While shopping for jewelry can be really fun, things can get stressful when you are in the market for an expensive item of jewelry. An inexperienced jewelry shopper might pay too much. This article contains some great tips to help you make your jewelry purchases wisely.
Do not use harsh chemicals such as ammonia, bleach, turpentine or acetone to clean them. Chemicals can eat away the stones or enamel on your stones.
This will result in damage to both the stones and eat away their enamel.
Sterling Silver
Always keep your jewelry in a place that doesn’t experience extreme temperatures or humidities. To ensure it is protected, keep your jewelry in a drawstring bag or a jewelry box that is closed. Tarnish is a chemical reaction that happens when silver and other metals are exposed to moisture and air. Precious metals are able to be polished and retain their luster, but the non-precious metals have a coat, and polishing will cause the metal under it to show through.
When you are shopping for jewelry in sterling silver, take along a good magnifying glass, along with a small magnet.If an item of jewelry is attracted by a magnet, it will be attracted to the magnet. You can identify sterling silver by its markings, or alternately,” “ster,” or “.925.” If your silver is not marked, this is usually the sign that it is a fake.
Jewelry should last forever. When selecting jewelry, be sure to deal with a reputable dealer to ensure you attain a high-quality piece. A high-quality piece of jewelry will be well-made and show superior craftsmanship. A jeweler should know about each piece he sells, including the person that made it, the origin of precious stones or other materials and other history, and where any stones in it came from. It is essential to purchase high-quality if you want them to last a treasured heirloom passed down for generations.
Bring a magnet when shopping for sterling silver jewelery. Magnets attract non-precious metals, and you can use this fact to detect fakes. You can identify sterling silver by its markings, for example “sterling,” “ster,” or “.925.” Be wary of jewelery without any kind of hallmark, as often it is fake.
Look at what you like close up, and be sure to compare them to others. Be aware that jewelers use to make a diamond look better than it is.
Wear the jewelry around for at least a day to see if it hangs correctly and is comfortable. This also helps you to see whether the piece is durable enough to last.
When you are shopping, think about the color or type of gem you want to buy. The three types are imitation, synthetic and natural. Synthetic stones are lab created jewels, while imitation stones are normally colored glass. While natural gems come out of mines, synthetic ones come out of laboratories.
You need to know how to care for all of your jewelry collection. What works well with one type of stone may not work for another. Ask a jeweler to make sure you know how to take care of your items.
Costume Jewelry
When shopping for diamonds, it’s best to comparison shop. Look at what you want very closely, and keep that in mind so you can compare it with other diamonds you look at. Some diamond sellers use misleading practices to try to increase the apparent quality of their merchandise, so you should be wary of these tactics.
You need to pay special care when you are buying costume jewelery! Many of the components of costume jewelry pieces are glued rather than held in with prongs or other more permanent methods. You will need to avoid using strong chemicals or immersion baths on your jewelry and make sure to stay away from the use of harsh chemicals. The best care is to wipe with a damp cloth and then dry immediately with another cloth. This helps keep costume jewelry looking sparkling clean and shiny.
This is particularly important with necklaces and earrings more than anything else.
Put the jewelry on and wear it for a bit so you can describe the comfort and fit. This will also help you to determine if the piece is sufficiently durable.
Before you buy, it is important that you learn about the treatment process it underwent. The kind of care for a stone differs greatly depending on how it was treated.
Plastic Wrap
Costume jewelry needs special care. Often, stones will be glued into their settings, which makes them more prone to falling out than regular jewelry. Keep your costume jewelery away from water or chemicals. Simply wipe it with a damp warm cloth, followed by a soft, dry cloth. This will assure that you costume jewelry will continue looking great.
Untangle your knotted messes of delicate loops. It’s easy to get frustrated with tangled necklaces, you should instead use plastic wrap. Put the necklace on the plastic wrap and add a little baby oil. Use a sewing needle to untangle the knot. Use ordinary dish soap to remove the oil and let dry.
When you list jewelry for sale online, make the extra effort to present it in the best light possible. This is extremely important because the person that may purchase it cannot hold it before purchasing it.
The brooch adds a unique touch and a bit of your style to your outfit. Pin it in the front or at your hip.
Whether you’re shopping for a ring, watch, necklace or other piece, you should now be better equipped to make wise purchasing decisions. You’ll be able to save both time and money when you follow the advice you’ve learned here.