Whether you inherited some jewelry, received a piece as a gift or purchased a item for yourself, you might be a little confused about the details of jewelry. The question is: where do you start? This article includes tips written to make you a more informed customer.
Try using a simple polishing cloth on your jewelery collection. This is an easy way to get shine without chemicals and solvents. Use the two-sided cloth to polish your jewelry as if you were cleaning glass. First use the polishing side, and finish with the other side to make it shine.
Take a moment to consider how your valuable jewelry is stored and sorted. 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. This does damage to jewelry pieces, which are often fragile. Necklaces lumped together can get tangled up into a knotted ball.
Be cautious of storing all of your pieces of jewelry together. Use a box that has several different compartments and hooks to keep your pieces apart. Jewelry should not be lumped together in a pile. This can damage the finer and more fragile pieces, and items like necklaces can entangle with each other and other pieces into a big mess.
Always compare prices before purchasing any diamonds. Look at what you want very closely, and keep that in mind so you can compare it with other diamonds you look at. Look out for tricks that make the diamond look better than it is.
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. If the piece you are examining is not silver and is made from non-precious metal, it will be attracted to the magnet. True sterling sliver always has some sort of hallmark stamp on it, such as .925, sterling or ster. If you don’t see such a mark, you might want to reconsider the purchase. This is usually an indication that the piece is fake.
Inquire about insurance for your jewelry when you purchase it from a jeweler. If your jewelry becomes damaged, you can return it to the source and have it repaired. For more expensive pieces, look for a jeweler that offers insurance for lost or stolen items.
When you are purchasing a new piece of jewelry, be aware of the gemstone that it contains and what it is made of. Three different kinds of gems are available for purchase: imitation, synthetic and natural. Imitation is plastic that is colored to looked like the stone, but natural stones and synthetic stones are real. Natural stones are found in the earth and are mined out, while synthetic ones are grown in laboratories.
Know how to keep your jewelry beautiful. Take into account that different types of material takes different types of care, like stones and metals. What works for one piece of jewelry could dull or damage another. Speak with a knowlegeable jeweler if you do not know the best way to take care of your jewels.
Always shop around when buying a diamond. Start by finding what you like, and then begin comparing it with other pieces. Be careful of tricks that jewelers use to make a diamond look bigger or better.
Costume Jewelry
Always check with your jeweler about insurance policy options before buying anything. Look for a good policy that lets you return damaged items. Some jewelers even offer insurance for jewelry pieces that have been misplaced or stolen.
Costume jewelry should be taken care of. Many pieces of costume jewelry have the stones glued on, for example. Don’t immerse costume jewelry in water or use chemicals on it. Wiping your jewelry off with with a slightly dampened cloth and then wiping it dry is usually sufficient to keep it clean. This keeps dirt from building up and making your jewelry look dull.
Keep your jewelry from getting tarnished to preserve its best appearance. Jewelry should not be worn near the water. Many metals can become tarnished, rusty or dull when exposed to water too often. Clear nail polish, applied in a thin coat, can give jewelry some added protection.
If your “giftee” is a unique person, try finding a special piece that is crafted specifically for them. You want the piece to match the person; unique people deserve unique jewelry.
Wear the jewelry around for a day or so to be sure that it fits right and is comfortable. It will also allow you to see if it can withstand every day wear and tear.
To preserve the pristine look of your jewelry, apply your make-up first, wait for it to set, then put on your jewelry. Dust from your makeup can end up on your jewelry, and this can make it look dull. It is especially important to follow this tip for necklaces and earrings.
Taking proper care of your jewelry requires careful consideration. Different metals, stones, and settings have different needs to ensure proper maintenance. A treatment that polishes one stone may scratch another stone. If you can’t find proper treatment methods, try consulting with a professional jeweler.
If you are interested in acquiring new jewelry pieces, try to find great sales. You could save a lot of money if you take the time to look for better prices. Scope out the sales in every store you can find. Sometimes, buying fashions that are out of style can save you more than half of their original price.
