If you are searching for a valuable piece of jewelry, it adds an element of stress to the fun. There are many different types of materials used to make jewelry, and they are all worth varying amounts of money. A shopper who hasn’t done their homework can wind up overpaying for a piece. Read this article for wise tips for making your next purchase in the jewelry department.
Do not use any chemicals on your jewelery stones. This could cause the stone to change color or become dull in appearance, and it may eat away at the enamel on the piece.
Store your jewelry in a place that is not subjected to humidity extremes or open air. Keep them stored safely in a closed, dark area, like a jewelry box or drawstring bag. Certain metals begin to tarnish when exposed to humidity. Precious metal jewelry can be polished to fix tarnish, but non-precious metals coated with a finish will never get back to their previous state.
Sterling Silver
If you are shopping unmarked sterling silver jewelry, then by all means bring a magnet. Use the magnet to detect fake jewelry; real silver will not be attracted to the magnet, but the cheaper metals will. Sterling silver always has some sort of stamp to indicate it is sterling. If you don’t see such a mark, you might want to reconsider the purchase. This is usually an indication that the piece is fake.
When you purchase jewelery ensure you know what you are buying. Natural gems and imitation gems have been joined recently by synthetic gems, making three main categories. Synthetic stones are lab created jewels, while imitation stones are normally colored glass. Natural stones are mined, and synthetic stones are created in a laboratory.
Watch to see whether they usually wear necklaces or bracelets, or if they prefer dangly earrings to studs. This should give you a grasp of their tastes, and some ideas about what to buy for them.
Take the steps to inhibit its tarnishing. One of the best ways to keep your jewelry looking beautiful is to avoid wearing it in water. Lots of jewelry materials are dulled or tarnished by water exposure. If you are looking to protect your jewelry from the ill effects of water, try applying clear nail polish, just a thin layer, on the piece itself.
Hopefully you can take this advice and use it to make your next jewelry purchase a memorable one. By remembering the advice presented here, you could save a lot of time and money at the jewelers.
