Some jewelry is worth a lot of money because of the type of material it’s made out of or the history of its past owners. Don’t let a fun, exciting trip to the jewelry store become stressful if your favorite pieces’ price tags far exceed the amount you can afford to pay for them. Depending on the material a piece of jewelry is made of, the price varies greatly for each piece. Naive shoppers can easily wind up spending more than is necessary. This article contains some great tips to help you make a wise jewelry purchase.
Sterling Silver
If you are shopping for sterling silver jewelry, you’ll need a magnet and an eye for the real thing. Take the magnet with you to find fake pieces of jewelery, sterling silver will not stick to the magnet. If your silver is sterling, you will also notice a mark on the piece. This mark might state .925, sterling, or ster. If the piece that you are looking at is not hallmarked, this is usually the sign that it is a fake.
Always compare prices before purchasing any diamonds. Take a good look at all the pieces that you like, examining them and comparing them to each other. With diamonds, you need to have a keen eye because of the many tricks people will use to enhance it.
If you want to maintain the look of your jewelry, you should prevent it from becoming tarnished. If possible, remove your jewelry if you are around water. Many metals can become tarnished, rusty or dull when exposed to water too often. Apply clear nail polish to your jewelery as an added protection.
You could wear it for a day to make sure it is not uncomfortable. It will also allow you to see if it can withstand every day wear and tear.
Think about what stones you would want before you purchase a new piece of jewelry. Choose pieces that have stones which express your personality and those that make you feel great when you wear them. Neutral colors are versatile enough to wear with any outfit in your closet. You want to have plenty of opportunities to show off every piece.
Research the proper methods for cleaning your jewelry. There’s an ideal way to clean every different type of setting and stone. A technique that is effective for one type of stone or metal may actually cause damage to another. Whenever you buy a new piece of jewelry, ask the jeweler the best way to clean and maintain it.
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. The type of care required will differ depending on the kind of treatment. 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.
Even knotted necklaces with delicate loops can be untangled. It is tempting to throw in the towel against knotted metal, but plastic wrap should be reached for instead. Put the chain on the wrap, then pour on a bit of mineral oil or baby oil. After the necklace has loosened, try to untangle it by hand. If this does not work, consider using a sturdy pin or needle. Be sure to use extra caution due to the slippery oil. When your necklaces are straight, use dish soap to wash the oil off and pat them dry.
Whatever type of jewelry you are planning to buy, be sure to research it properly. You will now know the key to success having read this article. By remembering the advice presented here, you could save a lot of time and money at the jewelers.