Jewelry has been popular for thousands of years and there are literally millions of designs to choose from. Use the following tips to help you select your next piece of jewelry.
You should always store your jewelry very carefully. It’s better to keep pieces separate by using boxes, holders, hooks and other containers. Don’t just put them in one huge, unorganized pile. This can hurt very fragile jewelry, and tangle necklaces or bracelets.
Take care to store your jewelry safely. Precious metals and certain gemstones will tarnish if they are exposed to humidity, so keep the away from this. Do not just throw them into piles in a box. Heavy pieces should not be placed in the same compartment with fragile pieces.
Your jewlery needs to be kept in a place where it is protected from air and humidity. A box designed especially for jewelry gives the best protection, but a cloth bag can also work. Humid air affects the metals in jewelry and causes tarnishing. 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.
Some precious metals and gems need to be kept away from moisture and humidity. Store them in a closed jewelry box or small drawstring bag for maximum protection. Both air and humidity can lead to tarnished metal. 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.
When shopping for genuine sterling silver jewelry, you need both a discerning eye and a small magnet. Use the magnet to detect fake jewelry; real silver will not be attracted to the magnet, but the cheaper metals will. You will always find a hallmark stamp such as “.925” or “STER.” on genuine sterling, or alternately, it might simply say, “STERLING”. If the item has no markings indicating its authenticity, then be wary.
Sterling Silver
Your jewelry should be durable and long-lasting. When you are ready to chose your next selection of jewelry, make sure you find a reputable dealer that will make sure that you find a high-quality piece. The best jewelry is well-designed and well-made with close attention to detail. Ask the jeweler what the origin of the piece is, like the maker and the origin of the stones. Choosing a high-quality piece of jewelry is important, so that it will last forever.
Having a good eye to catch the details, and a magnet, are key when you are considering the purchase of any type of sterling silver jewelry. Imitations will be attracted to your magnet. This is an easy way to recognize quality. Your sterling silver jewelery should always be imprinted if it is real. The stamp may read “.925” or “ster”. Be wary of pieces that lack any silver hallmarks, as this is an indication that they’re not genuine sterling silver.
If you want costume jewelery, you will have to take care of it. Well-done costume jewelry is often worth the price, but if it’s worn out or visibly damaged, it won’t be worth the effort it takes to restore it. You’ll get more return on your investment later if you buy costume jewelry in good condition.
Pay attention to the type of metal they wear, such as white gold or yellow gold. Also notice if your loved one usually wears hoops or studs. This should give you a grasp of their tastes, and some ideas about what to buy for them.
Taking good care of your jewelry is important if you want it to last. Different metals, stones, and settings have different needs to ensure proper maintenance. What can be beneficial to one type of stone can actually cause harm to another. Ask a jeweler to make sure you know how to maintain your items.
Before committing yourself to a piece, do research to determine which styles are hot and which are not. Purchasing a new trinket to add to your collection is always delightful, especially if you find it on sale.
You need to take special care of costume jewelry. Costume jewelry is generally bound by glue rather than settings and is therefore, a lot more fragile. Never immerse your costume jewelry or use harsh chemicals on it. 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 helps keep costume jewelry looking sparkling clean and new.
You should ensure the quality of the pieces of costume jewelry that you purchase for your collection. Costume jewelry, while expensive, can be a great investment. However, if a piece shows wear it will lose value. Make sure you have a piece that is in excellent condition, because this will be a lot more fruitful for you down the road.
One key thing to remember is to only put your jewelry on after you’ve applied your makeup. Jewelry can become dirty and dull if you put it on too early, this is because incomplete makeup routines will transfer grime to it. This is extra important when you are cleaning necklaces or earrings.
If the person you are shopping for is a unique individual, consider choosing a one-of-a-kind piece crafted specifically for them. A unique piece to match their personality shows thoughtfulness and creativity, which is exactly what you want to express to a person you care enough about to buy jewelry for.
Before buying jewelry or a fine stone, find out if it was treated in any way. If it was, find out how. Depending on the type of treatment used, the piece will require varying types of care. Treatments can interaction with certain types of cleansing solutions, so doing your research can spare you from a chemistry mishap.
If you are in the market for new jewelry, look for sales! Finding a store offering extreme markdowns is a way to realize tremendous savings. Sales can be found online, in store windows, or in your local newspaper. Sometimes, if you buy a fashion that is not ‘up and coming’, you can save some money.
If you’re selling jewelry on the Internet, make sure your depiction of the piece is detailed, clear and eye-catching. This is quite key since your customer can not physically see and feel the jewelry when purchasing it online. Take professional-looking pictures of your pieces and let people know you can send more pictures upon request.
When making a jewelry purchase, be aware of what you plan to do with it. There is no point in filling your jewelery box with things you cannot wear. Take time to consider the type of clothing styles and outfits you plan on wearing with your jewelry purchase.
Ensure that the clasps of your jewelry are sturdy and reliable. You risk losing your necklace, and the expensive stones attached to it, if your clasp fails. Valuable bracelets and necklaces should be secured with a safety clasp. Some people may even choose to put a second or third clasp on their priceless pieces to keep them safe while wearing them.
The size of the diamond is not always the most critical detail, the cut and clarity are important also. Keep the individual you are buying the diamond for in mind.
When buying an expensive jewelry piece, you want it to last for many years. Most expensive pieces are of good quality so you don’t have to worry too much about that. You should keep the style in mind, however. Very often pieces that are currently trendy wind up looking foolish later. Choose a piece that has classic lines and timeless style.
A good quality clap is very important to any necklace or bracelet. You may end up losing a treasured or costly piece through no fault of your own. You can avoid this by looking at the clasps prior to purchasing new pieces. It is always in your best interest to fit expensive pieces with a safety clasp. Actually, some people opt for an additional clasp on more expensive pieces.
If your heart is stuck and set on gold jewelry then high gold prices can be a drawback for you. If you insist upon a gold ring or necklace, you can still save some money by compromising on karats. For example, a piece that is classed as 18 karat is a minimum of 75% pure gold. This is felt, by many, to be the best value for money when comparing quality to price.
The tips we have given are a reliable guide to finding exactly the right jewelry for you. There are so many jewelry designs out there that articles like the one you just read are essential to getting the piece you want.
If you are a jewelry maker and sell it at craft shows and other sales, you may need new ideas for displaying it. While shopping for beads, stones and other jewelry findings, try to visualize a creative display fixture. There are many different things that you could use like a cigar-boxes, baskets, different racks or even a wig stand. With a little creativity, any thing can be turned into a jewelry display case.