There are a lot of things to know about jewelry, whether you are giving it as gift, receiving a gift yourself, or caring for a piece passed down to you. Beginning to seek out information about jewelry can be difficult. You can start learning right here with these useful tips that will help turn you into an educated jewelry consumer.

Keep your whole jewelry collection sparkling with a polishing cloth. This easy technique can make your jewelry bright and shiny without the use of harsh solvents and chemicals. Use the two-sided cloth to polish your jewelry as if you were cleaning glass. The first side is designed to polish, while the other is for adding shine.

Avoid using harmful substances like bleach, ammonia, acetone, turpentine and the like to clean them. These can erode both the color and the materials of your jewelry.

When storing your jewelry, be sure that you store it in a place with low humidity and free of open air. Ideally, you should keep them in drawstring bags or in a jewelry box. Tarnish is a chemical reaction that happens when silver and other metals are exposed to moisture and air. Tarnish can be removed from precious metals like gold and silver, but they cannot be removed from other metals.

Jewelry should be a purchase that truly lasts a lifetime. When you are shopping for your next piece, choose a reliable dealer. This can make all the difference in ensuring you get jewelry of the highest quality. Quality jewelry will be constructed to last, and show a fine attention to detail. 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.

Take the steps to inhibit its tarnishing. Don’t wear jewelry near water. Many of the metals become tarnished, rusty or dull when they get exposed to the elements of water. Apply clear nail polish to your jewelery as an added protection.

As a collector of costume jewelry, you should investigate the condition of the pieces that you want to add to your collection Costume jewelery pieces can be expensive but they are not worth the investment if they look too old. Pieces that are in great shape will fetch you better prices down the road, should you choose to sell them.

Give the jewelry a little test drive and wear it for a little bit to see if it is comfortable and lays right. You’ll also be able to get a better idea of the piece’s durability.

When buying jewelry for a one-of-a-kind person, buy them something equally unique. Look for something that fits their personality. Besides affection and admiration, an ideal jewelry gift expresses creativity and thoughtfulness. A custom-made piece selected to suit the recipient’s personality is an excellent way for you to demonstrate these feelings.

Always remove your jewelry before swimming. The chlorine in pool water will corrode your jewelry and remove its shine. Even ocean swimming is not good for jewelry. The salt is damaging. If you want your jewelry to remain pristine, always remember to remove it before getting into the water.

There are many different aspects of jewelry to learn about. If you are willing to read up on the subject, you are almost guaranteed to find and keep a gorgeous piece of jewelry. Jewelry is an exciting field, filled with opportunities and allure. Get the most from your next jewelry shopping spree by following these tips.