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. The type of care required will differ depending on the kind of treatment. Knowing the proper care techniques for your gemstone will prevent you from accidentally damaging it by stripping it of its protective treatment.
Don’t swim while wearing your jewelry. Jewelry can be damaged by strong chemicals like chlorine, making your pieces less shiny and durable. Salt water can also degrade jewelry. To safeguard your valuable jewelry, set it aside in a safe place before you go in for a swim.
If you are interested in acquiring new jewelry pieces, try to find great sales. If you find the right sale, you might see a lot of savings. Check ads in the newspaper, on the Internet, and in stores for the best deals. Consider buying something that is out of style to get a better deal.
Avoid the debacle of twisted and tangled necklaces by utilizing decorative hooks like those used for hanging robes. With the right space, you can incorporate a row of these and use them for organizing and hanging necklaces easily. No longer will you have to contend with knotted, tangled balls of chains in your jewelry box. Plus, the artfully arranged necklaces make an aesthetically pleasing addition to your room.
Untangle your knotted messes of delicate chains and necklaces. Don’t give up on getting the knots out, instead get a sheet of plastic wrap. After you place the necklace on top of the wrap, cover it in baby oil. It is possible to untangle very snarled necklaces with a needle. Once it’s untangled, use dish soap to wash the necklace and pat it dry.
It is possible to make money while keeping your pieces when it comes to jewelry like bracelets and gold necklaces. 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. If it is real gold and you have a few chains, you can make a few hundred dollars by just shortening the pieces.
Comparison shopping for diamonds is critical. All diamonds are unique and will have different types of imperfections. Sometimes an imperfection isn’t so important, but you need to see the diamond in person to determine this. In addition, different stores will price slightly different. The price is often dependent on the imperfections. Do your research and shop smart in order to find the best diamond at the best possible price.
Natural rubies and sapphires are hard to tell apart from their chemically produced counterparts. The ones grown in a lab are exactly the same and cost way less. If you have the least suspicions about a “natural” sapphire or ruby you want to buy, get it checked out by a professional gemologist who can detect the inclusions that occur in natural stones.
Buying jewelry sets can be less expensive than purchasing separate pieces of the same value. Most jewelers offer special deals on jewelry when it is bought in sets, rather than each piece individually. You can easily make that one purchase into two gifts for different occasions by breaking the set up and presenting it to them on the different days. By doing this, you’ll always have a gift ready and you know they’ll like it.
Many have begun to start wearing yellow gold and silver jewelry together. To pull this look off most effectively, it’s best that one piece of jewelry contains both metals. You might look mismatched if you do not have this element.
When looking for the right jewelry, ignore fancy brand names and labels. Most people will not really know where you discovered the piece. Sellers try to get you to buy brand name jewelry just because it is more expensive. There are thousands of gorgeous styles available that happen to carry a more reasonable price tag.
Use just a damp cloth to wipe off your jewelry, taking care to protect the setting. Follow this with another soft cloth for drying off the piece. Neither costume nor fashion jewelry should be exposed to steam cleaning or cleaning with harsh chemicals.
You may lack a way to properly display your jewelry at a craft sale, holiday sale or flea market. When on the look out for material involved in the creation of your piece, don’t forget about creative displays. You can turn baskets, cigar boxes, racks or even wig stands into jewelry displays by being creative.
As you can see, jewelry has an amazing array of aspects to it. With careful and helpful research, you will know you are buying quality jewelry and handling them the right way. Welcome to the exciting world of jewelry! Use these guidelines as soon as possible to ensure that you get off to a good start.
It is hard to determine whether a sapphire or a ruby is natural or synthetic. These gorgeous gems are physically and chemically the same, but synthetic stones are available at a much lower cost than naturally flawless stones. Inspecting your gem is vital if you desire to get the best value, as you should find a venerable gemologist to perform this analysis.