Don’t Get Snookered: Pitfalls To Avoid When Shopping For Jewelry

When you’re going to purchase or sell any jewelry you’re going to need to learn a lot about it so you know what to do. This can make you wonder where to begin.

Use a polishing cloth to keep your jewelry clean and free from damage. This is a natural way to shine all of your jewelry without relying on abrasives or other harsh chemicals. You can use the two-sided cloth to polish your jewelry in the same way you would polish a drinking glass. The first side is designed to polish, while the other is for adding shine.

TIP! Polish your jewelry regularly with a jeweler’s polishing cloth. A polishing cloth is a very gentle way to get a good shine on all your pieces.

Polishing Cloth

Do not use any chemicals on your jewelery stones. These chemicals can wreak havoc on your jewelry, from discoloring bands, to dulling stones, to eroding enamel or glue.

TIP! Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach, ammonia and acetone that may permanently damage your jewelry. These chemicals can turn stones dull and even erode the enamel.

Keep your whole jewelry collection sparkling with a polishing cloth. A polishing cloth is a very gentle way to get a good shine on all your pieces. All you do is polish it like you would a glass with the two-sided cloth. One side is designed to polish, and the other is used to make the piece shine.

Bring a magnet when shopping for sterling silver jewelery. You can tell if a piece of silver is sterling or not by using a magnet. Sterling will not react to the magnet, but non-precious metals will be attracted. If your silver is sterling, you will also notice a mark on the piece. This mark might state .925, sterling, or ster. If the piece of presumed silver is not marked, be skeptical that is real silver. It could very well be a fake.

TIP! A magnet is a useful tool when shopping for jewelry in sterling silver. If the piece you are examining is not silver and is made from non-precious metal, it will be attracted to the magnet.

When you are putting your jewelry away, take care on how it is stored. Jewelry should be stored in an organized way in a box, a jewelry holder or hung on hooks. Do not just throw them into piles in a box. Heavy pieces should not be placed in the same compartment with fragile pieces.

Study current jewelry trends prior to shopping for a piece. If there is one thing better than a beautiful piece of jewelry, it’s finding that jewelry at a great price!

TIP! Before you select your newest addition to your jewelry collection, learn the latest styles that are trending. Getting a great deal on beautiful bauble makes getting it even more enjoyable.

Know the distinctions between kinds of gems before you make a jewelry purchase. Gems are divided into three main categories: imitation, synthetic and natural. Natural gems and synthetic gems are real gemstones, whereas imitation is just an item of plastic with gemstone colors. Natural comes from the ground, while synthetic ones are created in a lab.

As a collector of costume jewelry, you should investigate the condition of the pieces that you want to add to your collection Costume jewelry can prove to be a good investment, but worn, broken, or otherwise damaged pieces are not worth the expense. Compare pieces for quality, because good ones stay high or even grow in value over time.

TIP! If you want costume jewelery, you will have to take care of it. Costume jewelery pieces can be expensive but they are not worth the investment if they look too old.

Comparison shopping is a must when shopping for diamonds. Make a close-range examination of stones you find appealing, and contrast them with other likely purchases. You should be aware that there are many deceptive people trying to sell jewelry; therefore, it is essential to learn and understand what is involved when selecting a new diamond.

You need to learn the best ways to take care of your jewelry. Every metal, setting, and stone has different requirements when it comes to care. A treatment that polishes one stone may scratch another stone. If you can’t find information about caring for a specific piece of jewelry, consult a trusted jeweler.

TIP! Think about how best ways to look after your jewelry. Different styles of jewelry affect the way they need to be cared for; one type of metal will need a different treatment than another, for example.

Before you buy a new piece of jewelry, research the latest trends. If there is one thing better than finding the perfect, most heart-stopping bauble, it would be snagging the piece at a wonderful price!

