It is not, in fact, possible to know too much about jewelry. Knowing about valuable jewelry is especially important if you want to ensure you get a fair price on every piece. Following are some sensible tips regarding the issue. With these tips, you can steer clear of potential pitfalls and have the best experience possible with buying, giving, and maintaining jewelry.

Clean all of your jewelry with a polishing cloth. This will allow your jewelry to shine without using chemicals. Simply use the two-sided polishing cloth to polish your jewelry the same way you would polish a glass. Use the side of the cloth that is designed for polishing to remove fingerprints, dust and other surface imperfections, and then use the opposite side to buff the jewelry and make it gleam.

Steer clear of ammonia, bleach or other strong chemical solvents when you need to clean these items. Doing so can damage the shine and luster of the stones on your favorite pieces.

Sterling Silver

Arm yourself with a magnet and a magnifying glass when shopping for sterling silver jewelry. You can tell if a piece of silver is sterling or not by using a magnet. Sterling will not react to the magnet, but non-precious metals will be attracted. You can recognize sterling silver by stamps that say ‘.925’ or ‘ster’. If the piece of presumed silver is not marked, be skeptical that is real silver. It could very well be a fake.

You should expect good jewelry to last the rest of your life, and possibly beyond. Choose reputable jewelry dealers when considering your next jewelry purchase. A valuable piece of jewelry will be well-made and feature superior craftsmanship. Ask the jeweler what the origin of the piece is, like the maker and the origin of the stones. Unless you purchase jewelry that is of high-quality, the piece is not likely to last a lifetime.

Always compare prices before purchasing any diamonds. View the piece you are currently considering closely and then compare it against some other pieces that are in the running. Less-scrupulous jewelry sellers have many ways to enhance the appearance of a sub-par diamond, so you have to stay alert.

Before purchasing a piece of jewelry, be sure to ask the jeweler about insurance policies. Then, if something actually happens to the jewelry, you can return it or have it repaired. There are jewelers who offer insurance for misplaced or lost jewelry, too.

You could wear it for a day to make sure it is not uncomfortable. You will also have the knowledge that the piece is not going to fall apart the first time the receiver wears it.

Taking proper care of your jewelry requires careful consideration. 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. Cleaning and maintenance techniques that work perfectly on one stone might cause damage to another. Go ahead and ask a professional jeweler to find out exactly how you should be caring for your jewels.

If your gemstone was treated, you should know about it before you purchase it. A treatment will make a difference on how to care for your gemstone. Applying the wrong chemical when cleaning a gemstone can cause the protective treatment to dissolve, and damage the appearance of the gem.

Well, it’s easy when you know how. This article has just touched on a few of things that you should know about this very rewarding hobby. There is much to learn, but at least you’ve now got a few good ideas to put to work.