One of the most remarkable things about the world of jewelry is its ability to span centuries without losing value. In the past, only the wealthiest individuals could afford access to the most beautiful gems, diamonds, and precious metals. Today, however, almost anyone can find and wear jewelry for their style and budget. These useful and proven tips about jewelry will help you find the perfect piece.
Consider buying a small barrel tumbler. If you wear a lot of jewelry or just want to keep the pieces you own in good condition, you probably clean it on a fairly regular basis. You might want to get a small barrel tumbler for polishing. They are inexpensive and do a thorough job.
If you have metal allergies, make sure to purchase nickel free jewelry. Nickel is a common alloy that is mixed in with precious metals such as sterling silver to make them more pliable. Silver itself is very liquid in its original state and therefore not substantial enough to be properly molded into jewelry. Oftentimes, another alloy such as nickel is added. Make sure you check what you are purchasing to make sure it is nickel free.
Don’t buy novelty jewelry unless you know for sure that the person you’re buying it for will like it. If your wife is a fan of Sleeping Beauty, then a dwarf pendant is an appropriate gift. Don’t just buy an item of jewelry because it’s cute, make sure it’s appropriate, too.
Shopping for birthstone jewelry may seem simple, but some months have more than one stone. June, October, November, and December all have multiple birthstones. If you’re shopping for yourself and you’re from a multiple stone month, decide which one you like best. If shopping for a gift, don’t be afraid to ask the recipient!
Clean your jewelry with warm water and mild soap, rinse it out, and then dry thoroughly. It also helps to polish the piece of jewelry with a soft cloth. Excess water remaining on jewelry in storage can tarnish precious metals, sometimes beyond repair. A soft cloth can also help to restore luster and shine to your jewelry while removing excess water from the piece.
If you’d like to wear jewelry while wearing a turtleneck, be sure to only wear long necklaces. Shorter necklaces compete with the neckline of your top and can leave your neck looking stumpy. Look for necklaces with a pendant that falls below breast length. When wearing a turtleneck it’s best not to layer your necklaces.
You do not have to spend a mint on your jewelry. Don’t underestimate a classy piece of costume jewelry as a perfect accent for your best outfit. There is a large variety of great stones that are inexpensive. If you keep your eyes open you can acquire gems at crystal prices.
When you are purchasing a piece of jewelry, an important thing to consider is the return policy of the store. By looking into the return policy of the store, you can be more certain in the quality of the item you are purchasing if you are not satisfied after your purchase.
Do not buy any chemical solutions that promise to have your jewelry sparkling better than anything else. The only thing that you need to have on hand to keep jewelry clean is soap and water. Be careful and make sure that you dry your jewelry thoroughly because it can tarnish if you don’t.
If you wear fashion jewelry you have to keep in mind that it cannot be cleaned the same as regular jewelry. You should wipe it with a damp cloth and then dry it. Soaking it in water can lead to damage since most fashion jewelry is made with jeweler’s cement.
Ask your jeweler if they have the current equipment that is used to distinguish real diamonds from those that were created in a lab. Most of the older equipment can detect cubic zirconia, but sometimes they mistake lab diamonds for real ones. Making sure your jeweler has the correct testing equipment can save you from being a victim of fraud.
When storing your jewelry, follow any specific advice which is provided by the manufacturer. Different gem stones have different sets of rules for safe storage. Try to keep your pieces of jewelry from touching each other while being stored, since this can lead to scratching each other. If a piece of jewelry has its own box or pouch, use it for better protection of your valuable assets.
While gold is often mixed with other metals in large amounts, platinum tends to be more pure. The most popular type is 900 Platinum, which is 90 percent platinum. Since there is so little of other metals used in the pieces platinum is considered hypoallergenic and is the preferred metal of people with allergies.
If you have some fine jewelry or heirloom jewelry whose value you want to protect through insurance, it is wise to take excellent pictures of these pieces and to have an appraisal done by a professional. Make sure that the pictures you take are good, quality ones. Using a flash when taking these pictures will not lead to good pictures of your jewelry. It is best to capture a picture of your precious jewelry under soft, diffused fluorescent bulbs.
If you want to sell jewelry, learn the properties of each stone. Certain stones correspond to astrological signs or elements. Tell these stories to your customers: people are generally excited about finding the stone that was made for them. If your customers do not seem interested by this aspect, find another approach.
With the information you have just read, you will be able to enjoy and appreciate all types of necklaces, rings, and bracelets on a whole different level than before. Far from being just pretty little baubles, different pieces of jewelry have the power to transform and transcend like very few things can.
