Have you been thinking about venturing into the world of jewelry? Whether you want to purchase jewelry for yourself or for a friend, the following tips will certainly help you pick something out.
For example, you should never use bleach, turpentine, or ammonia on your jewelry. This can cause your stones to turn and dull in color, along with eating away any enamel on the pieces.
You never want to use bleach, ammonia, or any other cleaning solvents that are not designed specifically for cleaning jewelry. This will result in damage to both the stones and the metal of the piece.
When shopping for genuine sterling silver jewelry, you need both a discerning eye and a small magnet. 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. True sterling sliver always has some sort of hallmark stamp on it, such as .925, sterling or ster. If you don’t see a stamp of any sort on a piece, then be wary of whether it is actually silver or not.
If you are shopping unmarked sterling silver jewelry, then by all means bring a magnet. 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. Also, look to make sure that silver is hallmarked and stamped with .925, sterling or ster. If there is no marking on the piece, it may not be sterling silver.
Be sure that you understand the kind of gemstone that is in the jewelry that you are purchasing. Three different kinds of gems are available for purchase: imitation, synthetic and natural. Synthetic and natural are real stones, while the imitation ones are plastic that is colored. Natural gems are those that are actually from the earth, whereas synthetic ones are made in labs.
Identify the kind of stone in every piece you consider. Gemstones now come in natural as well as synthetic and imitation types. You have to know that imitation refers to colored plastic. Synthetic gems come from a lab and natural ones are found in the ground.
If you want costume jewelery, you will have to take care of it. Costume jewelry can prove to be a good investment, but also a costly one; keep in mind the pieces you wish to add to your collection don’t show too much wear. Jewelry that’s in good repair can be a much better investment.
When you are shopping for a diamond, make sure to shop around and compare. See what you like up close, and then compare it to other pieces that you look at. However, be mindful that there are fraudulent ways to make the diamond look better than it is.
For a special and personalized gift, have a jewelry piece custom made for your recipient. If you buy something that will go along with their personality it will show them you thought about them!
When purchasing jewelry from a respected jeweler, inquire as to whether they offer an insurance policy. If something happened to your jewelery, you can take it back and see if they will fix it! You should also think about getting additional insurance in cause of theft or loss.
Doing this will not only accentuate your waist, it will also act as the accent piece for your outfit. You can pin it centered at your waist or closer to your hip.
For jewelry to stay shiny and new-looking, it is important to keep it from tarnishing. Never wear your jewelry when you are going to be near water. Lots of jewelry materials are dulled or tarnished by water exposure. Clear nail polish, applied in a thin coat, can give jewelry some added protection.
Always look for discounts if you want jewelery. If you find the right sale, you might see a lot of savings. Use the resources at your disposal like the Internet, newspapers, and even window shopping to find the best sales. You can occasionally get fading fashion styles for a fraction of their original prices.
You need to know how to care for each piece in your jewelry collection. There’s an ideal way to clean every different type of setting and stone. Cleaning and maintenance techniques that work perfectly on one stone might cause damage to another. Ask a jeweler to make sure you know how to maintain your items.
Buying jewelry sets can be less expensive than purchasing separate pieces of the same value. Many jewelers offer deals on jewelry sets. 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. It is an excellent way to know that you have a gift for someone that he or she is sure to love.
Now that you know more about jewelry, you will be able to make wise design and color decisions. You can enjoy your high-quality jewelry for many years if you invest wisely.
Never swim with your jewelry on. Swimming pools contain chlorine, which can age many types of jewelry prematurely. Over time, saltwater can be as bad. Take off your jewelry before diving in the water to keep them looking their best.