A new piece of jewelry is a special way to commemorate an important time in your life. Even something small can be appreciated greatly. These tips can give you vital information about how to pick out gifts as jewelery.
Never store your jewelry in open air or humidity. To keep your jewelry properly protected, store it in a drawstring bag or jewelry box. Air and humidity can tarnish metals of all types. The thing about this is that non-precious metals cannot fully recover from this because underneath, the copper shows through. However, keep in mind that precious metals can go back to their own original forms.
Sterling Silver
When you are shopping for jewelry in sterling silver, be sure to examine the piece closely, and take along a magnet for metal testing. If an item of jewelry is attracted by a magnet, it is not sterling silver! Only non-precious metals can be drawn to a magnet. You will always find a hallmark stamp such as “.925” or “STER.” on genuine sterling, or alternately, it might simply say, “STERLING”. If you don’t see a stamp of any sort on a piece, then be wary of whether it is actually silver or not.
When purchasing jewels, you should understand which type of stone you are getting. There are three different types: natural, synthetic and imitation. While natural and synthetic stones are the real deal, imitation stones are made to look like a real gemstone, but could be anything from colored glass to plastic. Natural stones are found in the earth and are mined out, while synthetic ones are grown in laboratories.
Jewelry should last a life-time. 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 items will have superior craftsmanship and pleasing, aesthetic designs. A good jeweler can provide you with some background on the piece, such as who crafted it, where it was manufactured, and where any stones in it came from. A quality item of jewelry will last a lifetime or more, so take the time to do your research.
Before you buy a new piece of jewelry, look at what the current trends are. You will enjoy your jewelery even more if you can get it on sale.
If you wish to keep a piece of jewelry looking fantastic, preventing it from tarnishing is important. Don’t take your jewelry into the water, regardless of whether you are showering or hitting the beach. Exposure can result in tarnishing, rusting or dulling of different metals. If you want to give your jewelry a measure of protection from this element, coat it thinly with clear nail polish.
Costume Jewelry
Collecting costume jewelry is a popular pastime, but if you wish to participate, be careful of the condition of the jewelry. While normally is a beautiful investment, a piece of costume jewelry that is in poor condition is not worth buying. You’ll get more return on your investment later if you buy costume jewelry in good condition.
Costume jewelry needs to be handled and stored delicately. Many of the costume type settings are glued-in, rather than set-in. Don’t submerge costume jewelry in water or clean it with abrasives. Wiping it down with a damp, warm cloth and then drying it with another cloth is the best care for it. This will ensure that all of your costume jewelry looks like it did the day you bought it.
If the person you are shopping for is a unique individual, consider choosing a one-of-a-kind piece crafted specifically for them. This shows that you are both thoughtful and creative, traits that someone who would want a unique piece of jewelry is likely to value.
You can use a brooch to make your belt stand out, since it is sure to be eye-catching. You can add it anywhere on the belt that you think looks good.
Find out if your gemstone was treated before you buy it and if it was, how it was treated. Gemstone treatment can affect the type of care the piece needs. You can easily damage your gem, stripping the former treatment off, by cleaning it with the wrong solution.
When you are looking for new jewelry, the first thing to do is to check what is on sale. The right sale can save you a ton of money. Keep your eyes peeled for sales on the Internet, in the paper, and on storefront displays. If you buy the older fashions that are from the previous season, you can save a lot of money.
It is vitally important that each of your bracelets and necklaces have a strong clasp attached to them. If your chains and pendants with costly gems do not have secure clasps, you may lose them. Valuable bracelets and necklaces should be secured with a safety clasp. Some people choose to use additional safety clasps in order to keep their priceless pieces safe while they have them on.
Take your jewelry off before you go swimming. Chlorine is a strong chemical and it can damage the luster and life of your precious jewelry pieces. Salt water is equally as bad for your jewelry. To extend the life of your jewelry, and protect the beauty, take off all jewelry before going into the water.
Jewelry is an indicated gift in a lot of occasions. Even a small jewelry item can have great meaning to the recipient. Of course, you do need to know how to care for your jewelry, too. If you test any of these tips, you are sure to find that enjoying jewelry stylishly is easier than you may have previously believed.