There are a lot of things to know about jewelry, whether you are giving it as gift, receiving a gift yourself, or caring for a piece passed down to you. The question is: where do you start? This article outlines many useful hints you can use to be more educated about jewelry.
Don’t keep your jewelry in open air or someplace with a lot of humidity. Store jewelry in a sealed box or drawstring pouch for the best protection. Both air and humidity can lead to tarnished metal. The thing about this is that non-precious metals cannot fully recover from this because underneath, the copper shows through. However, keep in mind that precious metals can go back to their own original forms.
Do not use harsh chemicals such as ammonia, bleach, turpentine or acetone to clean them. Doing so can destroy enamel finishes, while clouding stones and crystals.
Do some research on the gem in your new piece of jewelry before you buy. You have three options as far as the type of gem: natural, imitation and synthetic. Imitation has little value, as it is generally plastic, while synthetic and natural are considered to be real gems. A natural stone is mined from the earth, and a synthetic is a lab-created gem.
When you go shopping for sterling silver jewelry pieces, take with you a magnet and a monocle. You are able to detect fake pieces of sterling jewelry with a magnet, as non-precious metals are attracted by the magnet. If your silver is sterling, you will also notice a mark on the piece. This mark might state .925, sterling, or ster. If there is no hallmark, the piece is probably not authentic and may, indeed, be counterfeit.
Jewelry should last a life-time. When you are shopping for your next piece, choose a reliable dealer. This can make all the difference in ensuring you get jewelry of the highest quality. You should be able to notice a quality piece by its craftsmanship. The jeweler should tell you about who made the piece and the origin of the stones. When you chose a high-quality piece, you know your jewelry will last forever.
Inquire about insurance for your jewelry when you purchase it from a jeweler. Many stores offer a policy where you can bring broken or damaged jewelry back to the original jeweler for repair at little to no cost. Some jewelers even offer insurance for jewelry pieces that have been misplaced or stolen.
Take the time to notice what kind of jewelry they already wear. For example, if they wear earrings, are they hoop or studs? Do they prefer white or yellow metals? Just paying attention to what they wear now will make buying for them much easier than asking a salesperson.
If you want costume jewelery, you will have to take care of it. While normally is a beautiful investment, a piece of costume jewelry that is in poor condition is not worth buying. A piece in good condition will be much more resourceful to you in the future.
Check to see if your jeweler offers an insurance policy before purchasing an item. If your jewelry gets damaged or broken, you can come back to the store and have it repaired or replaced. There are even some jewelers that will cover the replacement if the piece has been lost or stolen.
Consider how you should best clean each piece of your jewelry. Jewelry is composed of different stones, metals, and settings that all require different care to be properly maintained. Processes that may work for one type of jewelry may be harmful to others. Ask a jeweler when you do not know how to take care of your jewelry.
If you like to buy costume jewelry, make sure that you examine the condition carefully. 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. Jewelry that’s in good repair can be a much better investment.
If you are presenting a gift to someone who has their own unusual style, look for an item of jewelry that is in line with their clothing and lifestyle choices. You want the piece to match the person; unique people deserve unique jewelry.
When shopping for jewelry, think about the stones in the pieces. The gemstone you choose should work with your skin tone and suit your personality. Neutral colors work better to match all your clothing. Non-functional jewelry is just a waste of money as it will sit unused.
See if your gem has had any treatments prior to buying, and if so, which treatments. It is important to understand the varying treatment processes because each one requires a specific care regimen. You want to avoid putting a solution on jewelry that has been treated, particularly if you do not know whether or not it will hurt the piece.
You will need to take special care when you are buying costume jewelery! Many of the costume type settings are glued-in, rather than set-in. Don’t submerge costume jewelry in water or clean it with abrasives. The best way to clean these pieces are to wipe them clean with a damp cloth and dry immediately with another cloth. This will make your current costume jewelry look great.
Plastic Wrap
Gems are given chemical treatments in the process of cutting, polishing and setting. When you are thinking of buying, ask what treatment a stone was given. There are several different types of treatment, and each one needs it’s own type of care. For example, you should avoid cleaning a gem that has been treated with a certain solution that could peel off the treatment because this could harm the gem.
If there are knots in your necklaces, you can easily untangle them. If you are about to give up, get some baby oil and plastic wrap. Put the tangled necklace onto the plastic wrap, then pour a little mineral oil or baby oil onto the piece. Use a straight pin to untangle the knot. Rinse the necklace off as best you can and gently pat it dry with a soft cloth. Use soap only if it has been approved to not damage your jewelry.
When deciding on which jewelry pieces to buy, look through the sales advertisements. Finding a store offering extreme markdowns is a way to realize tremendous savings. You can snag a sweet sale by perusing your neighborhood shops, checking the classified ads, or even going online. You can occasionally get fading fashion styles for a fraction of their original prices.
This applies to dry and steam-filled saunas. Many types of jewelry will suffer damage if they are exposed to extreme heat and humidity.
That includes dry or steam saunas. Many types of jewelry will suffer damage if they are exposed to extreme heat and humidity.
There are so many things to know and appreciate about the world of jewelry. However, with careful and guided research, you can make sure that you are purchasing quality pieces and caring for them accordingly. 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.
When shopping for expensive jewelry, choose one that is sure to last for years. The more expensive a piece of jewelry is usually means it is higher quality. When selecting a piece, also consider the various styles available. Something that is cool and trendy now might not look so stylish in a couple of years. Look for something classic and timeless.