The Basics Of Jewelry In A Nutshell

If you just received a piece of jewelry from an inheritance or as a gift, or you just bought a piece on your own, you probably want to know more about jewelry in general. Where should you look when it comes to finding knowledge about jewelery? You will find the information you need to become an educated consumer in the article outlined below.

Ensure you are certain how to keep your jewelery in one place so it is not damaged. It is best to use holders, compartments, boxes, and hooks so that everything is kept separate. Tossing all of your jewelry into the same box is a bad plan. Not only can this harm the fine and fragile pieces, but things like necklaces can get severely tangled up with other necklaces or other jewelry.

TIP! Be cautious of storing all of your pieces of jewelry together. Using boxes, hooks, holders, and compartments is very effective for ensuring the pieces stay separated.

You never want to use bleach, ammonia, or any other cleaning solvents that are not designed specifically for cleaning jewelry. You can turn your stones this way and it will eat away the enamel on the pieces.

Before you buy a gemstone, ask what type of gemstone it is. Gems are divided into three main categories: imitation, synthetic and natural. Imitation gems are made out of glass or plastic; natural and synthetic gems both consist of real gemstone. Natural stones are found in mines, while synthetic stones are produced by machines.

TIP! Make sure you know what kind of gem you are getting when you are buying jewelry. There are different types of gems, including imitation, natural and lab produced.

Keep jewelry stored safely and away from both air and humidity. A box designed especially for jewelry gives the best protection, but a cloth bag can also work. Being submitted to extreme humidity and temperature can cause your pieces to tarnish. Precious metal jewelry can be polished to fix tarnish, but non-precious metals coated with a finish will never get back to their previous state.

Jewelry should last a life-time. Go to a dealer you can trust to make sure you get a quality item at a fair price. High quality jewelry is well-crafted and made of exceptional materials. The person selling the piece should know its history, including who made it and the source of the stones. Investing in a high-quality jewelry piece ensures that you will have a timeless item that will be just as wearable in 20 years as it is today.

TIP! Most jewelry is intended to last for a life time. 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.

Sterling Silver

Do some price comparisons before you commit to buying a piece of diamond jewelry. Look at what you like close up, and compare them to other pieces you have seen. There are many ways to make a diamond look better than it really is.

TIP! When shopping for a diamond, it’s crucial that you do comparisons. Take a very close look at the piece you like, and then make the comparison to any others on your favorites list.

Bring a magnet when shopping for sterling silver jewelery. Take the magnet with you to find fake pieces of jewelery, sterling silver will not stick to the magnet. Sterling silver will always be hallmarked with a stamp such as .925, ster. or sterling. If the piece of presumed silver is not marked, be skeptical that is real silver. It could very well be a fake.

Ask the jeweler what type of insurance is available for your purchase. These policies dictate whether or not the jeweler will replace or fix your item of jewelry if it is damaged. Some jewelers will offer insurance on jewelry that might have been stolen or lost.

TIP! Before purchasing a piece of jewelry, be sure to ask the jeweler about insurance policies. In the unfortunate, but possible event that your jewelry gets damaged, the jeweler will be able to replace or fix it for you.

Check to see if your jeweler offers an insurance policy before purchasing an item. That way, if something were to happen to your jewelry, you can easily bring it back to the jeweler who will fix or replace it. In certain instances, there may even be jewelry insurance available to cover loss or theft.

Keep your jewelry from getting tarnished to preserve its best appearance. Exposure to water can affect the finish, so avoid it. Lots of jewelry materials are dulled or tarnished by water exposure. It is wise to place a single coat of transparent nail lacquer on jewelry in order to protect it.

TIP! You want to ensure that your jewelry always looks its best so do everything you can to stop it from tarnishing. Jewelry should not be worn near the water.

Give the jewelry a test-run by wearing it for a day. Does it feel comfortable and hang properly? You will also have the knowledge that the piece is not going to fall apart the first time the receiver wears it.

Costume jewelry needs to be handled and stored delicately. Often, stones will be glued into their settings, which makes them more prone to falling out than regular jewelry. You will need to avoid immersing your jewelry and make sure to stay away from the use of harsh chemicals. It’s most beneficial to use a damp warm cloth to gently wipe, then use another cloth to dry. This keeps costume jewelry looking its best.

TIP! You need to take special care of costume jewelry. Often, stones will be glued into their settings, which makes them more prone to falling out than regular jewelry.

Caring for your jewelry properly is important; you should definitely give it some consideration. Each kind of setting, metal, and stone has its own particular maintenance need. Cleaning and maintenance techniques that work perfectly on one stone might cause damage to another. If you’re not sure of how to properly care for your jewelry, seek advice from a reputable jeweler.

Many people find it hard to shop for unique individuals. The trick is picking something unique for them, maybe something made just for them. An item that highlights their personality indicates that you put time and effort into the purchase, which is what you should convey when giving jewelry to someone.

TIP! When buying jewelry for a one-of-a-kind person, buy them something equally unique. Look for something that fits their personality.

Costume Jewelry

The brooch adds a unique touch and a bit of your style to your outfit. Either put it near your hip or near the middle of your waist.

TIP! A brooch will accent your belt and will instantly add visual interest. Pin it near your hip or your waist’s center.

Costume jewelry needs special care. Many pieces of costume jewelry have the stones glued on, for example. Don’t immerse costume jewelry in water, and never wash costume jewelery pieces with harsh chemicals. The most effective way to safely clean them is wiping with a damp cloth, then drying with a different, soft cloth. Done regularly, this process will keep your costume jewelry looking great.

To keep your jewelry looking clean, only put it on after your make-up is applied and set. Putting jewelry on prior to applying makeup or hairspray allows gunk and grime from your beauty products to settle on the jewelry, leaving it dull and potentially harming the finish. Earrings and necklaces are especially prone to this kind of contamination.

TIP! To maintain the shine and finish on your jewelry, do not put it on until you’ve done your hair and makeup. Makeup will settle into your jewelry making it look dull and dingy.

Keep your jewelry unsoiled by only putting it on after all of your makeup has been applied. Your jewelry attracts dust and particles from cosmetics; if you apply makeup after you put on your jewelry, the particles will make it look dull. It is especially important to keep this in mind when putting on earrings and necklaces.

You can untangle delicate necklaces that have become knotted. You can easily give up on a knotted mass of metal, but instead grab some plastic wrap. Place the tangled pieces on this plastic with some mineral or baby oil. Untangle it with the use of a needle. Wash it gently with a bit of dish soap and then pat it dry.

TIP! Untangle your knotted messes of delicate chains and necklaces. Before giving up on a tangled knotted mass of precious metal, source some plastic wrap.

As you have read, jewelry has a myriad of various aspects. With careful and helpful research, you will know you are buying quality jewelry and handling them the right way. When you first start out with jewelry, it is like a whole other world, and it is one flush with excitement and beauty. Following many of the tips given should be useful for the first steps of your journey.

Both types of saunas, dry and steam, should be avoided when wearing jewelry. Because of the high temperature and moisture in saunas, they can cause serious damage to your jewelry.

TIP! Dry saunas and steam rooms can cause damage to jewelry. The high temperatures and damp environment can corrode the surface of your jewelry and cause long-term damage to the piece.