What attracts you to jewelry? Are you familiar with different styles and metals? Can you differentiate between fine jewelry and costume jewelry? Understanding jewelry is as simple as function and preference. Continue to read this article to find new information on jewelry questions both big and small.

Try using a simple polishing cloth on your jewelery collection. You can keep your items shiny without using chemicals. Use the dual-sided cloth to gently buff your jewelry as you would a delicate glass. Use the side that is designated for polish, and the other to make it shine.

A magnet is a useful tool when shopping for jewelry in sterling silver. Jewelry made with non-precious metals will be attracted to the magnet, revealing any fakes. You will always find a hallmark stamp such as “.925” or “STER.” on genuine sterling, or alternately, it might simply say, “STERLING”. If the piece that you are looking at is not hallmarked, this is usually the sign that it is a fake.

Always shop around when buying a diamond. Take a very close look at the piece you like, and then make the comparison to any others on your favorites list. With diamonds, you need to have a keen eye because of the many tricks people will use to enhance it.

Know what is trendy before you buy a piece of jewelry. The only thing that can make picking out a fantastic piece of jewelry better is if you get it at a discount.

Make sure you check into insurance policies when you make a jewelry purchase from a jeweler. If you can get insurance, you know that you will be covered if something happens to your jewelry. You can even find insurance on jewelry pieces that were stolen or misplaced.

If you can prevent your jewelry from tarnishing, it will surely look much more attractive. Try not to wear jewelry when you are around water. Many types of metal will become dulled, tarnished, or rusty when exposed to it. Clear nail polish, applied in a thin coat, can give jewelry some added protection.

Costume Jewelry

You need to pay attention to care and maintenance if you intend to build up a costume jewelry collection. Many costume pieces are a great investment and can be quite costly, but costume jewelry that has too many signs of wear will not keep their value over time. A piece in good condition will be much more resourceful to you in the future.

Costume jewelry needs special care. Many embellishments on costume jewelry are only secured with glue rather than set into the piece. Don’t immerse costume jewelry in water, and never wash costume jewelery pieces with harsh chemicals. The best way to care for your jewelry is to use one damp cloth to wipe it followed by a dry one to dry it. This will make your costume jewelry sparkle for weeks, months, or even years.

To preserve the pristine look of your jewelry, apply your make-up first, wait for it to set, then put on your jewelry. Jewelry will get grimy from the makeup as you apply it, attracting dirt that will make it look dull. This is particularly important with necklaces and earrings.

Buying jewelry is better if you keep watch for sales. You can save a lot of money with the right sale. Check the newspaper, the Internet, and signs in store windows to find the best sales. Buying styles that are going out of fashion can be a huge money saver, even getting up to 50% off.

When making a jewelry purchase, be aware of what you plan to do with it. You don’t need a box full of unused jewelry. Think about the outfits you can wear the jewelry with when you are choosing different pieces.

Keep these tips in mind whenever you go shopping for jewelry. You will better be able to make an informed buying decision, which will save you money and hassle. Getting, giving, and caring for great jewelry is really just a matter of educating yourself in the field.