Jewelry is a passionate topic with many people, whether it’s for a person’s loved one or personal use. Different jewelry requires different types of care, so knowing basic care instructions for a variety of jewelry types can be very useful. Read on for the best tips in the proper care of your jewelry.
The metals in jewelry can tarnish if exposed to humid air, so you will want to store them in a way that protects them. To protect your jewelry it is important to secure it in a small bag with a drawstring, or in a jewelry box that remains closed a majority of the time. Being submitted to extreme humidity and temperature can cause your pieces to tarnish. It is possible to restore precious metals to their previous state, but it’s better to avoid damaging them in the first place.
Take a polishing cloth to each piece of jewelry in your collection. This is a natural way to shine all of your jewelry without relying on abrasives or other harsh chemicals. Use this two-sided cloth on your jewelry as though you were cleaning glass. Use a two-sided cloth to clean your jewelry, one for polishing, and the other for shining.
Look at what they are wearing now. Do they like hoops or studs? Does the person prefer chokers or loose fitting necklaces? These answers should give you a reasonable starting point for your shopping.
Avoid using things like bleach, acetone, ammonia, turpentine, and other related chemicals to clean them with. Doing so can destroy enamel finishes, while clouding stones and crystals.
When you buy a piece of jewelery, inquire about the jeweler’s insurance policy. 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. Some jewelers have insurance policies that cover lost of stolen jewelry, also.
Before you buy any new jewelry, you should look around for the latest trends. If there is one thing better than a beautiful piece of jewelry, it’s finding that jewelry at a great price!
For jewelry to stay shiny and new-looking, it is important to keep it from tarnishing. When wearing your jewelry, you should avoid exposure to water. A lot of metals will rust, tarnish or dull when they come in contact with water. If you are looking to protect your jewelry from the ill effects of water, try applying clear nail polish, just a thin layer, on the piece itself.
Before you buy, ask the jeweler if and how the gemstone was treated. The various treatments that gems are given means that they need to be cared for differently. If your gem was treated you have to find out how to clean it properly.
Costume jewelry does require some special care. That’s because a lot of the costume settings are not set-in; they have usually been glued. Take care not to use chemicals or lots of water in an attempt to clean your costume jewelry. Wiping your jewelry off with with a slightly dampened cloth and then wiping it dry is usually sufficient to keep it clean. Doing so will keep your jewelry looking its best for life.
Think about the outfits you will wear it with when you buy a piece of jewelry. There is no point in filling your jewelery box with things you cannot wear. Try to match the jewelry that you purchase with your style of clothing.
To keep your jewelry looking clean, only put it on after your make-up is applied and set. Jewelry can become dirty and dull if you put it on too early, this is because incomplete makeup routines will transfer grime to it. Earrings and necklaces are the prominent pieces affected by this.
When you want to sell jewelry on the Internet, you should try to show it off in an attractive way. Your customer can’t actually see the jewelry, so they must make the decision solely based on your pictures. Take professional-looking pictures of your pieces and let people know you can send more pictures upon request.
Before you buy any gemstone, determine what, if any, treatment it received. It is important to understand the varying treatment processes because each one requires a specific care regimen. Cleaning a treated gem using the wrong chemical might damage it.
This pertains to saunas that are steam or dry. The moisture and high temperatures in saunas can do real damage to your jewelry.
Untangle knotted necklaces with delicate loops. Before giving up on a tangled knotted mass of precious metal, source some plastic wrap. Put the necklace onto a wrap, and place mineral or baby oil on it. Untangle it with some needles. Next, use dish soap to clean the piece. Finish by using a soft cloth to pat it dry.
Inspect the clasps of your necklaces and bracelets. If your chains and pendants with costly gems do not have secure clasps, you may lose them. For very expensive necklaces and bracelets, at least one safety clasp is recommended. An additional clasp — or clasps — can be added to particularly priceless items to keep them extra safe.
A small but well-cut diamond with high clarity can look nicer than a bigger diamond of lower quality. In addition, consider the characteristics and traits of the recipient of this diamond.
Take your jewelry off before you go swimming. Chlorine can damage the life and luster of your jewelry. Over time, salt water is just as harmful to your jewelry. Take off your jewelry before diving in the water to keep them looking their best.
