Knowing about types of jewelry is essential for making good purchases. Even the tiniest misstep could be the end of your jewelry – and your money. Here are some safe and reliable tips for jewelry selection and care. The tips given here can guide you in acquiring jewelry and steer you away from some common mistakes people make.
Clean all of your jewelry with a polishing cloth. This easy technique can make your jewelry bright and shiny without the use of harsh solvents and chemicals. Gently polish your jewelry with the two-sided cloth as if it were a mirror. Use one side of the cloth for polishing, and reserve the other side for shining it afterward.
Store your jewelry in a place that is not subjected to humidity extremes or open air. Trying putting them in a box with a tight-fitting lid or a bag that has a drawstring closure. 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.
For example, you should never use bleach, turpentine, or ammonia on your jewelry. This can dull your stones and eat away their enamel.
Do they often wear hoop earrings, or stud earrings? Do they show a preference for white or yellow gold? Just paying attention to what they wear now will make buying for them much easier than asking a salesperson.
Know which kind of stone you are buying with your jewelry. There are three unique types of stones: imitation, synthetic and natural. Synthetic and natural are real stones, while the imitation ones are plastic that is colored. Natural stones are dug up out of the ground and synthetic ones are grown in a lab.
When you are buying new jewelery, think about the stones you want to get. Think about your skin tone, and also think about your personality as you choose your favorite stones. Choosing neutral colors can help them match anything you wear. If it isn’t a functional piece, you will not use it and it is pointless to purchase it.
When you are shopping for diamonds, there are ways to compare the stones. Closely examine pieces you like, and compare them with similar items you are interested in. There are ways to hide some of a diamond’s imperfections, so be very particular about each one you view.
Costume Jewelry
When purchasing jewelry from a respected jeweler, inquire as to whether they offer an insurance policy. This is to avoid any future complications. If anything were to happen you have yourself covered and to avoid complications with that jeweler in the future, they can replace or fix it for you if you run into problems. For more expensive pieces, look for a jeweler that offers insurance for lost or stolen items.
Costume jewelry should be taken care of. Many pieces of costume jewelry have the stones glued on, for example. Therefore, you shouldn’t get costume jewelry wet or expose it to harsh chemicals. The best care is to wipe with a warm damp cloth and then dry with another cloth. This will make your current costume jewelry look great.
Keep your jewelry from getting tarnished to preserve its best appearance. Keep your jewelry away from water. Many metals can become tarnished, rusty or dull when exposed to water too often. A single coat of transparent nail polish may help protect certain types of metal.
For a gift that is as unique as its recipient, look for handcrafted or customized pieces. A unique ring, necklace or bracelet conveys respect for and appreciation of the recipient’s creativity and personality.
For those creative, quirky people in your life, shop for handcrafted original pieces. A unique piece like this that matches their personality appears creative and thoughtful, and it shows them that you care about them enough to buy them something that they’ll wear.
By wearing a brooch, your belt will be accented and look more interesting. Pin it in the front or at your hip.
To preserve the pristine look of your jewelry, apply your make-up first, wait for it to set, then put on your jewelry. The grime and dust in makeup are attracted to the jewelry, and if you put on the jewelry before the cosmetics, it can cause the pieces to look dull. This method is especially helpful in caring for necklaces or earrings.
Keep your jewelry unsoiled by only putting it on after all of your makeup has been applied. Putting jewelry on prior to applying makeup or hairspray allows gunk and grime from your beauty products to settle on the jewelry, leaving it dull and potentially harming the finish. This applies to necklaces and earrings more than anything else.
Make sure you look into the history of your gemstone, especially if it was treated at all. There are several different types of treatment, and each one needs it’s own type of care. You do not want to try to clean a treated gem with a solution that may strip the treatment and damage the gem in the process.
See if your gem has had any treatments prior to buying, and if so, which treatments. Different treatments require different types of care. You do not want to try to clean a treated gem with a solution that may strip the treatment and damage the gem in the process.
