Jewelry has different meanings from a token of love to an heirloom. No matter what kind of jewelry you want to buy and give, selecting the best pieces can be tricky. This article is going to show you great ideas for getting the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to jewelry.
Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach, ammonia and acetone that may permanently damage your jewelry. This will result in damage to both the stones and the metal of the piece.
Keep your jewelry looking like new by wiping it with a polishing cloth. With this method, you can simply shine it up and not deal with the hassle of using cleaners. Use this two-sided cloth on your jewelry as though you were cleaning glass. One side is designed to polish, and the other is used to make the piece shine.
Keep your jewelry in a relatively air-tight container, and minimize its exposure to humidity. Ideally, you should keep them in drawstring bags or in a jewelry box. Air and humidity can cause the metals that the jewelry are made of to tarnish. Precious metals can easily be polished, but non-precious metal needs a special polish.
Do not clean your jewelry with chemicals such as bleach or ammonia. This can dull your stones and eat away their enamel.
When you go shopping for sterling silver jewelry pieces, take with you a magnet and a monocle. 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 can recognize sterling silver by stamps that say ‘.925’ or ‘ster’. If there is no marking on the piece, it may not be sterling silver.
Sterling Silver
Make sure you check into insurance policies when you make a jewelry purchase from a jeweler. Many stores offer a policy where you can bring broken or damaged jewelry back to the original jeweler for repair at little to no cost. Some stores even insure jewelry against loss or theft.
When shopping for sterling silver jewelry, it is a good idea to bring a small magnet along with you. 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 can identify sterling silver by its markings, for example “sterling,” “ster,” or “.925.” If there is no hallmark, watch its authenticity since it may be fake.
An attractive brooch can increase visual interest and accent your waist. You can add it anywhere on the belt that you think looks good.
Make sure you know what kind of gem you are getting when you are buying jewelry. Gems are divided into three main categories: imitation, synthetic and natural. Natural and synthetic gems are real stones, but imitation is just plastic colored to look like the real thing. Natural stones are dug up out of the ground and synthetic ones are grown in a lab.
Ask your jeweler before you make a purchse about what kinds of treatments were used on the gemstones in the piece. A treatment will make a difference on how to care for your gemstone. For example, you should avoid cleaning a gem that has been treated with a certain solution that could peel off the treatment because this could harm the gem.
Watch to see whether they usually wear necklaces or bracelets, or if they prefer dangly earrings to studs. Knowing their preferences will be an invaluable guide when you go out to buy them a special item of jewelry.
When you are looking for new jewelry, the first thing to do is to check what is on sale. If the sale is a good one, you can save a lot of money. Look for the best promotions and sales on the Internet, in your local paper, on television ads, and even in storefront windows. If you buy fashion items at the end of their season, you can save up to 50%.
Put the jewelry on and wear it for a bit so you can describe the comfort and fit. In this way, you will be able to tell if the item will withstand normal wear.
Have a purpose in mind for a piece of jewelry before you buy it. Having a lot of never worn jewelry is not necessary. Take a look in your closet and consider what outfits your jewelry will accessorize.
You should carefully consider how to best care for your jewelry. Metals, gemstones and settings all have different storage and cleaning requirements. What is beneficial to one stone or setting may hurt another. Whenever you buy a new piece of jewelry, ask the jeweler the best way to clean and maintain it.
If you are trying to sell jewelry online, it is important to post ample photographs from many angles so that each piece is presented in a pleasing and accurate way. Visuals are particularly important because customers cannot physically see or touch jewelery when they buy online. It is essential that the jewelry be placed on a background that does not draw the attention away from the piece.
Many times, the cut and clarity of a diamond outshines its actual carat weight. Also, keep in mind the personality of the person you are giving the diamond to.
Jewelry sets can make a great present if you are looking for a creative gift for someone. Jewelry in sets comes with a discount at many jewelry stores. Consider splitting apart the set and giving your loved one a single piece at a time. It is a great way to make sure that you always have a present for someone and that it is something they will love.
Jewelry sets are a great gift item to consider. Jewelry in sets comes with a discount at many jewelry stores. You can divide up the set into individual pieces and give them out one at a time. It is a great way to make sure that you always have a present for someone and that it is something they will love.
A good clasp is important for any form of bracelet or necklace. If your jewelry items have unreliable clasps, your gemstones are in constant jeopardy. With a more expensive piece of jewelry, it is a good idea to insist on a safety clasp. For very expensive items, some consumers choose to increase security with an additional clasp or two.
Jewelry is definitely not an item that you want to restrict yourself based on brand name. You’ll probably pay too much since a jeweler will be aware that you are probably buying the name and not the piece. Besides, many “regular” people won’t even recognize the brand when you wear it. Remember that there is top-quality jewelry available under any number of different brands.
Take your jewelry off before you go swimming. Your jewelry’s luster and life can be damaged from the chlorine that is present in the pool water. Ocean salt water can similarly cause damage to any jewelry exposed to it. If you want your jewelry to remain pristine, always remember to remove it before getting into the water.
High gold prices are only one of the drawbacks of having your heart set on gold jewelry. If you insist upon a gold ring or necklace, you can still save some money by compromising on karats. 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.
Find some robe hooks and use those to keep all of your necklaces from getting tangled. You can hang your necklaces in a row and separate them by color and length. This keeps your necklaces from balling into a knotty cluster in the jewelry box, and it looks lovely, too.
Jewelry that is taken care of is extremely valuable both in monetary worth and sentimental value. Properly caring for your jewelry is crucial to preserving it and any attached memories. There is a vast amount of information that you can find about jewelry. The more knowledge you gain, the more you will learn to value and appreciate each unique piece in your collection.
Don’t focus on brand when buying a piece of jewelry. It will be difficult for others to tell where you purchased an item, and if you’re only buying something because of the name, it could very well be overpriced. You can find good, quality jewelry from a number of different brands.