You can never be too well-researched when it comes to purchasing jewelry. A simple, honest mistake can cost you a lot of money. Here are several very practical pieces of advice on the topic. The following tips will help you understand how to choose and care for beautiful jewelry pieces, while preventing some common mistakes.
Store your jewelry in a place that is not subjected to humidity extremes or open air. Ideally, you should keep them in drawstring bags or in a jewelry box. Air and humidity can cause the metals that the jewelry are made of to tarnish. Precious metals can easily be polished, but non-precious metal needs a special polish.
Synthetic Stones
Before you buy a gemstone, ask what type of gemstone it is. The three different types of stones are natural, imitation and synthetic. While natural and synthetic stones are the real deal, imitation stones are made to look like a real gemstone, but could be anything from colored glass to plastic. Natural stones are found in mines, while synthetic stones are produced by machines.
You should expect good jewelry to last the rest of your life, and possibly beyond. When purchasing your next jewelry item, focus on buying a quality, well-made piece. Quality jewelry will be constructed to last, and show a fine attention to detail. The jeweler should tell you about who made the piece and the origin of the stones. When you choose a piece of jewelry that is high in quality, it can become a heirloom that will last forever.
Do they often wear hoop earrings, or stud earrings? Do they show a preference for white or yellow gold? Paying attention to these aspects of their current wardrobe will help you make a purchase they are more likely to enjoy.
Take the steps to inhibit its tarnishing. One of the best ways to keep your jewelry looking beautiful is to avoid wearing it in water. If you let some metals get wet too often, they can tarnish, rust or become dull. You can give your jewelry an additional layer of protection by applying a thin coat of clear nail polish to it.
You could wear it for a day to make sure it is not uncomfortable. You can also make a better estimate of the jewelry’s durability after trying it out.
When you are looking for jewelry to purchase, give careful thought to the stones you prefer. Choose a stone that goes well with your skin tone or the kind of clothes you wear and reflects your personality. Neutral colored jewelry is nearly always a good buy, because they blend in well with any outfit. You want to have plenty of opportunities to show off every piece.
You can use a brooch to make your belt stand out, since it is sure to be eye-catching. Pin it in the front or at your hip.
Before you buy, ask if the gemstone has been treated, and the method for doing so. The kind of care your stone needs is dependent on what it was treated with. You don’t want to clean them with a type of solution that could strip the treatment or damage the gem.
A clasp that will hold up is a very important part of any necklace or bracelet. Weak clasps put your expensive pieces of jewelry at risk of loss. For particularly expensive or sentimental pieces of jewelry, it is recommended you have a safety clasp installed. Adding more than one clasp to a jewelry piece may even be appropriate to provide greater security against loss.
Well, it’s easy when you know how. This article has just touched on a few of things that you should know about this very rewarding hobby. There is much to learn, but at least you’ve now got a few good ideas to put to work.