Purchasing a pricey piece of jewelry can prove to be stressful. Depending on the material a piece of jewelry is made of, the price varies greatly for each piece. If you don’t know the prices, you can pay way more than the piece is worth. Use these following tips to help you purchase jewelry wisely.
You never want to use bleach, ammonia, or any other cleaning solvents that are not designed specifically for cleaning jewelry. This can cause the stones to lose their luster in addition to eating away the enamel on any of the pieces.
Use a soft cloth on your jewelry as often as you want. This is a chemical-free method to maintain the appearance of your fine jewelry. You just have to polish each piece the same as you would polish glass using the two-sided cloth. Use one side of the cloth for polishing, and reserve the other side for shining it afterward.
Be sure that you store all of your jewelry safely away from air and humidity. It’s best to store it in a closed box, like a jewelry box, or a drawstring bag. Certain metals will be tarnished when exposed to humidity or air. You can restore the precious metals back to their former glory, but plated jewelry is different. Trying to polish those pieces can reveal the non-precious metals underneath, such as copper.
When purchasing sterling silver, take along a good magnifying glass, along with a small magnet. To spot scams, see if the magnet attracts the piece. If it does, then shout “FAKE!” at the top of your lungs and move to the next store. You will always find a hallmark stamp such as “.925” or “STER.” on genuine sterling, or alternately, it might simply say, “STERLING”. If the piece that you are looking at is not hallmarked, this is usually the sign that it is a fake.
Know the type of gem you’re buying, when you buy it. A stone may be natural, synthetic or imitation. 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.
A piece of jewelry should be long lasting. Get jewelry from a jeweler with a good reputation to be sure that it’s of high-quality. The best jewelry is well-designed and well-made with close attention to detail. Ask the jeweler what the origin of the piece is, like the maker and the origin of the stones. You’ll create an heirloom tomorrow if you choose high-quality jewelry today.
Discover whether they wear studs, hoop earrings, or some other type of jewelry. Noticing these things lets you choose jewelry more suited to their tastes.
Costume Jewelry
Before committing yourself to a piece, do research to determine which styles are hot and which are not. It is better to get a gorgeous bauble on sale!
If you want to start a costume jewelry collection, it is important to be aware of the pieces’ condition. Quality costume jewelry may cost more, but a cheaply made piece will fall apart and will quickly become unusable. Costume pieces kept in great condition will enhance your collection much more over time.
Check to see if your jeweler offers an insurance policy before purchasing an item. If something happens to your piece, you’ll know you can take it to the jeweler you bought it from, who will repair it or replace the piece. Some jewelers have insurance policies that cover lost of stolen jewelry, also.
When buying new jewelry, carefully consider the stones. Choose stones that complement your complexion and that best reflect your personality. Neutral colored stones go well with many different outfits. There is no point in buying something that is not functional.
Keep your jewelry from getting tarnished in order to keep it looking it’s best. If possible, remove your jewelry if you are around water. Metals can become dull, rusty or tarnished if submerged in it. A very light coating of clear nail varnish can be applied to some jewelry, and this will add an additional line of protection against the elements.
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.
A brooch will add a little character to your belt. You can pin it centered at your waist or closer to your hip.
When you are interested in buying some jewelery you should expect to find good 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. You could get great jewelry at discounts close to 50%, especially when it comes to styles that are being phased out.
See if your gem has had any treatments prior to buying, and if so, which treatments. Different treatments require different types of care. For example, improper cleaning with the wrong method may damage the stone by stripping the treatment.
Plastic Wrap
A diamond with brilliant clarity and a perfect cut can be more attractive, not to mention more valuable, than a stone that is larger but flawed. You want the diamond to really suit the person that’s going to wear it.
Untangling knotted chains can be easy if you know how to do it. You can easily give up on a knotted mass of metal, but instead grab some plastic wrap. Lay the necklace out on plastic wrap, then apply baby or mineral oil. Use a sewing needle to untangle the necklace. When your necklaces are straight, use dish soap to wash the oil off and pat them dry.
This pertains to saunas that are steam or dry. Significant damage can occur to the piece because of the high moisture and high temperatures.
After reading this, you should have information that you can use to make wiser choices when shopping for jewelry. Not only are you going to save yourself some time, but you also are going to save quite a few dollars by following the tips and tricks in this article.
Be sure to shop around when buying diamond jewelry. Each diamond is different and has its different flaws. Sometimes an imperfection isn’t so important, but you need to see the diamond in person to determine this. Different jewelers may price differently in regard to these flaws. You can make the most of your investment if you take the time to comparison shop and hunt down the best diamond that falls within your price range.