
Whether you buy jewelry for yourself or loved ones, get it as a gift or receive valuable heirloom pieces, you need to know how to buy, sell and care for jewelry responsibly. This article is filled with useful advice on purchasing jewelry.
Use a soft cloth on your jewelry as often as you want. This is a fairly simple way to achieve shine without dealing with solvents and chemicals. Gently polish your jewelry with the two-sided cloth as if it were a mirror. One side is designed to polish, and the other is used to make the piece shine.
Be sure that you store all of your jewelry safely away from air and humidity. A box designed especially for jewelry gives the best protection, but a cloth bag can also work. Metals will become tarnished when exposed to air and humidity. Precious metals are capable of being polished until they are like new, while non-precious metals will not be able to be saved. This is because the non-precious metals are simple copper metal coated with the covering of precious metals, and when polished, they will allow the copper to show through.
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. Another way to tell if a metal is sterling silver is to check for a hallmark stamp, for example .sterling, .ster, or .925. Silver jewelry that lacks a hallmark may be a fake or composed of other metals.
Knowing what type of jewel you are buying when you purchase jewelry is very important. There are three unique types of stones: imitation, synthetic and natural. Both synthetic and natural gems are real; however, imitation is simply plastic. Synthetic gems come from a lab and natural ones are found in the ground.
Pay close attention to the design and style of their earrings, which may be hoops, gauges, studs, or something new. He or she may also have a preference towards gold, silver, or a different material. This should give you a grasp of their tastes, and some ideas about what to buy for them.
Before adding a piece of jewelry to your collection, research current trends. Getting a great deal on beautiful bauble makes getting it even more enjoyable.
Preventing tarnish will keep your jewelry look its best. Don’t wear jewelry near water. Some metals will tarnish, dull or rust when exposed to water or perspiration. Applying a very thin covering of clear nail varnish to your jewelry offers an added degree of protection.
A brooch will accent your belt and will instantly add visual interest. Pin it in the center of your waist or towards your hip.
Keep your jewelry in place with a strong clasp or closure. It is very easy for jewelry to be accidentally lost due to a cheap clasp collapsing and giving way. You can have a safety clasp added to any existing piece that may require additional protection. Some opt for two or three clasps on their extremely valuable pieces of jewelry so that they stay safe during wear.
These days of sky-high gold prices makes buying gold jewelry an expensive proposition. If you decide you must have real gold jewelry, you may want to save money on the karats instead. Gold that is deemed 18 karats contains at least 75 percent pure gold, and many consider this to be the best quality and value for the price.
You can make money with your gold bracelets and necklaces. The best part, though, is you still get to keep the pieces. If there’s excess, clip it off, sell it, and you can still have a wearable piece of jewelry. If you have a number of real gold pieces, you can earn a couple hundred dollars with this method.
Onyx and crystal, for example, can be especially striking and make a strong impression. Alternatives to diamonds can dazzle, so consider your options if you want to be kind to your wallet.
If you are wearing a simple outfit, wear bigger jewelery. Instead of this, you should wear a classic black dress or some other solid clothing item that can clearly highlight your particular jewelry piece.
People love rubies, and there are several reasons why. While it’s true that rubies are red, there are many different shades of this color from maroon to clear deep rose pinks. This beautiful jewel is very durable and can stand up to exposure to chemicals as well as a sharp impact. Jewelers and buyers alike value rubies for their resilience as well as their beauty.
It is hard to determine whether a sapphire or a ruby is natural or synthetic. Synthetic stones have the same chemical and physical makeup as their natural counterparts but bear a significantly smaller price. Before purchasing jewelry that is claimed to be natural sapphire, you should hire an expert gemologist to look over it for you.
Alexandrite is a beautiful stone that is often overlooked for jewelry. The color changes range from green to purple, dependent on whether you are inside or out. It looks stunning in necklaces, rings and bracelets.
It’s now common to see silver and yellow gold being worn together. The best way to approach this is with jewelry that uses both metals in its construction. If you do not, the look will appear dated and sloppy.
Show your significant other how much you are in love by surprising them with jewelry. Women love to get surprised with new jewelry. You will also get to enjoy watching her face light up and her eyes open wide in surprise as you hand her that pretty little box.
Jewelry is extremely valuable, economically and sentimentally. When you protect your jewelry you help protect both your investment and your memories. Educate yourself with the information available about caring for your jewelry and you will enjoy it for many years.