Jewelry can be intimidating if you aren’t familiar with it. Perhaps you’ve received a gift or inheritance, or purchased a piece on a whim. The question is: where do you start? The following article will describe some useful tips about jewelry to assist you in becoming a highly educated consumer.

Try cleaning your jewelry collection with a polishing cloth. This will give your jewelry shine and luster without the use of potentially harmful chemicals. Polish your jewelry with a two-sided polishing cloth as you might buff a lovely glass. Use the side that is designated for polish, and the other to make it shine.

You never want to use bleach, ammonia, or any other cleaning solvents that are not designed specifically for cleaning 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.

Know the distinctions between kinds of gems before you make a jewelry purchase. Three different kinds of gems are available for purchase: imitation, synthetic and natural. Imitation has little value, as it is generally plastic, while synthetic and natural are considered to be real gems. Natural gems are those that are actually from the earth, whereas synthetic ones are made in labs.

Quality Piece

A piece of jewelry should be long lasting. 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. A truly high-quality piece is one that is well-constructed and of superior workmanship. A good jeweler can provide you with some background on the piece, such as who crafted it, where it was manufactured, and where any stones in it came from. When you chose a high-quality piece, you know your jewelry will last forever.

What color gold do they seem to favor – white or yellow? Do they normally wear a bracelet? What type of earrings do they prefer – drop and dangle or studs? Take a mental note of this important information. This will help you get started in your search for the perfect item of jewelry for your loved one.

Ask about a jeweler’s insurance policy before buying anything. Insurance policies allow you to bring a defective or broken piece into the jewelry store for repair. Some stores even insure jewelry against loss or theft.

Keep your jewelry free of tarnish to make it look its best. Exposure to water can affect the finish, so avoid it. Lots of jewelry materials are dulled or tarnished by water exposure. You can give your jewelry an additional layer of protection by applying a thin coat of clear nail polish to it.

You should try and wear the jewelery once to see if it will hang on you right. It will also allow you to test the piece’s durability.

When buying new jewelry, carefully consider the stones. Pick out stones that will reflect your personality and complement your skin tone. Look for colors in neutral shades that you can wear with any of your favorite clothes. There is no point in buying something that is not functional.

Do some research on the best way to clean your particular piece of jewelry. Different styles of jewelry affect the way they need to be cared for; one type of metal will need a different treatment than another, for example. Something that may help one piece of jewelry might hurt another one. For the best information on how to look after your jewelry, you should talk to a jeweler.

As you have seen, jewelry has many wonderful aspects. Yet, when you arm yourself with the proper knowledge through research, you are well on your way to ensuring you can both purchase quality pieces and care for those pieces properly. Jewelry is a fun and exciting world of its own. These suggestions should be helpful for you to start out.