Adorning the body with precious stones and metals goes back thousands of years. Jewelry comes in many different designs. The information below can get you started on choosing a jewelry item you are bound to cherish.
When you are putting your jewelry away, take care on how it is stored. Keep pieces separately by using compartments, boxes, hooks and holders. Jewelry should not be lumped together in a pile. Not only can this harm the fine and fragile pieces, but things like necklaces can get severely tangled up with other necklaces or other jewelry.
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. You can detect fake sterling silver with the magnet, since non-precious metals are drawn to magnets. True sterling silver will also have a mark on it to indicate its quality, such as “.925” 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.
A piece of jewelry should be long lasting. Get jewelry from a jeweler with a good reputation to be sure that it’s of high-quality. Any high-quality jewelry will show superior craftsmanship, and will be well-made. The jeweler ought to know the history of the piece, such as its manufacturer and the source of the gemstones. Unless you purchase jewelry that is of high-quality, the piece is not likely to last a lifetime.
When you purchase jewelry from a jeweler, ask about their insurance policy. In the unfortunate, but possible event that your jewelry gets damaged, the jeweler will be able to replace or fix it for you. You might find some jewelers who are willing to insure it against loss and theft.
Keep your jewelry free of tarnish to make it look its best. Try not to wear jewelry when you are around water. Many types of metal will become dulled, tarnished, or rusty when exposed to it. If you must take your jewelry somewhere wet, prepare it by adding some clear nail polish on the surface.
Costume Jewelry
If you are wanting to collect costume jewelry, you should ensure you are aware of its condition. Costume jewelry make good investments and they can be costly, but an item that shows major signs of usage will be a poor investment of your time and money. A good piece will give you many years of happiness and even gain value over time.
Costume jewelry needs special care. A lot of the stones in costume jewelery are glued in and not set in. Do not dip your jewelery in chemicals that may harm them. Use a damp cloth, then dry it with another clean, dry cloth. This keeps dirt from building up and making your jewelry look dull.
Your jewelry will stay cleaner if you wait until after you apply make-up to put it on. Jewelry will get grimy from the makeup as you apply it, attracting dirt that will make it look dull. This is even more necessary for earrings and necklaces.
You should try to find out whether a gemstone was treated prior to purchasing it. If it was treated, you should discover the way it was treated. A treatment will make a difference on how to care for your gemstone. Some cleaning solutions that work perfectly well on untreated gems can strip off treatments, and even damage stones, if you use them on treated gems.
Comparison shopping for diamonds is critical. Every single diamond is unique and has individual flaws. Once you see some of the flaws in person, they may become less important. A jeweler will individually price the diamond based on a multitude of factors, any flaws being one of them. Don’t just look at one jewelry shop. Take the time to really look around until you find the best deal possible.
Keep your necklaces free of tangles by getting robe hooks to hang them. Install the hooks in a row on a wall or closet door, and use them to organize your necklaces by style, color, length or any other system that works for you. This can make your bedroom look more stylish and help you select the best necklace for your outfit.
The tips above have hopefully cleared up some of the questions you have about jewelry. It should help you pick out just the right piece. All the jewelry designs you can select from are intimidating to many people. However, researching some jewelry facts can provide a lot of assistance.
