There are a lot of things to know about jewelry, whether you are giving it as gift, receiving a gift yourself, or caring for a piece passed down to you. The question is: where do you start? This article is the first step to becoming an educated customer.
Try using a polishing cloth on all of the jewelry in a collection. These cloths can replace the need for chemicals or solvents during the process. You use the special cloth to polish your jewelry just like you would polish your silverware. Use one side to shine it and the other to polish it.
When you go shopping for sterling silver jewelry pieces, take with you a magnet and a monocle. By using the magnet you can quickly determine if the jewelry item is made of a cheaper metal and not sterling silver. Your sterling silver jewelery should always be imprinted if it is real. The stamp may read “.925” or “ster”. If there is no hallmark, watch its authenticity since it may be fake.
Good jewelry will last a lifetime. When buying jewelry, only buy from dealers with good reputations, so that you don’t buy a piece that seems durable, but really isn’t. You can tell when jewelry is of high quality, due to the excellent craftsmanship. Your jeweler should have all the information on the piece, including where it came from and who created it. Choosing a high-quality piece of jewelry is important, so that it will last forever.
See what types of earrings they wear, what color, if they wear ankle bracelets, etc. Once you are aware of their preferences, you will be in a better position to determine what to buy them.
You should try and wear the jewelery once to see if it will hang on you right. You’ll also be able to get a better idea of the piece’s durability.
Try on a few different stones when you are shopping for jewelry. Choose a stone that reflects both your personality, skin tone and lifestyle. Your best bet is to choose a natural color to match any outfit. If it isn’t a functional piece, you will not use it and it is pointless to purchase it.
This will accent the belt, and will add a lot of visual interest. Think about placing it near your hip or at waist level.
Your jewelry will stay cleaner if you wait until after you apply make-up to put it on. Makeup can gravitate dust and grime towards your jewelry leaving it to look dull. Earrings and necklaces are the prominent pieces affected by this.
Determine whether or not your stone received a treatment, and what kind, prior to purchasing it. You have to select the type of care for your jewelry depending on its treatment. For example, you would not want to use a jewelry cleaner that is incompatible with a certain type of treatment. Doing so could result in irreversible damages to the color and surface of the stone.
Always look for discounts if you want jewelery. If the sale is a good one, you can save a lot of money. Check ads in the newspaper, on the Internet, and in stores for the best deals. Sometimes, buying fashion styles that are on their way out can save you almost half of the original price.
Take extra care when you are untangling necklaces. Don’t give up on getting the knots out, instead get a sheet of plastic wrap. Put the necklace onto a wrap, and place mineral or baby oil on it. Use a straight pin to untangle the knot. Use ordinary dish soap to remove the mineral oil and let dry.
Inspect the clasps of your necklaces and bracelets. Weak clasps can cause the loss of expensive pendants, chains and stones. For very expensive necklaces and bracelets, at least one safety clasp is recommended. For very expensive items, some consumers choose to increase security with an additional clasp or two.
Don’t wear jewelry when swimming. Chlorine is a strong chemical and it can damage the luster and life of your precious jewelry pieces. Over time, saltwater can be as bad. Take your jewelry off first to keep it from becoming damaged or tarnished.
By now you understand there are many amazing details regarding jewelry. With careful and helpful research, you will know you are buying quality jewelry and handling them the right way. You will find that the jewelry experience is both rewarding and fulfilling, so get involved! These suggestions should be helpful for you to start out.