Ever desired a perfect jewelry accessory to accentuate an ensemble with a “pop” of color? Or perhaps a jewelry piece as a friend’s present? It is hoped then that you will find this article of handy hints, quite useful.

To keep your jewelry looking attractive, polish it regularly using a cloth made especially for this purpose. This is a fairly simple way to achieve shine without dealing with solvents and chemicals. Use the two-sided cloth to polish your jewelry as if you were cleaning glass. Use one side for polishing and the other for improving its shine.

Keep your jewelry in a relatively air-tight container, and minimize its exposure to humidity. A drawstring bag or closed box offers the best protection from moisture in the air. Tarnish is a chemical reaction that happens when silver and other metals are exposed to moisture and air. While precious metals can be polished back to their original luster, non-precious metals are only coated in which case polishing causes the copper metal underneath to show through.

Costume Jewelry

If you own costume jewelry, it is important to properly care for it. 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. Compare pieces for quality, because good ones stay high or even grow in value over time.

You need to pay special attention when caring for costume jewelry. Many embellishments on costume jewelry are only secured with glue rather than set into the piece. Therefore, you shouldn’t get costume jewelry wet or expose it to harsh chemicals. Use a damp cloth, then dry it with another clean, dry cloth. This will make your current costume jewelry look great.

Consider unique pieces of jewelry for unique individuals. A unique ring, necklace or bracelet conveys respect for and appreciation of the recipient’s creativity and personality.

Accent a belt with a brooch to add more visual interest instantly. Place the brooch close to your hip or in the middle of your waist.

Makeup isn’t for jewelry. Let your makeup dry before you put on a piece of jewelry. The dust, oils and particles from makeup rub off on jewelry; putting on jewels first means they will get dingy and dull with a film of makeup over them. This is even more necessary for earrings and necklaces.

You should try to find out whether a gemstone was treated prior to purchasing it. If it was treated, you should discover the way it was treated. Different care is required for different treatments. You want to avoid putting a solution on jewelry that has been treated, particularly if you do not know whether or not it will hurt the piece.

Look for sales when you want to buy some new jewelry. The best sales can offer deep discounts on premium pieces. You will find advertisements for the sales in a variety of media mediums including on the net, in newspapers, and also in the stores themselves. Sometimes, buying fashions that are out of style can save you more than half of their original price.

When you buy a piece of jewelry, know what your plans for it are. There’s no sense in spending a lot of money of pieces that you’ll never wear. Consider specific outfits and styles when making your selections.

If you are looking to sell jewelry online, ensure that the photos you use make the piece look attractive. Handling jewelry often helps the customer make up his mind but this is not possible with online transactions. Make sure any photos of the jewelry focus on the item itself and don’t have distracting backgrounds or additional items.

Since you have gained a little bit more understanding about jewelry, you should have more faith in your ability to choose gemstones, diamonds, beads and shiny precious metals. Any quality jewelry piece will be an investment for the years ahead.