When you are looking to purchase a piece of jewelry, there are a variety of things that are important to consider before making your final decision. Being an informed and knowledgeable customer will help you find the item(s) you are looking for which will make the process much less stressful. This article outlines a number of tips that can aid you in your quest for the perfect piece of jewelry.
A magnet is a useful tool when shopping for jewelry in sterling silver. By using the magnet you can quickly determine if the jewelry item is made of a cheaper metal and not sterling silver. In addition, sterling silver pieces are always stamped with silver hallmarks indicating such factors as the degree of purity, the manufacturer’s symbol, and the date of manufacture. Some of the most common hallmarks are “925, “ster,” “sterling,” and “sterling silver.” If there is no hallmark, watch its authenticity since it may be fake.
With gold prices at an all-time high, it’s a great time to invest in gold jewelry. You may have been tempted to sell your old gold or even buy some new gold as an investment. Be smart when dealing with private jewelry sales. Investing money into a cheap gold testing kit is a wise decision to save yourself from getting duped into unintentionally buying gold plated jewelry that is essentially worthless.
Do some research on the gem in your new piece of jewelry before you buy. A stone may be natural, synthetic or imitation. While both natural and synthetic stones are still real, imitation is just glass or plastic made to look like the natural stone. The difference here, however, is that synthetic is man-made in a laboratory while natural is found buried in the earth.
When cleaning your fine jewelry, always follow the recommended cleaning directions for the gemstones used in the piece instead of the metals. Many jewelry cleaners designed to remove tarnish from metals can also dull or even destroy many soft precious gemstones. Use a cleaner safe for all gemstones and avoid harsh chemicals.
When buying or selling jewelry, consider looking into specialized pawn shops. These shops are going to have individuals who know what they are talking about. They will be able to appraise the approximate value of the jewelry much more accurately than a typical pawn shop, allowing you to have peace of mind with your sale or purchase.
The best thing you can do to care for your jewelry is to make sure it is properly insured, especially if it is highly valuable. This will protect your jewelry from theft, damage, and being lost. There are many ways you can insure your jewelry, and it is definitely worth looking into since no one wants to be left standing after suffering an unfortunate event.
When packing for a vacation, planning your jewelry is as important as planning your outfits. Since you can’t take your whole jewelry box, plan your outfits in advance and think about what jewelry you’ll be able to wear with multiple outfits. When checking your bags, never pack any jewelry that you absolutely can’t bear to lose. If you can’t live without it, wear it or leave it at home.
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.
Keep your jewelry unsoiled by only putting it on after all of your makeup has been applied. Dust and grime from makeup gravitates towards jewelry, and putting on your jewelry first can leave it looking dull or dingy. This tip especially applies to necklaces and earrings.
When it comes to showing off your personality through jewelry, most of the time you can make a larger statement with less. Choose bold, dramatic pieces, but limit yourself to wearing one or two at a time. A sophisticated pair of chandelier earrings can set off an outfit on it’s own, and sometimes a flashy cocktail ring is the only glitz you need to draw attention.
Be very careful with the types of beauty products that you wear near your fine jewelry. Some types of perfumes and even many lotions include ingredients that can damage your jewelry over time. Try to wear perfume in locations that won’t make contact with whatever you are wearing and you will be able to avoid this problem.
When buying jewelry it is a good idea to personalize it. You can choose to have an engraving on the interior of the piece or on the backside of it. It should be a message that will mean something to the person who is receiving the jewelry so that they can look at the engraving and think of fond memories from the past.
If your crystals have dirt in hard to reach places, you should soak your jewelry in warm water with mild detergent. Then you should use a toothbrush to carefully scrub your jewelry off. This process will safely get rid of dirt on the outside of your jewelry, without damaging your precious crystals.
If you’re going to spend a good deal of money on a jewelry item, purchase something to last a lifetime. High-priced jewelry is usually high in quality, but don’t forget to consider styles. Something that is cool and trendy now might not look so stylish in a couple of years. Check out some of the options that stand the test of time and maintain a unique edge.
As was mentioned in this article, there are a variety of things that need to be considered and factored into the process of purchasing jewelry. Again, being an informed and knowledgeable customer will enable you to make sound decisions. Apply any combination of these tips to your purchase, and good luck in your quest!
