Thinking about buying or wearing jewelry is almost as exciting as actually putting on the pieces. Jewelry often is given to commemorate momentous and milestone events in people’s lives and to celebrate loving relationships. When you know more about jewelry and its ability to preserve memories, you will find that even the act of buying and selling can be more enjoyable.
Do not use any chemicals on your jewelery stones. This will result in damage to both the stones and the metal of the piece.
Precious Metals
Don’t keep your jewelry in open air or someplace with a lot of humidity. Keep them stored safely in a closed, dark area, like a jewelry box or drawstring bag. Metals will become tarnished when exposed to air and humidity. Precious metals are able to be polished and retain their luster, but the non-precious metals have a coat, and polishing will cause the metal under it to show through.
If you want to buy sterling silver pieces, use a magnet and examine the jewelry very carefully. Jewelry made with non-precious metals will be attracted to the magnet, revealing any fakes. In addition, sterling silver pieces are always stamped with silver hallmarks indicating such factors as the degree of purity, the manufacturer’s symbol, and the date of manufacture. Some of the most common hallmarks are “925, “ster,” “sterling,” and “sterling silver.” If you don’t see a stamp of any sort on a piece, then be wary of whether it is actually silver or not.
Take note of whether they wear hoop earrings or studs, yellow gold or white gold, an ankle bracelet, etc. This should give you a grasp of their tastes, and some ideas about what to buy for them.
When you buy a piece of jewelery, inquire about the jeweler’s insurance policy. 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 are buying jewelry for someone who values her individuality, find a one-of-a-kind piece or commission a piece designed specifically for her. Pieces that match their personality will highlight your thoughtfulness and creativity, especially since you care for them enough to purchase jewelry for them.
Before you buy any gemstone, determine what, if any, treatment it received. You will need to know what type of care it might require as a result of the treatment. For example, improper cleaning with the wrong method may damage the stone by stripping the treatment.
Before you purchase a new piece of jewelry, consider what situations you will be wearing it in. There’s no sense in spending a lot of money of pieces that you’ll never wear. When making a selection, remember your outfits, clothing and accessories.
Owning, purchasing and selling jewelry encompasses investing in an item that is almost priceless because of the memories it provides. Each piece of jewelry is filled with emotion. It may be the celebration of a child’s birth or the promise of a lifetime of happiness ahead, but each item will invoke a memory each time it is viewed.