If you are trying to find a great gift for a special woman, then jewelry is a great way to go. You can perhaps add significantly to your store of jewelry wisdom by checking out this article’s tips.
Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach, ammonia and acetone that may permanently damage your jewelry. Using them may result in damage to your jewelry, may cause dulling of gemstones, and may erode enamel work.
Don’t use acetone, bleach, ammonia or turpentine to clean copper. You can turn your stones this way and it will eat away the enamel on the pieces.
When storing your jewelry, be sure that you store it in a place with low humidity and free of open air. It’s best to store it in a closed box, like a jewelry box, or a drawstring bag. Humidity and air tends to cause precious and non-precious metals to tarnish. While precious metals can be polished back to their original luster, non-precious metals are only coated in which case polishing causes the copper metal underneath to show through.
Store your jewelry carefully. It is recommended to separate the items stored by using compartments, boxes, holders and hooks. Never simply throw piles of jewelry in a box. Not only will your necklaces get all tangled up, you risk damaging all your fragile and fine jewelry pieces.
A magnet is a useful tool when shopping for jewelry in sterling silver. Magnets attract non-precious metals, and you can use this fact to detect fakes. Also, look to make sure that silver is hallmarked and stamped with .925, sterling or ster. If the piece that you are looking at is not hallmarked, this is usually the sign that it is a fake.
Keep jewelry stored safely and away from both air and humidity. Ideally, you should keep them in drawstring bags or in a jewelry box. Humid air affects the metals in jewelry and causes tarnishing. You will be able to polish precious metals to remove tarnish, but non-precious metals may lose their coating, showing the copper metal beneath.
Before you buy a new piece of jewelry, research the latest trends. Getting a beautiful piece is fantastic; but it’s even better when it’s on sale!
Sterling Silver
If you own costume jewelry, it is important to properly care for it. While normally is a beautiful investment, a piece of costume jewelry that is in poor condition is not worth buying. The most useful pieces in your collection are the ones that are in excellent condition.
To distinguish between real and fake, bring a magnet when you shop for sterling silver jewelry. By using the magnet you can quickly determine if the jewelry item is made of a cheaper metal and not sterling silver. True sterling sliver always has some sort of hallmark stamp on it, such as .925, sterling or ster. If the piece you’re inspecting doesn’t carry such a mark, be careful, as it is likely a fake.
If you are getting jewelry for someone you consider to be one-of-a-kind, think about buying a piece that’s the same: unique and specially-crafted. This means you have taken the time to think about the gift and make it as personal as possible. Customized jewelery will also help you convey the right message.
When you purchase jewelry, you are investing in an item that will last a lifetime. When you are ready to chose your next selection of jewelry, make sure you find a reputable dealer that will make sure that you find a high-quality piece. High-quality jewelry items will have superior craftsmanship and pleasing, aesthetic designs. The jeweler will be able to provide a complete history of the piece of jewelry, including who made it, and exactly where the stones originated. Put effort into your choice, so you can be sure that the piece will last generations.
Your jewelry will stay cleaner if you wait until after you apply make-up to put it on. Your jewelry attracts dust and particles from cosmetics; if you apply makeup after you put on your jewelry, the particles will make it look dull. This tip especially applies to necklaces and earrings.
Always check with your jeweler about insurance policy options before buying anything. If you can get insurance, you know that you will be covered if something happens to your jewelry. For more expensive pieces, look for a jeweler that offers insurance for lost or stolen items.
Have a use in mind for every piece of jewelry you buy. There is nothing worse than a box full of unloved jewelry. Bear in mind the contents of your wardrobe before you purchase a piece of jewelry.
Think carefully about what stones you want in your jewelry. The gemstone you choose should work with your skin tone and suit your personality. Neutral colors are very versatile, as they match well with any outfit. It will be of no value to you to purchase jewels that are not easy to incorporate into your lifestyle.
Take the time to compare your options when shopping for diamonds. All diamonds are unique and will have different types of imperfections. Some flaws may not seem that critical to you when you see the diamond in person. Every jeweler is able to price point differently, depending on the flaw. Look around and you’re sure to find the perfect diamond for you, at a price you can live with.