Comparison shopping is vital to the diamond-buying process. Every diamond is unique in both its beauty and imperfections. Some flaws may not seem that critical to you when you see the diamond in person. Different jewelers may price differently in regard to these flaws. Make sure you browse different shops to locate the best diamond for the price range you have in mind.
When buying an expensive jewelry piece, you want it to last for many years. Quality and durability are usually givens when you spend big, but style and fashion also come into play. Although something may be in style now, it may seem tacky after a few years. Look for something classic and timeless.
Keep your necklaces free of tangles by getting robe hooks to hang them. Install a series of these hooks on a closet door or wall to hang necklaces. You can organize the pieces by style, length or color. This will avoid ever having to untangle balls of necklaces in your jewelry box again. Also, the necklaces will look nice hanging up.
If you own gold, whether it’s in the form of bracelets or necklaces, you can keep your pieces and still make money from them. All it takes is clipping off any excess material, usually only a few inches. You will still keep your piece intact so you can wear it. With several chains of real gold, you can earn a good bit of cash, even a couple hundred dollars, just by shaving a few inches off of your jewelry.
The high price of gold can interfere with your fine jewelry purchases. You can save a bit of money on a gold piece by getting lower karats. An 18 karat piece is comprised of no less than 75 percent of pure gold, which is generally considered by many to be the most optimal combination of quality and price.
Be sure that you dress simply when you plan to wear jewelry that is big and elaborate. Instead of this, you should wear a classic black dress or some other solid clothing item that can clearly highlight your particular jewelry piece.
Crystal or onyx stones both stand out and make bold statements. It’s possible to save money, and be happy with your results.
Rubies have always been known to be a very fine jewelry stone and for good reason. Although true rubies are a rich, bright red, many stones are available in color variations that range from rosy pinks to deep maroons. In addition, they’re very durable and can resist various chemicals. Rubies are the perfect choice, if you desire a stone that is strong, as well as beautiful.
If you’re going to wear gaudy jewelry, don’t wear a gaudy outfit to match. Instead, wear the classic “little black dress” or other solid background to highlight your interesting jewelry item.
It is hard to tell the difference between real and fake sapphires and rubies. Synthetic stones have the same chemical and physical makeup as their natural counterparts but bear a significantly smaller price. Always make sure to have a reputable gemologist examine any piece of jewelry that claims it is natural sapphire to check for natural inclusions.
Natural sapphires and rubies are very difficult to differentiate from artificially produced ones. The fake ones look identical to real ones, but cost just a fraction. If you’re going to purchase a natural sapphire piece, have it inspected by a gemologist or third-party jeweler for inclusions.
A lot of people enjoy wearing yellow gold and silver jewelry at the same time. However, you have to find jewelry that incorporates both metals into one piece. If not, it seems unstylish or mismatched.
One often overlooked stone in jewelry is Alexandrite. Depending on the surrounding light, an Alexandrite stone will change colors from green to purple. You can find the stone featured in pendants, rings, earrings and a variety of other pieces.
It can be quite tempting to buy a piece of jewelry that is out of your price range, so be sure to have a budget, and stick to it. Getting yourself in a lot of debt just so you can own an incredible ring is a terrible financial decision. Young couples should aim to purchase a less expensive ring when starting out. As they get older, they can upgrade to a ring that fits their improved financial situation.
As you approach the very personal decision to invest in jewelry, take special care to make purchases that fall within your current budget. One of the worst financial mistakes you can make is to rack up your debt for a showy piece of jewelry. When just starting out, a young couple might be better served getting a cheaper ring. Once they have established themselves financially, they may choose to update the piece to increase its value.
If you like your necklaces from when you were younger, but don’t want to look dated, try mixing them with other, newer necklaces. Give yourself a layered look. When you wear many necklaces together as a cluster grouping, it is nice to add one personal item, like a cross or other pendant.
To keep the setting in good shape, clean it with a cloth that is just a little damp. Follow this by gently drying the item with a soft, dry cloth. Keep your fashion and costume jewelry away from steam cleaners and harsh chemicals.
It can sometimes be overwhelming to sift through all the available options for purchasing jewelry, from the cost factor to caring to the piece, as well as choosing the right piece for your needs. The advice you’ve read in the previous paragraphs will help make things easier for you when you make your next jewelry purchase.
Prior to shopping for that perfect engagement ring, be sure you know exactly how much diamonds cost. Purchasing a diamond can be an emotional experience. It is very easy to throw your budget out of the window when you see something extra special.