One key thing to remember is to only put your jewelry on after you’ve applied your makeup. Dirt and oil accumulate in the small crevices of jewelry, and can make it look dull and shabby. This is even more necessary for earrings and necklaces.

TIP! Keep your jewelry unsoiled by only putting it on after all of your makeup has been applied. Makeup can gravitate dust and grime towards your jewelry leaving it to look dull.

There are a lot of different types of stones to think about getting when buying new jewelry. Choose stones that complement your complexion and that best reflect your personality. Neutral colors are very versatile, as they match well with any outfit. It will be of no value to you to purchase jewels that are not easy to incorporate into your lifestyle.

If your gemstone was treated, you should know about it before you purchase it. The way to care for a stone differs greatly depending on how it was treated. Treatments can interaction with certain types of cleansing solutions, so doing your research can spare you from a chemistry mishap.

TIP! Ask your jeweler before you make a purchse about what kinds of treatments were used on the gemstones in the piece. The type of care required will differ depending on the kind of treatment.

The brooch will call attention to your belt and make it more interesting to look at. You can pin in at the front-center of the belt or near the hip.

Untangle knotted necklaces with delicate loops. It is tempting to throw in the towel against knotted metal, but plastic wrap should be reached for instead. Put your knotted chains on the plastic wrap and cover with a little baby oil. Use a sewing needle to untangle the necklace. 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.

TIP! You can untangle delicate necklaces that have become knotted. If you are about to give up, get some baby oil and plastic wrap.

You should try to find out whether a gemstone was treated prior to purchasing it. If it was treated, you should discover the way it was treated. Care for your gemstone is different, depending on how it was previously treated. For example, improper cleaning with the wrong method may damage the stone by stripping the treatment.

Do not buy a piece of jewelery if you are not sure when you are going to wear it. A large jewelry box full of items you never use isn’t a wise investment. Think about your most-worn wardrobe pieces when choosing jewelry.

TIP! When making a jewelry purchase, be aware of what you plan to do with it. There’s no sense in spending a lot of money of pieces that you’ll never wear.

When you are buying jewelery, make sure you know what you are going to use it for. There is no need to spend your money on a bauble that you cannot see yourself wearing. Think about the style of clothing you will be wearing when choosing a piece of jewelry.

Both types of saunas, dry and steam, should be avoided when wearing jewelry. The high temperatures and damp environment can corrode the surface of your jewelry and cause long-term damage to the piece.

TIP! This means steam saunas and dry saunas. The high levels of moisture and heat are very damaging to the jewelry.

The prices for diamonds vary greatly so shop around before making a purchase. Every diamond is unique in both its beauty and imperfections. Once you get to see the flaw up close, you may find that it doesn’t matter to you. Additionally, keep in mind that the jeweler will have a unique pricing structure depending on his or her subjectivity. Don’t just look at one jewelry shop. Take the time to really look around until you find the best deal possible.

Think about getting a set of jewelry rather than a single piece. You can easily get a set of jewelery at a good price. You can even divide the pieces and give them to multiple recipients or on multiple occasions. This ensures that you will have a lovely gift that is sure to match and be cherished.

TIP! If you are looking for jewelry as a gift, consider a set rather than an individual piece. You can often find great deals on jewelry sets.

A good quality clap is very important to any necklace or bracelet. A flimsy clasp could result in lost jewelry. Valuable bracelets and necklaces should be secured with a safety clasp. Adding more than one clasp to a jewelry piece may even be appropriate to provide greater security against loss.

Unfortunately, if you are dead set on real gold jewelry, you will run into the problem of high prices. If you must have gold, save money by selecting the appropriate karat. Eighteen karats means the piece contains seventy-five percent of gold: this remains affordable and looks like a luxury item.

TIP! One of the disadvantages of purchasing gold jewelry is the high price. If you insist upon a gold ring or necklace, you can still save some money by compromising on karats.

