Many people are passionate about buying jewelry to add to their own wardrobe or those of loved ones. Given the wide variety of jewelry available, and the specifics in wearing and caring for it appropriately, it helps to know a few things. The following article is designed to provide you with answers to some of the questions you may have about jewelry.
Sterling Silver
To distinguish between real and fake, bring a magnet when you shop for sterling silver jewelry. Imitations will be attracted to your magnet. This is an easy way to recognize quality. True sterling silver will also have a mark on it to indicate its quality, such as “.925” or “ster”. If there is no hallmark, watch its authenticity since it may be fake.
You should expect good jewelry to last the rest of your life, and possibly beyond. When purchasing your next jewelry item, focus on buying a quality, well-made piece. High-quality jewelry is durable and displays excellent craftsmanship. The person selling the piece should know its history, including who made it and the source of the stones. It is important that your pieces are high-quality if you want them to last a long time.
Make sure a piece of jewelry is still in style before you buy it. If there is one thing better than a beautiful piece of jewelry, it’s finding that jewelry at a great price!
Keep your jewelry from getting tarnished in order to keep it looking it’s best. For example, avoid taking your jewelry somewhere it can get wet. Metals can become dull, rusty or tarnished if submerged in it. Painting a thin layer of clear-colored nail polish on your metal jewelry can add a protective barrier to it.
Think carefully about what stones you want in your jewelry. Think about your skin tone, and also think about your personality as you choose your favorite stones. Pieces in neutral tones work well with any item in your wardrobe. Do not buy something that looks nice on the shelf but that you will never use.
Caring for your jewelry properly is important; you should definitely give it some consideration. Not all types of jewelry can be cleaned in the same manner. A jewelry cleaner that is safe for one type of gemstone may damage another kind. Ask a jeweler when you do not know how to take care of your jewelry.
Apply your makeup before putting on your jewelry. 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.
Before you buy any gemstone, determine what, if any, treatment it received. You will need to know what type of care it might require as a result of the treatment. You want to avoid putting a solution on jewelry that has been treated, particularly if you do not know whether or not it will hurt the piece.
The size of the diamond is not always the most critical detail, the cut and clarity are important also. It is important to consider the character of the individual you are purchasing the diamond for.
Before you purchase a diamond ring, necklace or bracelet, shop around and compare your options. Every single diamond is unique and has individual flaws. Once you see the diamond up close and look it over, some of the flaws may not be as critical as you once thought. Also, each jeweler can price point a little bit differently based on the flaws. It will pay to shop different jewelers while looking for the best diamond in your price range.
Jewelry can be overwhelming to anyone; there is a wide range of prices, styles and care that needs to be considered. The advice you’ve read in the previous paragraphs will help make things easier for you when you make your next jewelry purchase.