Jewelry has been around for ages it seems and there are millions of designs when it comes to choosing jewelry. These suggestions can help you pick out a piece of jewelry that you will enjoy for years.
When storing your jewelry, be sure that you store it in a place with low humidity and free of open air. To ensure it is protected, keep your jewelry in a drawstring bag or a jewelry box that is closed. Continued exposure to humidity extremes or air causes metals typically used in jewelry to 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.
Try to avoid cleaning it with harsh chemicals like ammonia or turpentine. Natural acids won’t erode the enamel on your copper jewelry the way harsh chemicals can.
Quality jewelry should stay beautiful forever. To ensure you are buying a quality piece, refuse to deal with anybody but the most reputable of jewelers. Jewelry should display exemplary craftsmanship and be well-made. Your jeweler should have all the information on the piece, including where it came from and who created it. You’ll create an heirloom tomorrow if you choose high-quality jewelry today.
Take a moment to consider how your valuable jewelry is stored and sorted. You should keep the pieces separate in compartments, boxes, holders, and on hooks for better storage. Avoid just throwing them into a box in an unorganized manner. Not only can it damage finer, fragile pieces, but it can also make a tangled mess out of chains.
When you are shopping for diamonds, there are ways to compare the stones. Look at what you like close up, and compare them to other pieces you have seen. You should be aware that there are many deceptive people trying to sell jewelry; therefore, it is essential to learn and understand what is involved when selecting a new diamond.
Make sure to store your jewelry away from humidity and air. A jewelry box or drawstring bag out of a humid area is ideal. Humidity quickly tarnishes both precious and non-precious metal. Tarnish can be removed from precious metals like gold and silver, but they cannot be removed from other metals.
If you are interested in collecting costume jewelry, be sure to stay conscious of the condition. Costume jewelry can be very expensive and a great investment, but a piece that shows too much wear and tear will not be worth the money or time. Compare pieces for quality, because good ones stay high or even grow in value over time.
Your jewelry should endure an entire lifetime. When buying jewelry, only buy from dealers with good reputations, so that you don’t buy a piece that seems durable, but really isn’t. Any high-quality jewelry will show superior craftsmanship, and will be well-made. The jeweler will be able to provide a complete history of the piece of jewelry, including who made it, and exactly where the stones originated. Choosing a high-quality piece of jewelry is important, so that it will last forever.
You will need to take special care when you are buying costume jewelery! A fair amount of costume pieces are set with glue. Don’t let them go under water or clean them with strong chemicals, or you could dissolve the glue. To clean your jewelry, dampen a cloth with warm water and gently wipe the item. Then use a clean, dry cloth to dry the jewelry. This will keep any costume jewelry that you have looking great.
When you are shopping for a diamond, make sure to shop around and compare. Take a very close look at the piece you like, and then make the comparison to any others on your favorites list. Be alert, since there are various ways to deceive consumers into thinking a diamond is better then it really is.
Have a purpose in mind before shopping for jewelry. There is no point in filling your jewelery box with things you cannot wear. When choosing a piece of jewelry, take into account what you will be wearing it with.
Research the proper methods for cleaning your jewelry. Different cleaning techniques are required for different types of jewelry. Each piece is individual in its needs so don’t assume what works well for one piece will work well for all. Talk with a professional if you aren’t sure what sort of care each jewel requires.
This applies to dry and steam-filled saunas. The high heat and humidity in these areas can significantly damage your jewelry.
Plastic Wrap
Make sure you look around for awhile when you decide you want to shop for jewelry. Every single diamond is unique and has individual flaws. A diamond’s flaws must be seen in person for you to truly understand the impact it has on the stone’s beauty. Jewelers have some flexibility with the price depending on the severity of the flaws. Make sure you browse different shops to locate the best diamond for the price range you have in mind.
Be careful when untangling your delicate necklaces. Don’t give up on getting the knots out, instead get a sheet of plastic wrap. Put the necklace on the plastic wrap and cover it with a little baby oil. Using sewing needles, you should be able to separate the knot. Next, use dish soap to clean the piece. Finish by using a soft cloth to pat it dry.
