A topic that people are passionate about is jewelry, whether as a gift or for their own personal pieces. Given the wide variety of jewelry available, and the specifics in wearing and caring for it appropriately, it helps to know a few things. Learn how to sort your jewelry for storage.
When you are putting your jewelry away, take care on how it is stored. Precious metals and certain gemstones will tarnish if they are exposed to humidity, so keep the away from this. Throwing the jewelry together into the jewelry box is a no-no. 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.
Don’t use acetone, bleach, ammonia or turpentine to clean copper. Harsh chemicals can destroy the enamel, and ruin the stones in your jewelry.
When shopping for genuine sterling silver jewelry, you need both a discerning eye and a small magnet. Metals that aren’t precious will connect to the magnet, signaling that it is fake. You can generally tell genuine sterling silver by its stamp, which will look something like “.925 ster.” If you don’t see a stamp of any sort on a piece, then be wary of whether it is actually silver or not.
Jewelry should last for years to come. To ensure you are buying a quality piece, refuse to deal with anybody but the most reputable of jewelers. High-quality jewelry is durable and displays excellent craftsmanship. A good jeweler can provide you with some background on the piece, such as who crafted it, where it was manufactured, and where any stones in it came from. Making sure that it is high-quality will ensure that it lasts forever.
You should expect good jewelry to last the rest of your life, and possibly beyond. When purchasing your next jewelry item, focus on buying a quality, well-made piece. They should show a lot of craftsmanship, as well as be well-made. A reputable jeweler will be able to provide you with a full background of the piece, including where the stones are from and who made it. Unless you purchase jewelry that is of high-quality, the piece is not likely to last a lifetime.
Before you buy a new piece of jewelry, look at what the current trends are. It is better to get a gorgeous bauble on sale!
Wear the jewelry piece for a day so that you can get an idea of how comfortable it is and if it hangs right. In this way, you will be able to tell if the item will withstand normal wear.
If you can prevent your jewelry from tarnishing, it will surely look much more attractive. If possible, remove your jewelry if you are around water. Water can dull and rust some types of metal if it is exposed to it too often. Clear nail polish can be used to protect your jewelry if you apply a very thin coat of it on your pieces.
When you are looking for jewelry to purchase, give careful thought to the stones you prefer. The gemstone you choose should work with your skin tone and suit your personality. Neutral colors are very versatile, as they match well with any outfit. As long as you’re spending money, it makes more sense to purchase something that is functional as well as beautiful.
Costume Jewelry
Have a unique piece of jewelry made for the special person on your gift list. You want the piece to match the person; unique people deserve unique jewelry.
You need to pay attention to care and maintenance if you intend to build up a costume jewelry collection. Quality costume jewelry may cost more, but a cheaply made piece will fall apart and will quickly become unusable. Stick to pieces that are in good to excellent condition, as they are the best investments.
Have a use in mind for every piece of jewelry you buy. A large jewelry box full of items you never use isn’t a wise investment. Think about which outfits you will wear the jewelry with while you are shopping.
The color gemstones are an important consideration when shopping for new jewelry. Choose stones that have a reflection on your personality and that also complement the color of your skin. Your best bet is to choose a natural color to match any outfit. There is no point in buying something that is not functional.
If you’re going swimming, make sure you take off your jewelery first. Chlorine is damaging to many types of metals that jewelry is made of. Likewise, salt water can also damage your jewelry. Lengthen the jewelry’s life, and ensure it keeps its beauty by removing any precious items before entering the pool.
If you are in the market for jewelry, always seek out sales. The right sale will save you a lot of cash. Watch for sales in the newspaper, on the Internet, and even in the stores themselves. Sometimes, buying fashions that are out of style can save you more than half of their original price.
To conveniently hang your necklaces, try using robe hooks. Organize these hooks in a row and use them to keep your necklaces free-hanging and untangled. You can group them by style, length or other criteria. This keeps your necklaces from balling into a knotty cluster in the jewelry box, and it looks lovely, too.
Jewelery is such a complex world that everyone finds themselves overwhelmed by choices, prices or occasions at least once. Even expensive designer pieces are reproduced and sold at a reasonable price.
Do not buy jewelry based solely on the manufacturer or brand name. 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.