Whether you have inherited jewelry, bought a piece for yourself or received one as a gift, the world of jewelry can be a little confusing. The number of resources available can make things confusing at first. The following article will describe some useful tips about jewelry to assist you in becoming a highly educated consumer.

Don’t clean your jewelry in harsh household chemicals like ammonia, bleach or turpentine. Doing so can destroy enamel finishes, while clouding stones and crystals.

A good piece of jewelery can last you your whole life. To ensure you are buying a quality piece, refuse to deal with anybody but the most reputable of jewelers. High-quality jewelry is durable and displays excellent craftsmanship. The jeweler should tell you about who made the piece and the origin of the stones. When you are looking for jewelry of the highest quality, it is important to be careful in your choice, as you want something that will last a lifetime.

Keep your jewelry from tarnishing as best as you can. When you are close to water, do not wear your jewelry. Many metals can become tarnished, rusty or dull when exposed to water too often. Use a thinner coat of your clear nail polish on your jewelry for extra protection.

Costume Jewelry

If you like to buy costume jewelry, make sure that you examine the condition carefully. Costume jewelery pieces can be expensive but they are not worth the investment if they look too old. Maintaining a piece of costume jewelry’s condition preserves the beauty and value that attracted you in the first place.

Wear jewelry for at least a day to see if it hangs correctly and is comfortable. You’ll also be able to get a better idea of the piece’s durability.

When you are buying jewelery, make sure you know what you are going to use it for. You do not need a huge box of jewelry you will never wear. When making a selection, remember your outfits, clothing and accessories.

If you are selling jewelry on the Internet, you should present these pieces as attractively as possible. This is very important since customers cannot handle the jewelry in an online transaction. Make the piece of jewelry the main focus of the photograph, rather than its surroundings.

When you are purchasing diamonds, do some shopping around. Every diamond is unique, and there will always be tiny flaws. Some flaws are less noticeable than others and may not bother you. Also, jewelers can adjust prices based on a specific diamond’s particular condition. Make sure you browse different shops to locate the best diamond for the price range you have in mind.

Every necklace, bracelet or anklet can benefit from a quality clasp. Clasps keep your pendants safe. For particularly expensive or sentimental pieces of jewelry, it is recommended you have a safety clasp installed. An additional clasp — or clasps — can be added to particularly priceless items to keep them extra safe.

If you’re going swimming, make sure you take off your jewelery first. Chlorine in pools will damage your pieces causing them to lose their luster. The salt in seawater will result in the same effect. Lengthen the jewelry’s life, and ensure it keeps its beauty by removing any precious items before entering the pool.

For attractive and tangle-free necklace storage, you can use nice-looking robe hooks. Organize these hooks in a row and use them to keep your necklaces free-hanging and untangled. You can group them by style, length or other criteria. Hanging your necklaces will keep them looking nice, keep them from becoming tangled together and can work as a beautiful display as well.

You can probably tell that there are many different ways you can approach jewelry. That said, if you read carefully and know what you are buying, you can pick only the best pieces and care for them properly. Buying and selling jewelry is fun and exciting! These tips should give you a nice head-start in exploring this wide world.