieces, take with you a magnet and a monocle. As a precious metal, silver should never be attracted to a magnet. Another way to tell if a metal is sterling silver is to check for a hallmark stamp, for example .sterling, .ster, or .925. If the piece that you are looking at is not hallmarked, this is usually the sign that it is a fake.
Keep your jewelery in a space that is dry and doesn’t have any air flow. Some good examples of proper storage would be,a jewelry box that is closed, or a small draw string bag. All metals will tarnish if they are subjected to too much air and humidity. Precious metals, through some work and polish, can be restored to their original condition. Non-precious metals are coated, which means that polishing will allow copper metal to come through.
Always shop around when buying a diamond. Closely examine pieces you like, and compare them with similar items you are interested in. However, be mindful that there are fraudulent ways to make the diamond look better than it is.
Natural Gems
Before purchasing a new pieces, look at the latest jewelry trends. The only thing better than picking up a gorgeous bauble is getting it on sale!
Knowing what type of jewel you are buying when you purchase jewelry is very important. Natural gems and imitation gems have been joined recently by synthetic gems, making three main categories. Natural and synthetic gems are real stones, but imitation is just plastic colored to look like the real thing. While natural gems come out of mines, synthetic ones come out of laboratories.
Stones are an important part of jewelry so ensure they factor heavily in your decision. Try to choose a stone that meshes well with your taste or personality. Also, consider what looks good on you. Your best bet is to choose a natural color to match any outfit. You want to have plenty of opportunities to show off every piece.
Your jewelry should endure an entire lifetime. To ensure you are buying a quality piece, refuse to deal with anybody but the most reputable of jewelers. High-quality jewelry items will have superior craftsmanship and pleasing, aesthetic designs. The jeweler must be able to provide a history of the piece. This will tell you who made the piece, and where the components came from. This way, you can ensure you are paying a fair price. Unless you purchase jewelry that is of high-quality, the piece is not likely to last a lifetime.
For those creative, quirky people in your life, shop for handcrafted original pieces. If you buy something that will go along with their personality it will show them you thought about them!
Do some price comparisons before you commit to buying a piece of diamond jewelry. Look at what you want very closely, and keep that in mind so you can compare it with other diamonds you look at. With diamonds, you need to have a keen eye because of the many tricks people will use to enhance it.
Makeup isn’t for jewelry. Let your makeup dry before you put on a piece of jewelry. The dust, oils and particles from makeup rub off on jewelry; putting on jewels first means they will get dingy and dull with a film of makeup over them. This method is especially helpful in caring for necklaces or earrings.
Make sure you check into insurance policies when you make a jewelry purchase from a jeweler. These policies dictate whether or not the jeweler will replace or fix your item of jewelry if it is damaged. In certain instances, there may even be jewelry insurance available to cover loss or theft.
Make sure that you regularly untangle delicate, knotted necklaces. It’s easy to get frustrated with tangled necklaces, but saran wrap can come to the rescue. Place the tangled pieces on this plastic with some mineral or baby oil. Try using needles to start untangling it. Wash with dishwashing liquid then pat dry.
Wear jewelry for at least a day to see if it hangs correctly and is comfortable. You’ll also be able to get a better idea of the piece’s durability.
You should always know what you plan on doing with jewelry when purchasing it. A big supply of jewelry that you never wear is of little use to you. Think about which outfits you will wear the jewelry with while you are shopping.
Be careful when untangling your delicate necklaces. It’s easy to get frustrated with tangled necklaces, but saran wrap can come to the rescue. After you place the necklace on top of the wrap, cover it in baby oil. You would then untangle the necklace using needles. Use a mild liquid soap to remove the oil and then pat dry with a towel.
The size of the diamond is not as important as its cut and clarity. It is important to consider the character of the individual you are purchasing the diamond for.
Look at a lot of different pieces before settling on a diamond jewelry purchase. Every diamond is unique and they all have slight imperfections. If you can personally view a flaw, it may become less significant in your eyes. Also, each jeweler can price point a little bit differently based on the flaws. Shop around and find the best diamond you can for the price you can afford.
Avoid both steam and dry saunas. Many pieces can be seriously damaged by extreme temperatures and moisture levels.
Jewelry sets make excellent gifts for loved ones. It is usually quite easy to find a jewelry set at a reasonable price, especially during the holidays. You could always break the sets up and give them as individual gifts. It is an awesome way to be sure that the gift that you give them on the following occasions is something that they will love.
Be sure to shop around when buying diamond jewelry. Every diamond is unique and has its own set of flaws. You may not care too much about some flaws if you realize they’re difficult to discern. And each jeweler will set price differently according to flaws. If you are working on a budget, shop around to find a diamond that suits both your preferences and your wallet.
The price of gold is a major limiting factor to being able to afford beautiful gold jewelry. If you simply must have a gold necklace, ring or bracelet, you can spend less by getting fewer karats. If gold is described as 18 karat it is not less than seventy five percent pure, this is considered to be the best quality.
Ensure that the clasps of your jewelry are sturdy and reliable. If a clasp is not solid, you might end up losing your jewelry. Anytime you buy an expensive bracelet or necklace it is recommended you request a safety clasp. Actually, some people opt for an additional clasp on more expensive pieces.
You can make money from any gold bracelets and necklaces you have, without having to sell your entire pieces. Consider removing excess portions of gold or silver that will not affect the overall piece. For an item that is made of actual gold, clipping off several chains can bring in over a hundred dollars simply by reducing the length of the jewelry.
Don’t swim wearing your jewelry. Chlorine is a strong chemical and it can damage the luster and life of your precious jewelry pieces. Over time, salt water is just as harmful to your jewelry. If you want your jewelry to remain pristine, always remember to remove it before getting into the water.
Jewelry using crystal or onyx can be great statement pieces. It is certainly possible to spend less and come out with a piece of jewelry that is absolutely remarkable.
Keep your necklaces free of tangles by getting robe hooks to hang them. You can hang your necklaces in a row and separate them by color and length. If done right, this will have a nice appearance and prevent the jewelry box tangles necklaces are prone to.
It can be hard to tell the difference between natural and lab grown sapphires and rubies. These gorgeous gems are physically and chemically the same, but synthetic stones are available at a much lower cost than naturally flawless stones. Inspecting your gem is vital if you desire to get the best value, as you should find a venerable gemologist to perform this analysis.
Of course, higher gold prices also increases the cost for new gold jewelry. It is possible to save extra money when you compromise on karats, if gold necklaces or rings are what your heart truly desires. An 18 karat gold piece is made up of at least 75 percent pure gold, which has been considered the best combination of price and quality.
Alexandrite is a beautiful and unique stone for jewelry. This stone changes color from green to purple, depending on the lighting. You can find it often in rings, pendants and earrings.
If you own gold, whether it’s in the form of bracelets or necklaces, you can keep your pieces and still make money from them. You have only lost unnecessary length but, at the same time, you’ve earned a little money. With real gold and several chains, you could shorten the pieces to get hundreds of dollars.
Use these tips whenever you purchase a piece of jewelry for your personal collection or to give as a gift. You may be able to save a little money. Learn what jewelry to look for, and what the signs of quality are. Anyone can acquire a better taste in jewelry with time and efforts.
Never pair an ornate jewelry piece with a busy or fussy outfit. Instead of this, you should wear a classic black dress or some other solid clothing item that can clearly highlight your particular jewelry piece.
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