Jewelry: what does it mean to you? By reading this article you will learn to recognize the difference between good quality and bad quality. You will also learn the difference between man-made or lab created gem and natural gems. Check out the following tips to learn some of the answers to jewelry questions you may not have even known you had.

Try to avoid cleaning it with harsh chemicals like ammonia or turpentine. Using them may result in damage to your jewelry, may cause dulling of gemstones, and may erode enamel work.

Be cautious of the way all of your personal jewelry gets stored together. It is recommended to separate the items stored by using compartments, boxes, holders and hooks. Avoiding piling your nice jewelry pieces into one big heap in a box. Storing them improperly can damage the fragile pieces, and necklaces can get tangled with other pieces.

Precious Metals

Keep jewelry stored safely and away from both air and humidity. Store jewelry in a sealed box or drawstring pouch for the best protection. Air and humidity can cause the metals that the jewelry are made of to tarnish. 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.

Having a good eye to catch the details, and a magnet, are key when you are considering the purchase of any type of sterling silver jewelry. You are able to detect fake pieces of sterling jewelry with a magnet, as non-precious metals are attracted by the magnet. You can generally tell genuine sterling silver by its stamp, which will look something like “.925 ster.” If the item has no markings indicating its authenticity, then be wary.

As a collector of costume jewelry, you should investigate the condition of the pieces that you want to add to your collection Costume jewelry can be very expensive and a great investment, but a piece that shows too much wear and tear will not be worth the money or time. Pieces that are in great shape will fetch you better prices down the road, should you choose to sell them.

Costume jewelry requires specific care. Costume jewelry is generally bound by glue rather than settings and is therefore, a lot more fragile. For this reason, costume jewelry should never touch water, and you should avoid using detergents on it. To clean your jewelry, dampen a cloth with warm water and gently wipe the item. Then use a clean, dry cloth to dry the jewelry. This keeps costume jewelry looking its best.

One way to ensure that your jewelry stays clean is to put it only after you have applied your make-up and it has had time to set. The dust, oils and particles from makeup rub off on jewelry; putting on jewels first means they will get dingy and dull with a film of makeup over them. It is especially important to keep this in mind when putting on earrings and necklaces.

Always look for discounts if you want jewelery. If the sale is a good one, you can save a lot of money. You will find advertisements for the sales in a variety of media mediums including on the net, in newspapers, and also in the stores themselves. Buying styles that are waning in popularity is often an excellent way to save money on original jewelry.

You should always know what you plan on doing with jewelry when purchasing it. A big supply of jewelry that you never wear is of little use to you. As you shop for jewelry, try to envision whether you can see yourself wearing a piece with your current wardrobe.

These tips will help you get the most out of your jewelry purchasing and owning experiences. You will better be able to make an informed buying decision, which will save you money and hassle. It doesn’t take long to educate yourself about jewelry. Soon you will be buying jewelry like a pro.