Stress can take a lot of the fun out of shopping if you are seeking to purchase a costly jewelry piece. There are dozens of types of materials that are used to make different pieces of jewelry, and they each come with a different price tag. Without some basic knowledge, it is very easy to end up paying too much. These tips can help you be more knowledgeable about all aspects of purchasing jewelry.
Be careful when storing all your jewelry together. Jewelry should be stored in an organized way in a box, a jewelry holder or hung on hooks. Avoid simply piling them on top of each other in a box. This can damage fragile, delicate jewelry, and necklaces can become very tangled in other jewelry pieces.
Precious Metals
Keep your jewelery in a space that is dry and doesn’t have any air flow. It’s best to store it in a closed box, like a jewelry box, or a drawstring bag. When non-precious and precious metals are expose to air and humidity, they tend to tarnish. While precious metals can be polished back to their original luster, non-precious metals are only coated in which case polishing causes the copper metal underneath to show through.
A magnet is a useful tool when shopping for jewelry in sterling silver. 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. Your sterling silver jewelery should always be imprinted if it is real. The stamp may read “.925” or “ster”. If you cannot find a stamp, you might be looking at a cheap imitation.
When shopping for a diamond, it’s crucial that you do comparisons. See what you like up close, and then compare it to other pieces that you look at. Beware, there are many tricks to enhance the look of a sub-par diamond.
Wear jewelry for at least a day to see if it hangs correctly and is comfortable. This also helps you to see its durability.
A brooch can add visual interest and an accent to an otherwise dull belt. Place the broach in the middle of your waist for the best effect.
Makeup isn’t for jewelry. Let your makeup dry before you put on a piece of jewelry. If you put on makeup after you put on your jewelry, dust and particles from the makeup will migrate to the jewelry, which makes it dirty quite quickly. It is especially important to follow this tip for necklaces and earrings.
Ask your jeweler before you make a purchse about what kinds of treatments were used on the gemstones in the piece. The type of care required will differ depending on the kind of treatment. Knowing the proper care techniques for your gemstone will prevent you from accidentally damaging it by stripping it of its protective treatment.
Be careful when untangling your delicate necklaces. You can easily give up on a knotted mass of metal, but instead grab some plastic wrap. After placing the necklace on the wrap, coat it with mineral or baby oil. Use small needles to untangle the necklaces. When your necklaces are straight, use dish soap to wash the oil off and pat them dry.
Steam saunas and dry ones are very much included. The reason for this is that the heat and the moisture can taint the jewelry and cause problems.
Necklaces often get tangled, so consider buying stylish robe hooks with embellishments to hang them and keep them untangled. You can hang a whole row of these small pieces of hardware along a wall or the back of a closet door, then hang your necklaces in groups by color or length. Not only does this keep necklaces from tangling up into knots in your jewelry box, but it makes an attractive accent to your decor.
Now that you’ve read this article, you know a little more about how to make wise jewelry purchases. Follow the advice in this article, and you will be saving money in the jewelry store before you know it!