Think about getting a set of jewelry rather than a single piece. You can often find great deals on jewelry sets. If you purchase a necklace and earring set, you can gift the necklace on one occasion and the earrings on another. This way you can have a gift ready for someone months in advance and know that they will like it.
If you are looking to sell jewelry online, ensure that the photos you use make the piece look attractive. This is extra important because the customer can not handle jewelry with an online transaction. Make sure you take a photo of the jewelery in a place that will focus on it and not the background.
Don’t wear jewelry when swimming. The life and luster of your jewelry can be damaged by the strong chemical chlorine. Likewise, salt water can also damage your jewelry. You can extend the longevity of your pieces and keep their beauty intact by removing them prior to swimming.
When you set out to buy jewelry, buy a piece because you love it, not because of who makes it. Few people can identify jewelry brands on sight. A jeweler who convinces you that a brand is worth paying more for is probably just out to get as much of your money as possible. You’ll be able to find high-quality jewelry from any number of brands.
Don’t buy a piece of jewelry based solely on the brand. The brand may be a significant factor in the price. Usually, brand names like Cartier and Tiffany are much more expensive than jewelry without the brand name for the same piece. It is not difficult to find quality jewelry that is made by different brands.
It may be tough to figure out how to best present jewelry that you are selling at informal events like craft fairs and flea markets. When you are shopping for materials to make your jewelry, also look for items that you could display it on. Use your imagination. Many types of craft boxes make excellent display pieces.
If you are going to buy a very expensive piece of jewelry, buy something that will last you for years. While expensive normally equates to great quality, bear in mind that styles will change in the future. Even though a piece of jewelry is the latest trend right now, it might look outlandish in just a few years. Try to find something timeless and classic.
The birthstone for the month of July, popular rubies were once believed to possess magical powers. Authentic rubies are red 100% of the time, but red comes in many shades from pinkish to blood red. They are very durable and can resist being hit and stand up to many chemicals. Because of this combination of looks and strength, rubies are one of the most practical choices in fine stones.
Onyx items, or those made of crystal, make quite the impact when worn in a jewelry piece. By being nicer to your wallet, you may get better results.
It is hard to tell the difference between real and fake sapphires and rubies. The stones are nearly the same, both physically and chemically speaking, but artificial stones are much easier and less expensive to obtain. If you’re going to purchase a natural sapphire piece, have it inspected by a gemologist or third-party jeweler for inclusions.
Artificial rubies and sapphires have gotten so good, they’re almost indistinguishable from the real thing. These fancy stones might look physically and chemically identical, but the fake ones are much cheaper in cost compared to the natural and flawless gems. Before buying natural sapphire, have a gemologist to view its natural inclusions.
One underrated but beautiful jewelry stone is Alexandrite. The color changes range from green to purple, dependent on whether you are inside or out. It is often found in earrings, rings, and pendants.
To avoid damaging the setting, clean only with a damp cloth, and be gentle. Gently dry the piece with a soft cloth. Keep your fashion and costume jewelry away from steam cleaners and harsh chemicals.
Many people wear gold and silver jewelry pieces together. You need to get something that has both metals in it. If not, you’ll have a mismatched appearance.
To update the look of an older necklace, layer it with bulky and more modern pieces. When you wear many necklaces together as a cluster grouping, it is nice to add one personal item, like a cross or other pendant.
Do your best to stick to your budget when purchasing jewelry. It’s not wise financially to take on a large debt to purchase a ring, no matter how fabulous it is. A young couple just starting out may need to buy a less expensive ring and upgrade later. After they are more financially sound, the ring can always be upgraded.
If you are looking to sell a piece of fine jewelry, consider taking the piece of jewelry to a certified appraiser and/or master gemologist. This will help you sell your item at the right price as you now have an honest opinion of what that is.
This article provided all of the tools to help pick out jewelry that matches your style and preferences. There is a vast array of jewelry pieces available making it a bit of a challenge to select, give or care for one properly. Reading up on jewelry is a useful way to spend a little time educating yourself.
Do some research on the price of diamonds before actually going out to shop for the right engagement ring. Shopping for diamonds can elicit many emotions. It is easy to lose yourself in the moment and forget about your budget.