Never go swimming while wearing jewelry. Your jewelry’s luster and life can be damaged from the chlorine that is present in the pool water. Saltwater is equally damaging to your precious jewels. Taking jewelry off before getting in the water will protect it and extend the life of the jewelry.

Pair large, gaudy jewelry with quiet, simple outfits. Wear solid colors to bring attention to a fabulous item of jewelry.

TIP! Wear original jewelery that attracts attention when you have a simple outfit on. Wear a solid color or the “little black dress” to highlight interesting pieces.

Use attractive robe hooks to hang your necklaces, keeping them tangle-free. 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 little display looks appealing and keeps chains from tangling at the same time.

One underrated but beautiful jewelry stone is Alexandrite. This stone changes color depending on the lighting, and it ranges from a lovely purple to a rich green. You can find the stone featured in pendants, rings, earrings and a variety of other pieces.

TIP! A beautiful, but quite often overlooked gemstone, is Alexandrite. One of the great aspects of this stone is its color-changing ability, depending on whether you are indoors or outdoors.

If you really want real gold pieces, high gold prices might be one of the only things to worry about. You can save some money, though. You just need to be a little flexible about the number of karats you will accept. Many people believe that 75 percent pure gold is the most ideal ratio of price and quality. This grade is commonly referred to as 18 karats.

To keep the setting strong, use a cloth that is slightly damp to safely clean the piece. Next, use a soft cloth to dry the entire piece. Avoid exposing your costume jewelry to steam cleaners or chemicals.

TIP! Proper care of your setting requires you to gently wipe the piece with a damp cloth. Dry the piece by rubbing it gently with a soft cloth.

Onyx and crystal jewelry looks beautiful and can make a statement. Be friendlier with your wallet and you may just like the results.

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. The addition of a small pendant will add a touch of personality to everyday modern pieces.

TIP! If you want to continue to wear necklaces you wore when you were a child, wear them layered with trendy, larger pieces. A simple pendant will add some flare to a grouping of several necklaces when they are all in the same style.

It is possible to wear daintier, childhood necklaces by layering them between newer, modern necklaces and pendants. Use a pendant as a point of interest within the cluster, and choose necklaces which share a theme; be it a color, material, or design.

When you and your partner are looking at engagement rings, make sure that the ring is cut in a style that will reflect your lives. It is key to find a ring that exemplifies your relationship and the person that will wear it. It is important to choose a meaningful ring, because it is almost certainly going to become memorable and much-loved.

TIP! When you and your partner purchase an engagement ring, try to match the design of the ring with the type of lives you live. Your ring should closely mirror your partner’s style; it should symbolize your relationship with one another.

One way to get the most out a fairly modest diamond is to get an illusion setting for it. Prior to the diamond being affixed to the ring, this type of setting includes attaching a mirrored plate to the piece. This reflects the diamond in the mirror, enlarging it visually and enhancing its sparkle. This type of special setting can be harder to repair, which is a potential drawback.

It is as important to care for your jewelry as it is to properly store them. Before you clean your jewelry, make sure that there are no breaks or loose gemstones that could potentially worsen or fall out if you were to clean the item. Rather than risk it, take your jewelry to a respected jeweler for cleaning.

TIP! Making sure your jewelery is cleaned properly is just as proper as storing them the right way. Before beginning to clean any of your jewelry pieces, be certain that there aren’t any loose gemstones or breaks that could be further damaged by a cleaning.

As we have shown in this article, doing your homework can certainly have many benefits if you are buying and selling jewelry. If you remember the tips listed above, you are sure to be successful.

Some men need guidance when considering cufflinks. Most of the time, it’s best to wear cufflinks when you’re wearing an expensive dress shirt. Cufflinks provide a striking finish to an elegant look; wear cufflinks in a similar style to the shirt and/or suit you’re wearing.

TIP! Many times, men aren’t sure when they should wear cufflinks. Generally, cufflinks should be reserved for only your nicest, highest quality dress shirts.