Knowing what jewelry to buy and how to take care of it isn’t something everyone just knows without doing research. Of course not all the jewelry information out there will be relevant to you. The tips in this article should help you assess what you need to make your jewelry work in everyday situations.
Polish your jewelry regularly with a jeweler’s polishing cloth. This is a very easy way to make them shine and not have to use any type of chemicals or solvents. All you do is polish it like you would a glass with the two-sided cloth. 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. Jewelry should be stored in an organized way in a box, a jewelry holder or hung on hooks. You should never simply throw your jewelry into a box in a messy pile. Heavy pieces should not be placed in the same compartment with fragile pieces.
Don’t use acetone, bleach, ammonia or turpentine to clean copper. This will result in damage to both the stones and the metal of the piece.
Sterling Silver
Be cautious of the way all of your personal jewelry gets stored together. The right jewelry box that has separate compartments, hooks and holders to keep the pieces apart is the best choice. Tossing all of your jewelry into the same box is a bad plan. 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.
If you want to buy sterling silver pieces, use a magnet and examine the jewelry very carefully. Magnets attract non-precious metals, and you can use this fact to detect fakes. Another way to tell if a metal is sterling silver is to check for a hallmark stamp, for example .sterling, .ster, or .925. 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.
When shopping for sterling silver jewelry, it is a good idea to bring a small magnet along with you. 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. Sterling silver will always be hallmarked with a stamp such as .925, ster. or sterling. 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.
Find out more about the gems you look at. Ask about where they came from and to which category they belong. Gems are divided into three main categories: imitation, synthetic and natural. Both synthetic and natural gems are real; however, imitation is simply plastic. While natural gems come out of mines, synthetic ones come out of laboratories.
Knowing what type of jewel you are buying when you purchase jewelry is very important. Gemstones come in three different varieties: natural, imitation and synthetic. Synthetic and natural are real stones, while the imitation ones are plastic that is colored. They make synthetic stones in a lab, whereas natural stones come from the ground.
Jewelry is an investment that should last forever. Whenever you buy jewelry, make sure you go to a reliable, experienced dealer, so you know you’re getting an outstanding piece of jewelry. High-quality jewelry is durable and displays excellent craftsmanship. The person selling the piece should know its history, including who made it and the source of the stones. Investing in a high-quality jewelry piece ensures that you will have a timeless item that will be just as wearable in 20 years as it is today.
Before you buy any new jewelry, you should look around for the latest trends. It is one thing to get a gorgeous bauble, but it is another to get it on sale!
If you wish to keep a piece of jewelry looking fantastic, preventing it from tarnishing is important. Avoid wearing your jewelry near water. Many metals can become tarnished, rusty or dull when exposed to water too often. A single coat of transparent nail polish may help protect certain types of metal.
If you can prevent your jewelry from tarnishing, it will surely look much more attractive. Don’t wear jewelry near water. Lots of jewelry materials are dulled or tarnished by water exposure. Use a thinner coat of your clear nail polish on your jewelry for extra protection.
Costume Jewelry
Stones are an important part of jewelry so ensure they factor heavily in your decision. The gemstone you choose should work with your skin tone and suit your personality. Neutral colored jewelry is nearly always a good buy, because they blend in well with any outfit. Do not buy something if it does not work for you.
If you like to collect costume jewelry pieces, become very choosy about each piece’s condition. Many costume pieces are a great investment and can be quite costly, but costume jewelry that has too many signs of wear will not keep their value over time. Pieces that are in great shape will fetch you better prices down the road, should you choose to sell them.
Taking proper care of your jewelry requires careful consideration. You should know that different materials require different maintenance. What is beneficial to one stone or setting may hurt another. Go ahead and ask a professional jeweler to find out exactly how you should be caring for your jewels.
When searching for better success with purchasing, caring for, or wearing jewelry, you have to make sure you stay up-to-date on the latest information. You can now spend more time doing, and less time searching for good information, thanks to this article. Remember the tips that you have read today, and you will only find success in your jewelry endeavors.
You need to take special care of costume jewelry. These pieces are often put together with glue, which does not last as long as other methods. Never immerse your costume jewelry or use harsh chemicals on it. Use a gentle cloth, like microfiber, to clean it. One wet, then another, dry. This helps keep costume jewelry looking sparkling clean and new.