Don’t use things that contain harsh chemicals like bleach, ammonia, acetone or turpentine, to clean your jewelry. This could cause the stone to change color or become dull in appearance, and it may eat away at the enamel on the piece.

Store your jewelry in a place that is not subjected to humidity extremes or open air. Keep them stored safely in a closed, dark area, like a jewelry box or drawstring bag. Continued exposure to humidity extremes or air causes metals typically used in jewelry to tarnish. Polishing will work to restore the color and shine for precious metals, but with non-precious metals, polishing will not help the change in color.

Sterling Silver

When you go shopping for sterling silver jewelry pieces, take with you a magnet and a monocle. Magnets attract non-precious metals, and you can use this fact to detect fakes. You can recognize sterling silver by stamps that say ‘.925’ or ‘ster’. Silver jewelry that lacks a hallmark may be a fake or composed of other metals.

Always ask the jeweler about an insurance policy before buying a new piece of jewelry. If your jewelry gets damaged or broken, you can come back to the store and have it repaired or replaced. Many jewelers also have insurance for lost or stolen pieces.

For jewelry to stay shiny and new-looking, it is important to keep it from tarnishing. Do not wear jewelery around water. A lot of metals will rust, tarnish or dull when they come in contact with water. Use a thinner coat of your clear nail polish on your jewelry for extra protection.

The color gemstones are an important consideration when shopping for new jewelry. Try to choose a stone that meshes well with your taste or personality. Also, consider what looks good on you. Choosing neutral colors can help them match anything you wear. As long as you’re spending money, it makes more sense to purchase something that is functional as well as beautiful.

Do some research on the best way to clean your particular piece of jewelry. Depending on the metals and stones used in your jewelry, along with how they are set, you will need different maintenance methods. Not all jewelry should be cared for in the same way. When in doubt about the right way to maintain your jewelry, just ask a professional jeweler.

Untangle your knotted necklaces, even the delicate ones. The first thing you need to do is get a piece of plastic wrap. Put the necklace onto a wrap, and place mineral or baby oil on it. Untangle it with the use of a needle. Use ordinary dish soap to remove the mineral oil and let dry.

You can have a more beautiful diamond if it is cut correctly, as opposed to a diamond of a bigger size. Remember to think about the personality and style of the woman you’re getting the diamond for.

This means steam saunas and dry saunas. Both heat and moisture will damage your jewelery.

Remove your jewelery prior to swimming. Chlorine is a very strong and harsh chemical that can damage and dull your precious pieces. Salt water can damage them over time too. By removing all of your jewelry before entering the pool or swimming in the ocean, you can prolong its life and keep it looking brilliant.

Use attractive robe hooks to hang your necklaces, keeping them tangle-free. Try hanging the hooks on the wall in your bedroom or on the back of the door, then put all your necklaces on them in the fashion that works for you. This organizational tip can help you from getting a tangled mess of necklaces in your jewelry box.

Do not buy jewelry based solely on the manufacturer or brand name. Many designer pieces are of the same quality than other, more affordable baubles. For example, if you opt for a ring from Cartier, you are actually paying more for the name than you are for the piece itself. There are thousands of gorgeous styles available that happen to carry a more reasonable price tag.