No matter how you obtain the jewelry, it is important to care for your jewelry the right way. Jewelry has a high monetary value, and likely means a lot to you too. This article will teach you how to save money when buying jewelry and care for it effectively.
Arm yourself with a magnet and a magnifying glass when shopping for sterling silver jewelry. 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 your silver is not marked, it could be because it is not real!
Natural Gems
Be sure that you understand the kind of gemstone that is in the jewelry that you are purchasing. A stone may be natural, synthetic or imitation. Both synthetic and natural gems are real; however, imitation is simply plastic. Synthetic gems are grown in a lab, natural gems are dug out of the Earth.
Jewelry is an investment that should last forever. Choose reputable jewelry dealers when considering your next jewelry purchase. You can tell when jewelry is of high quality, due to the excellent craftsmanship. The jeweler should be able to give you a history on the piece, like who crafted it and where the stones came from if there are any. Investing in a high-quality jewelry piece ensures that you will have a timeless item that will be just as wearable in 20 years as it is today.
Prevent your jewelry from tarnishing so that it keeps looking great. When you are close to water, do not wear your jewelry. Water can dull and rust some types of metal if it is exposed to it too often. Clear nail polish can be used to protect your jewelry if you apply a very thin coat of it on your pieces.
If you like to buy costume jewelry, make sure that you examine the condition carefully. Costume jewelery pieces can be expensive but they are not worth the investment if they look too old. Investing in quality means that you can enjoy the jewelry for many years to come.
Wearing the jewelry yourself can help you decide if it will be appropriate for your intended recipient. Doing this also helps you see if the jewelery is long lasting or likely to break easily.
Think about what stones you would want before you purchase a new piece of jewelry. Pick out stones that will reflect your personality and complement your skin tone. Colors should be neutral so that they go with most of your outfits. It will be of no value to you to purchase jewels that are not easy to incorporate into your lifestyle.
Costume Jewelry
Costume jewelry needs special care. Many of the components of costume jewelry are glued into their settings rather than held in with prongs or other more permanent methods. Take care not to use chemicals or lots of water in an attempt to clean your costume jewelry. Use a gentle cloth, like microfiber, to clean it. One wet, then another, dry. This will keep your costume jewelry clean and shiny.
Jewelry that has been cared for well over the years has higher value than jewelry that has not. By learning what you need to do to properly care for your jewelry, you are working to protect memories and the money invested in it. There is a vast amount of information that you can find about jewelry. The more knowledge you gain, the more you will learn to value and appreciate each unique piece in your collection.