Be careful when untangling your delicate necklaces. While it can be frustrating untangling metal necklaces, consider using plastic wrap. Place the chain in on the plastic wrap and add a few drops of baby oil onto the knots. Using sewing needles, you should be able to separate the knot. Rinse the necklace off as best you can and gently pat it dry with a soft cloth. Use soap only if it has been approved to not damage your jewelry.
Be sure to shop around when buying diamond jewelry. Every diamond is unique and they all have slight imperfections. Once you get to see the flaw up close, you may find that it doesn’t matter to you. When it comes to flaws, each jeweler prices diamonds a bit differently. Make sure you browse different shops to locate the best diamond for the price range you have in mind.
It is important to pay attention to how the diamond is cut, and the clarity of the stone. To some people this is more important and appealing than the actual size. The intended recipient’s personality should play a role in diamond selection, too.
An important part of your necklace or bracelet is having a quality clasp. Without a decent clasp, you risk losing your expensive stones or chains. For particularly expensive or sentimental pieces of jewelry, it is recommended you have a safety clasp installed. For added protection, you may choose to use an additional clasp beyond the one you already have.
If you’re giving a special person in your life a present, you should consider buying a jewelry set. Jewelry in sets comes with a discount at many jewelry stores. If you purchase a necklace and earring set, you can gift the necklace on one occasion and the earrings on another. This way, you know that you are giving a present that perfectly matches something the person already has.
You will want to avoid necklaces getting tangled, which can damage them. Try to find some attractive-looking hooks to hang them. You can hang a whole row of these small pieces of hardware along a wall or the back of a closet door, then hang your necklaces in groups by color or length. If done right, this will have a nice appearance and prevent the jewelry box tangles necklaces are prone to.
Keep your jewelry in place with a strong clasp or closure. Weak clasps put your expensive pieces of jewelry at risk of loss. For particularly expensive or sentimental pieces of jewelry, it is recommended you have a safety clasp installed. Adding more than one clasp to a jewelry piece may even be appropriate to provide greater security against loss.
Resist the temptation to pay more for jewelry because of a supposedly high-class brand. Almost no one will be able to identify the maker of your jewelry. Don’t be persuaded to pay more for a piece of jewelry simply because of its brand name. You can find fabulous quality from various brands.
Necklaces often get tangled, so consider buying stylish robe hooks with embellishments to hang them and keep them untangled. You can hang a whole row of these small pieces of hardware along a wall or the back of a closet door, then hang your necklaces in groups by color or length. This keeps your necklaces from balling into a knotty cluster in the jewelry box, and it looks lovely, too.
It may be tough to figure out how to best present jewelry that you are selling at informal events like craft fairs and flea markets. Whenever you are buying materials for your jewelry, also be on the lookout of a good display as well. Different types of boxes, stands, racks and baskets can all be turned into jewelry when you think outside the box.
If you plan on buying a piece of jewelry which is very expensive, choose one which you will enjoy for many years. The more expensive a piece of jewelry is usually means it is higher quality. When selecting a piece, also consider the various styles available. Even though a piece of jewelry is the latest trend right now, it might look outlandish in just a few years. Look for pieces that have a timeless character.
There are reasons that rubies are such a classic. Rubies have an intriguing range of beautiful shades of red, maroon and rose. They can handle a lot of abuse and are not as affected by chemicals as other jewels. Because of their durability and beauty, rubies are among the best jewelry choices.
If you want to make a few extra bucks without selling your jewelry, you can do this if you have bracelets or necklaces made of gold. Merely cut a few extra inches off the piece, and sell the excess; you can still own and wear the rest. If it is real gold and you have a few chains, you can make a few hundred dollars by just shortening the pieces.
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.
Onyx items, or those made of crystal, make quite the impact when worn in a jewelry piece. Be kinder to your wallet and you’ll probably like the results.
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