Have you been thinking about venturing into the world of jewelry? Perhaps your focus is on your significant other. This article will give you all the tools you need to make the right choice no matter who you’re buying for!
Don’t use things that contain harsh chemicals like bleach, ammonia, acetone or turpentine, to clean your jewelry. These chemicals can wreak havoc on your jewelry, from discoloring bands, to dulling stones, to eroding enamel or glue.
Keep jewelry stored safely and away from both air and humidity. To ensure it is protected, keep your jewelry in a drawstring bag or a jewelry box that is closed. Humid air affects the metals in jewelry and causes tarnishing. Precious metals, through some work and polish, can be restored to their original condition. Non-precious metals are coated, which means that polishing will allow copper metal to come through.
Sterling Silver
When shopping for sterling silver jewelry, it is a good idea to bring a small magnet along with you. By using the magnet you can quickly determine if the jewelry item is made of a cheaper metal and not sterling silver. Another way to tell if a metal is sterling silver is to check for a hallmark stamp, for example .sterling, .ster, or .925. Be wary of jewelery without any kind of hallmark, as often it is fake.
Find out more about the gems you look at. Ask about where they came from and to which category they belong. There are basically three distinct types: natural gems, synthetic gems and imitation stones. You have to know that imitation refers to colored plastic. Natural stones are found underground and synthetic gems are created in a lab.
Discover whether they wear studs, hoop earrings, or some other type of jewelry. This is a great place to start when picking out that special item.
Know what is trendy before you buy a piece of jewelry. If there is one thing better than a beautiful piece of jewelry, it’s finding that jewelry at a great price!
Keep your jewelry from getting tarnished in order to keep it looking it’s best. One of the best ways to keep your jewelry looking beautiful is to avoid wearing it in water. Many metals can become tarnished, rusty or dull when exposed to water too often. A very light coating of clear nail varnish can be applied to some jewelry, and this will add an additional line of protection against the elements.
Give the jewelry a little test drive and wear it for a little bit to see if it is comfortable and lays right. This can also help you see whether the piece is durable enough to last.
Taking proper care of your jewelry requires careful consideration. There’s an ideal way to clean every different type of setting and stone. A technique that is effective for one type of stone or metal may actually cause damage to another. Go ahead and ask a professional jeweler to find out exactly how you should be caring for your jewels.
To keep your jewelry looking clean, only put it on after your make-up is applied and set. The grime and dust in makeup are attracted to the jewelry, and if you put on the jewelry before the cosmetics, it can cause the pieces to look dull. This tip especially applies to necklaces and earrings.
Now that you have undoubtedly learned some new and interesting facts about jewelry, you can be more confident in your selection and appraisal of lustrous gemstones, sparkling diamonds, colorful beads and gleaming metals like silver, gold and platinum. Purchasing a some good quality jewelry is an investment you will appreciate for years to come.