Easy Steps On How To Get Good Quality Jewelry
There is no limit on the good information that you can learn on jewelry as a subject matter. Even the tiniest misstep could be the end of your jewelry – and your money. Here are some things you can use when dealing with jewelry. These tips can help you select and maintain jewelry pieces, while avoiding some of the common pitfalls.
Use a polishing cloth for all of your jewelry pieces. This will allow your jewelry to shine without using chemicals. It’s easy, just use the dual-sided cloth to wipe down your jewelry, just as you would polish a beautiful glass. Use the polishing side first and, then the other side to make your jewelry shine.
Avoid using things like bleach, acetone, ammonia, turpentine, and other related chemicals to clean them with. These chemicals can wreak havoc on your jewelry, from discoloring bands, to dulling stones, to eroding enamel or glue.
Never store your jewelry in open air or humidity. Some good examples of proper storage would be,a jewelry box that is closed, or a small draw string bag. Certain metals will be tarnished when exposed to humidity or air. Polishing will work to restore the color and shine for precious metals, but with non-precious metals, polishing will not help the change in color.
Sterling Silver
A magnet is a useful tool when shopping for jewelry in sterling silver. 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. Look for the hallmark stamped on the piece of jewelry to determine what percentage sterling silver it is. If you don’t see such a mark, you might want to reconsider the purchase. This is usually an indication that the piece is fake.
When purchasing jewels, you should understand which type of stone you are getting. Gems are divided into three main categories: imitation, synthetic and natural. Natural and synthetic gems are real stones, but imitation is just plastic colored to look like the real thing. The difference here, however, is that synthetic is man-made in a laboratory while natural is found buried in the earth.
When buying a new piece of jewelry, be sure to check on the current fashion trends. You will enjoy your jewelery even more if you can get it on sale.
Inquire about insurance for your jewelry when you purchase it from a jeweler. If something happened to your jewelery, you can take it back and see if they will fix it! Many jewelers also have insurance for lost or stolen pieces.
Costume Jewelry
If you want to start a costume jewelry collection, it is important to be aware of the pieces’ condition. A piece that isn’t in very good condition won’t be worth it, and since you may be thinking of an expensive item as an investment, it’s important to watch for wear and tear. A piece of costume jewelry that has been treated well can be a treasure for years to come.
Wait until after your makeup is complete and set before putting on jewelry. Dust from your makeup can end up on your jewelry, and this can make it look dull. Earrings and necklaces are the prominent pieces affected by this.
Before you purchase gemstone jewelry, you should first determine if and how the stone was treated. The way to care for a stone differs greatly depending on how it was treated. You can easily damage your gem, stripping the former treatment off, by cleaning it with the wrong solution.
Look for sales when you want to buy some new jewelry. Buying at the right moment can mean big savings. Scope out the sales in every store you can find. If you wait to buy jewelry until that particular style is going out of fashion, you can get it for almost 50 percent off of its original price.
If you really want real gold pieces, high gold prices might be one of the only things to worry about. You can save a bit of money on a gold piece by getting lower karats. Many people think of 18 karats as the best compromise between quality and affordability, as a piece with this content is at least 75% pure gold.
You can make money from any gold bracelets and necklaces you have, without having to sell your entire pieces. Just cut off any excess. If you have enough of these pieces, you can clip off so little that people won’t even notice the difference. You can actually make a tidy sum by selling off odds and ends of jewelry in this manner.
Artificial rubies and sapphires have gotten so good, they’re almost indistinguishable from the real thing. The stones are nearly the same, both physically and chemically speaking, but artificial stones are much easier and less expensive to obtain. Before investing a great deal of money in a piece of sapphire jewelry, you should first have it verified by an experienced, respected gemologist.
Many people have started wearing silver jewelry and yellow gold jewelry together. The easiest way to try this trend is with a single piece that contains both metals. Without this, the look may seem haphazard and unstylish.
Know your jewelry budget before you shop. There is no reason to take on debt because of a shiny ring or fancy necklace. If this is for a young couple, it might be the best decision to start out with a cheaper ring. They will be able to upgrade to a better ring after they have financially established themselves.
To avoid damaging the setting, clean only with a damp cloth, and be gentle. Gently dry the piece with a soft cloth. Costume jewelry should never be cleaned with chemicals or steam.
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.