Jewelry can get confusing whether you bought it yourself, received it as a gift, or inherited a piece. There may be a question in your mind as to where to find information about this interesting tradition. This article has some helpful tips to help you become a better educated consumer.

For example, you should never use bleach, turpentine, or ammonia on your jewelry. This can cause your stones to turn and dull in color, along with eating away any enamel on the pieces.

Keep your jewelry stored somewhere that is free from humidity or air. It’s best to store it in a closed box, like a jewelry box, or a drawstring bag. Humidity quickly tarnishes both precious and non-precious metal. Precious metals can easily be polished, but non-precious metal needs a special polish.

Sterling Silver

If you are shopping unmarked sterling silver jewelry, then by all means bring a magnet. Take the magnet with you to find fake pieces of jewelery, sterling silver will not stick to the magnet. True sterling silver will also have a mark on it to indicate its quality, such as “.925” or “ster”. If you cannot find a stamp, you might be looking at a cheap imitation.

Do some research on the gem in your new piece of jewelry before you buy. Natural gems and imitation gems have been joined recently by synthetic gems, making three main categories. You have to know that imitation refers to colored plastic. Synthetic gems are grown in a lab, natural gems are dug out of the Earth.

When buying a new piece of jewelry, be sure to check on the current fashion trends. The only thing that can make picking out a fantastic piece of jewelry better is if you get it at a discount.

Ask about any insurance a jeweler may offer when you are buying jewelry. If something happens to your piece, you’ll know you can take it to the jeweler you bought it from, who will repair it or replace the piece. In some instances, you can even insure your jewelry against loss or theft.

Keep your jewelry from getting tarnished to preserve its best appearance. Do not wear jewelery around water. Many metals can become tarnished, rusty or dull when exposed to water too often. To protect your jewelry from exposure, apply a single coat of clear nail lacquer to its surface.

Think about how best ways to look after your jewelry. Each type of stone, metal, and setting requires different type of care. Each piece is individual in its needs so don’t assume what works well for one piece will work well for all. For the best information on how to look after your jewelry, you should talk to a jeweler.

Costume Jewelry

Costume jewelry has different, specific care requirements. Costume jewelry is often put together using glue and other adhesives, unlike stoned that are set using metal. Costume jewelry should never be submerged in liquid, nor cleaned with chemicals. The most effective way to safely clean them is wiping with a damp cloth, then drying with a different, soft cloth. This will assure that you costume jewelry will continue looking great.

To maintain the shine and finish on your jewelry, do not put it on until you’ve done your hair and makeup. Jewelry can become dirty and dull if you put it on too early, this is because incomplete makeup routines will transfer grime to it. Doing this is particularly important when you are wearing a necklace or earrings, as they will brush against your makeup more than other jewelry.

As you now know, jewelry has a variety of components to it. That said, if you read carefully and know what you are buying, you can pick only the best pieces and care for them properly. Welcome to the exciting, and always changing, world of jewelry. When you apply the above advice, you are on the right path to a successful journey.