Costume Jewelry
When you are purchasing jewelry, you should avoid making a purchase simply because it carries a particular brand name. Not many people will be familiar with the brand, and if you allowed yourself to be persuaded by the jeweler to buy that brand, you more than likely paid far too much for the piece. There are many different manufacturers, that make high quality jewelry, without the huge markup for the brand name.
Costume jewelry has different, specific care requirements. A fair amount of costume pieces are set with glue. Costume jewelry should never be immersed or make contact with harsh chemicals. To care for it best, wipe your jewelry with a damp, warm cloth and dry it with a different cloth. This will make your current costume jewelry look great.
An excellent suggestion is to keep in mind that large jewelry should be combined with simple outfits. As an alternative, pair the ornate jewelry with something as simple as a “little black dress”.
If you put on your jewelry only after you have put on your makeup, you will have to clean it less. Jewelry will get grimy from the makeup as you apply it, attracting dirt that will make it look dull. Earrings and necklaces are the prominent pieces affected by this.
There are reasons that rubies are such a classic. Although true rubies are a rich, bright red, many stones are available in color variations that range from rosy pinks to deep maroons. Rubies are also among the most durable of gemstones, being highly resistant to chemicals and impacts. The fine qualities of the ruby makes it a great choice for jewelry.
If you are in the market for jewelry, always seek out sales. Buying at the right moment can mean big savings. Watch for sales in the newspaper, on the Internet, and even in the stores themselves. Sometimes, you can save about half the original price on trendy pieces that aren’t as trendy anymore.
There have been so many advances in created stones that it is difficult to distinguish between natural gems and lab created ones. While the stones appear to be identical, both physically and chemically, the man-made stones are a lot cheaper than the natural ones. Find a reputable, knowledgeable person to take a look at a stone prior to purchasing it.
If there are knots in your necklaces, you can easily untangle them. It’s easy to get frustrated with tangled necklaces, but saran wrap can come to the rescue. Place your necklace on the wrap and put baby oil or mineral oil on it. Gently untangle the knots with needles. Wash with dish soap and pat dry.
A beautiful, but quite often overlooked gemstone, is Alexandrite. This stone will change colors from green to purple, depending on the sun and temperature. It looks stunning in necklaces, rings and bracelets.
When selling jewelry via the Internet, be sure to develop attractive and persuasive imagery of the pieces. This is very important because a customer cannot look at the jewelery if they are buying it online. Photograph jewelry in a setting that concentrates the viewer’s attention solely on the jewelry; avoid distracting backgrounds.
Silver and yellow gold have become a common combination to wear. To pull this look off most effectively, it’s best that one piece of jewelry contains both metals. If not, you’ll have a mismatched appearance.
Ensure that the clasps of your jewelry are sturdy and reliable. If a clasp is not solid, you might end up losing your jewelry. You can have a safety clasp added to any existing piece that may require additional protection. With the most expensive items of jewelry, some people will use two or three clasps for extra security.
You can show your woman how much you adore her with a stunning piece of jewelry. It’s great to get surprise gifts, especially those as meaningful as jewelry. She gets a new piece of jewelry, and you get the joy of watching her open it with an expression of delight.
Take your jewelry off before you go swimming. Swimming pools contain chlorine, which can age many types of jewelry prematurely. Salt water is just as bad as chlorinated water. By removing all of your jewelry before entering the pool or swimming in the ocean, you can prolong its life and keep it looking brilliant.
Taking your fine jewelry to a gemologist or certified appraiser before selling it can really be in your best interest. This gives you a baseline price against which you can evaluate offers from potential buyers.
As mentioned above, jewelry is a wonderful gift for a special woman, even when you’re at a loss of what to get her. These tips can assist you with picking the perfect piece no matter who that lady is, such as your girlfriend, wife, mother, friend or daughter.
If the diamond wedding set you have always dreamed of is not currently within your reach, consider buying a smaller stone, then upgrading it later. You can always purchase the ring for a future occasion, such as your anniversary. You can ever find jewelers that give you buy back options so that you can get a bigger sized ring later on.
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