Whether your purchase jewelry for friends, inherit valuable pieces or receive jewelry as a gift, you need to know how to buy, sell and care for jewelry responsibly. This article is filled with some key tips on how to best shop for jewelry.
Be careful on how you store all of your jewelry together. Consider delegating each piece to its own resting place, utilizing compartmental boxes and storage units. Never simply throw piles of jewelry in a box. This does damage to jewelry pieces, which are often fragile. Necklaces lumped together can get tangled up into a knotted ball.
Keep your whole jewelry looking like new by wiping it with a polishing cloth. This is a natural way to shine without relying on abrasives or other harsh chemicals. Use the dual-sided cloth to gently buff your jewelry as you were cleaning glass. Use one side to shine it and the other for improving its shine.
Keep your jewelry stored somewhere that is free from both air and humidity. Certain metals will be tarnished when exposed to humidity. Precious metal jewelry can be polished to fix tarnish, but non-precious metal needs a special polish.
Do some research on the gem in your new piece of jewelry before you buy. Three different kinds of gems are available for purchase: imitation, synthetic and natural. While natural and synthetic stones are the real deal, imitation stones are made to look like a real gemstone, but could be anything from colored glass to plastic. Natural gems are dug up from the ground, and synthetic gems are man-made in a lab.
Sterling Silver
When purchasing sterling silver, be sure to examine the piece closely, and take along a magnet for metal testing. If the piece you are examining is not silver and is made from non-precious metal, 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, it might simply say,” or “.925.” If a particular piece is not stamped, this is usually the sign that it is a fake.
When purchasing jewelry from a respected jeweler, inquire as to whether they offer an insurance policy. Then, you will have peace of mind knowing it can be fixed or replaced if anything happens. You might find some jewelers who are willing to insure it against loss and theft.
Know the distinctions between kinds of gems before you are buying with your jewelry.There are basically three distinct types: natural gems, synthetic and imitation. Imitation is plastic that is colored to looked like the stone, while synthetic and natural are real. Natural stones are found underground and synthetic gems are grown in a lab.
Always ask the jeweler about an insurance policy options before buying a new piece of jewelry. If you can get insurance, you can come back to the store and have it repaired or replaced. Some jewelers even offer insurance on jewelry pieces that might have been misplaced or stolen.
Test it out by wearing it yourself; you don’t want to give a piece that will be uncomfortable or awkward for the recipient. In this way, you will be able to tell if the item will withstand normal wear.
Keep your jewelry pieces looking beautiful by protecting them from getting tarnished in order to keep it looking it’s best. Try not to wear jewelry away from water. Water can cause some types of metal if it is exposed to it too often. If you want to give your jewelry a measure of protection from this element, prepare it by adding some clear nail polish on the surface.
Costume jewelry can prove to be a good investment, but an item that shows major signs of usage will be a poor investment of your time and money. A piece that is in good condition will increase in the future.
Pay attention to the quality and type of gemstones in a piece when you’re looking at buying new jewelry. You should chose stones that reflect your personality, as well as complement your skin tone. Look for colors in neutral shades that you can wear with any of your favorite clothes. Taking these things into account will give you a piece of jewelry you can wear many times and in diverse situations.
The color gemstones are an important part of a piece of jewelry so should be considered carefully.The gemstone you choose should work with your skin tone and make a statement about your personality.Neutral colored stones will work well with many different outfits.
Well-maintained jewelry holds both its resale value and sentimental value. By educating yourself on proper jewelry care and maintenance, you can preserve the money and memories invested in your pieces. This is more information out there, and by continuously education yourself, you can get more from your own jewelry.
A brooch can add visual interest and an accent to an otherwise dull belt. You have the option of placing it close to your hip, or at your waist near the center.