There is no such thing as being too informed about jewelry. Even a seemingly trivial mistake could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Here are some safe and reliable tips for jewelry selection and care. These tips are here to help you have a better understanding of prices and avoid common mistakes.
Don’t use acetone, ammonia, turpentine, bleach, or other harsh chemicals for cleaning them. You can turn your stones this way and it will eat away the enamel on the pieces.
Precious Metal
Keep jewelry stored safely and away from both air and humidity. Keep your jewelry in a drawstring bag or in a box that is made for jewelry. Humidity quickly tarnishes both precious and non-precious metal. 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.
When you are shopping for jewelry in sterling silver, be sure to examine the piece closely, and take along a magnet for metal testing. You can detect fake sterling silver with the magnet, since non-precious metals are drawn to magnets. True sterling silver will also have a mark on it to indicate its quality, such as “.925” or “ster”. Be wary of pieces that lack any silver hallmarks, as this is an indication that they’re not genuine sterling silver.
To keep your jewelry looking great, take steps to prevent it from tarnish. If possible, remove your jewelry if you are around water. Many pieces can become rusty, tarnished or dull when they are exposed to water. Clear nail polish can be used to protect your jewelry if you apply a very thin coat of it on your pieces.
Costume Jewelry
Make careful note of the condition of costume jewelry you wish to collect. Costume jewelry can prove to be a good investment, but worn, broken, or otherwise damaged pieces are not worth the expense. Investing in quality means that you can enjoy the jewelry for many years to come.
Wear jewelry for at least a day to see if it hangs correctly and is comfortable. This will also let you know how the piece holds up in every day environments.
Do some research on the best way to clean your particular piece of jewelry. Different cleaning techniques are required for different types of jewelry. What works for one piece of jewelry could dull or damage another. Ask a jeweler to make sure you know how to maintain your items.
Your jewelry will stay cleaner if you wait until after you apply make-up to put it on. The small particles of powdered makeup can easily dull the shine of your jewelry. Earrings and necklaces are especially prone to this kind of contamination.
Shop the sales to get great jewelry on a budget. You can save big money with the right sale. Check online, in the store windows, and in the paper for the greatest sales. Sometimes, you can save about half the original price on trendy pieces that aren’t as trendy anymore.
Well, it’s easy when you know how. This article has just touched on a few of things that you should know about this very rewarding hobby. There is much to learn, but at least you’ve now got a few good ideas to put to work.
