How to approach purchasing and caring for jewelry can be confusing for anyone that is not a professional. Where should you look to find information about jewelry in relation to artistic tradition? Find interesting information, and perhaps a few things you did not know, in the article ahead.

When shopping for sterling silver jewelry, it is a good idea to bring a small magnet along with you. When you do this, you become able to find fake pieces of any type of sterling jewelry. You can use the magnet because non-precious metals actually are attracted by magnets. True sterling sliver always has some sort of hallmark stamp on it, such as .925, sterling or ster. If the piece of presumed silver is not marked, be skeptical that is real silver. It could very well be a fake.

When purchasing jewels, you should understand which type of stone you are getting. The three different types of stones are natural, imitation and synthetic. Imitation gems are basically plastic that is colored, while synthetic and natural are real. Natural stones are mined, and synthetic stones are created in a laboratory.

Do they often wear hoop earrings, or stud earrings? Do they show a preference for white or yellow gold? This way, you know where you should start when buying a gift.

Make sure you check into insurance policies when you make a jewelry purchase from a jeweler. Look for a good policy that lets you return damaged items. You might find some jewelers who are willing to insure it against loss and theft.

Costume Jewelry

Costume jewelry needs special care. That’s because a lot of the costume settings are not set-in; they have usually been glued. For this reason, costume jewelry should never touch water, and you should avoid using detergents on it. The best way to maintain your costume jewelry is to use a moist, warm cloth first, then dry it off with another cloth. This will assure that you costume jewelry will continue looking great.

Dry saunas and steam rooms can cause damage to jewelry. The reason for this is that the heat and the moisture can taint the jewelry and cause problems.

You will want to avoid necklaces getting tangled, which can damage them. Try to find some attractive-looking hooks to hang them. The small hooks can be hung just about anywhere and will allow you to neatly organize and display your necklaces. Not only is this a decorative touch to your intimate spaces, but it will protect the necklaces from being damaged by excessive contact with other pieces in a small box.

Resist the temptation to pay more for jewelry because of a supposedly high-class brand. The brand may be a significant factor in the price. Usually, brand names like Cartier and Tiffany are much more expensive than jewelry without the brand name for the same piece. You can find good, quality jewelry from a number of different brands.

As you have just read, jewelry is quite the fascinating topic. If you are diligent about doing your research, you’ll be able to make educated purchasing decisions and learn how to care for those purchases. Welcome to the exciting world of jewelry! You will be well on your way to enjoying jewelry better when you make use of these tips.