Your Must-Have Guide To Shopping For Jewelry

If you are trying to find a great gift for a special woman, then jewelry is a great way to go. This article can guide you to just the right piece.

Be sure that you understand the kind of gemstone that is in the jewelry that you are purchasing. Gemstones now come in natural as well as synthetic and imitation types. Natural gems and synthetic gems are real gemstones, whereas imitation is just an item of plastic with gemstone colors. Natural stones are found in mines, while synthetic stones are produced by machines.

TIP! When you purchase jewelery ensure you know what you are buying. A stone may be natural, synthetic or imitation.

Keep your whole jewelry collection sparkling with a polishing cloth. This will allow your jewelry to shine without using chemicals. All you do is polish it like you would a glass with the two-sided cloth. Use the polishing side first and, then the other side to make your jewelry shine.

When you purchase jewelry from a jeweler, ask about their insurance policy. This is so that if something happens to your piece, you can return it to have it replaced or repaired. Some jewelers will offer insurance on jewelry that might have been stolen or lost.

TIP! Ask the jeweler what type of insurance is available for your purchase. Insurance policies allow you to bring a defective or broken piece into the jewelry store for repair.

Do not clean your jewelry with chemicals such as bleach or ammonia. Doing so can destroy enamel finishes, while clouding stones and crystals.

Take careful consideration when thinking of how you want to care for the jewelry you purchase. Different metals, stones, and settings have different needs to ensure proper maintenance. A treatment that polishes one stone may scratch another stone. If you’re not sure of how to properly care for your jewelry, seek advice from a reputable jeweler.

TIP! Caring for your jewelry properly is important; you should definitely give it some consideration. Jewelry is composed of different stones, metals, and settings that all require different care to be properly maintained.

Don’t keep your jewelry in open air or someplace with a lot of humidity. Keep them stored safely in a closed, dark area, like a jewelry box or drawstring bag. Air and humidity will make the metals in jewelry tarnish. You will be able to polish precious metals to remove tarnish, but non-precious metals may lose their coating, showing the copper metal beneath.

Costume jewelry should be taken care of. Often, stones will be glued into their settings, which makes them more prone to falling out than regular jewelry. Don’t submerge costume jewelry in water or clean it with abrasives. The best way to care for your jewelry is to use one damp cloth to wipe it followed by a dry one to dry it. This helps keep costume jewelry looking sparkling clean and new.

TIP! You need to take special care of costume jewelry. Costume jewelry is often put together using glue and other adhesives, unlike stoned that are set using metal.

If you are shopping unmarked sterling silver jewelry, then by all means bring a magnet. Magnets attract non-precious metals, and you can use this fact to detect fakes. If your silver is sterling, you will also notice a mark on the piece. This mark might state .925, sterling, or ster. If the item has no markings indicating its authenticity, then be wary.

Determine whether or not your stone received a treatment, and what kind, prior to purchasing it. Different treatments come with different requirements for cleaning and storage. You want to avoid unknowingly cleaning the gem with a chemical or solution that could strip off the protective treatment.

TIP! See if your gem has had any treatments prior to buying, and if so, which treatments. The way to care for a stone differs greatly depending on how it was treated.

Jewelry should last a life-time. Don’t buy jewelry from less than reputable stockists if you expect your pieces to be of the highest quality. The best jewelry is well-designed and well-made with close attention to detail. A credible jeweler should offer a complete history of the piece, including information about the creator and the source of the gemstones. Choosing a high-quality piece of jewelry is important, so that it will last forever.

Buying jewelry is better if you keep watch for sales. You could save a lot of money if you take the time to look for better prices. Check for great sales online, in the newspaper, and even storefront windows. Sometimes, you can save about half the original price on trendy pieces that aren’t as trendy anymore.

TIP! Buy jewelry on sale whenever possible. With the right kind of sale, you can save a lot of money.

Always check with your jeweler about insurance policy options before buying anything. In the unfortunate, but possible event that your jewelry gets damaged, the jeweler will be able to replace or fix it for you. There are even some jewelers that will cover the replacement if the piece has been lost or stolen.

Before you purchase a diamond ring, necklace or bracelet, shop around and compare your options. Every diamond is unique and has its own set of flaws. When you personally see the stone, some flaws can be less important. Every jeweler is able to price point differently, depending on the flaw. You should always shop around to find the best possible diamond for a price that you can afford.

TIP! Do not settle for the first diamond dealer you visit. Every diamond is unique, and each will have some flaws.

As you read earlier, a gift of jewelry is a perfect choice for almost any recipient. Follow the advice here to aid in making a good jewelry choice for your spouse, companion, mom or offspring.

Any piece of jewelry that wraps around and attaches, such as a necklace or a bracelet, absolutely must have a quality clasp. Without something that is solid, your chain, pendants and costly stones could be lost. You can have a safety clasp added to any existing piece that may require additional protection. Some people choose to use additional safety clasps in order to keep their priceless pieces safe while they have them on.

TIP! A good clasp is important for any form of bracelet or necklace. You risk losing an expensive or sentimental chain or gemstone pendant if the clasp is too loose.