Sorting through all the information about jewelry can be an overwhelming task. This is a lot of information out there, and applying it all can appear pointless. This article contains answers to your everyday jewelry questions and concerns.
Avoid using things like bleach, acetone, ammonia, turpentine, and other related chemicals to clean them with. This will result in damage to both the stones and the metal of the piece.
Jewelry is best stored in an area with low humidity. To protect your jewelry it is important to secure it in a small bag with a drawstring, or in a jewelry box that remains closed a majority of the time. Being submitted to extreme humidity and temperature can cause your pieces to tarnish. Silver polishes work well to remove tarnish, but certain metals, such as bronze, may not polish well. The polish may remove the surface coating and then the metal underneath, such as copper, becomes visible.
Sterling Silver
If you are shopping unmarked sterling silver jewelry, then by all means bring a magnet. If an item of jewelry is attracted by a magnet, it is not sterling silver! Only non-precious metals can be drawn to a magnet. You can identify sterling silver by its markings, for example “sterling,” “ster,” or “.925.” If there is no hallmark, the piece is probably not authentic and may, indeed, be counterfeit.
Identify the kind of stone in every piece you consider. You have three options as far as the type of gem: natural, imitation and synthetic. “Real” can mean natural or synthetic, and an imitation stone could be glass or plastic. Natural gems are dug up from the ground, and synthetic gems are man-made in a lab.
What color gold do they seem to favor – white or yellow? Do they normally wear a bracelet? What type of earrings do they prefer – drop and dangle or studs? Take a mental note of this important information. Knowing their preferences will be an invaluable guide when you go out to buy them a special item of jewelry.
Before you buy any new jewelry, you should look around for the latest trends. The only thing that beats getting a new piece of jewelry is getting it for a discounted price!
Keep your jewelry pieces looking beautiful by protecting them from tarnish. Jewelry should not be worn near the water. Lots of jewelry materials are dulled or tarnished by water exposure. To protect your jewelry from exposure, apply a single coat of clear nail lacquer to its surface.
Your belt will get a little pizzazz if you accent it with a brooch like this. Pin it in the front or at your hip.
Find out if your gemstone was treated before you buy it and if it was, how it was treated. Different care is required for different treatments. Some cleaning solutions that work perfectly well on untreated gems can strip off treatments, and even damage stones, if you use them on treated gems.
Always keep an eye on sales when you’re looking to acquire some new jewelry pieces. You can save a lot of money with the right sale. Check ads in the newspaper, on the Internet, and in stores for the best deals. Buying styles that are waning in popularity is often an excellent way to save money on original jewelry.
When searching for better success with purchasing, caring for, or wearing jewelry, you have to make sure you stay up-to-date on the latest information. Thanks to the information presented in this article you can use jewelry to your advantage easily. You can use the advice you have read in this article to help you achieve success with jewelry.