Tips For Creating Your Style With Jewelry

Jewelry is always an ideal choice when trying to decide what gift to buy for a woman. Here are some ideas for getting the right piece for the woman in your life.

TIP! When purchasing jewels, you should understand which type of stone you are getting. Natural gems and imitation gems have been joined recently by synthetic gems, making three main categories.

Store your jewelry collection carefully. Use a box that has several different compartments and hooks to keep your pieces apart. Don’t just put them in one huge, unorganized pile. This can damage the finer and more fragile pieces, and items like necklaces can entangle with each other and other pieces into a big mess.

Sterling Silver

TIP! If you like to collect costume jewelry pieces, become very choosy about each piece’s condition. Even though it is not as expensive as its precious counterpart, costume jewelry represents a significant investment, one that can be lost if the pieces are allowed to get worn and broken.

If you want to buy sterling silver pieces, use a magnet and examine the jewelry very carefully. You can detect fake sterling silver with the magnet, since non-precious metals are drawn to magnets. Also, look to make sure that silver is hallmarked and stamped with .925, sterling or ster. If you don’t see a stamp of any sort on a piece, then be wary of whether it is actually silver or not.

When you purchase jewelery ensure you know what you are buying. Gems are divided into three main categories: imitation, synthetic and natural. “Real” can mean natural or synthetic, and an imitation stone could be glass or plastic. Natural stones are found in the earth and are mined out, while synthetic ones are grown in laboratories.

TIP! You should always make an effort to properly care for all of your jewelry. Jewelry is composed of different stones, metals, and settings that all require different care to be properly maintained.

Always compare prices before purchasing any diamonds. Look at the pieces up close before purchasing them, and be sure to compare them to others. You must be a sharp consumer to avoid tricks that might make a diamond look better than it really is.

Inquire about insurance for your jewelry when you purchase it from a jeweler. Insurance policies allow you to bring a defective or broken piece into the jewelry store for repair. There are even some jewelers that will cover the replacement if the piece has been lost or stolen.

TIP! Apply your makeup before putting on your jewelry. Dirt and oil accumulate in the small crevices of jewelry, and can make it look dull and shabby.

Keep your jewelry from tarnishing as best as you can. Never wear your jewelry when you are going to be near water. Water can dull and rust some types of metal if it is exposed to it too often. To give jewelry an added layer of protection apply a thin layer of clear nail lacquer.

Wear the jewelry piece for a day so that you can get an idea of how comfortable it is and if it hangs right. You will be able to tell if it will hold up to wear and tear.

TIP! Do not buy a piece of jewelery if you are not sure when you are going to wear it. You don’t need a box full of unused jewelry.

Consider stones when you are buying jewelry. The right stone will enhance your skin tone and make a statement about your personality. If you choose a neutral color it will match anything you wear. If it isn’t a functional piece, you will not use it and it is pointless to purchase it.

Costume Jewelry

TIP! Resist the common notion that size matters; concentrate instead on quality and clarity. The intended recipient’s personality should play a role in diamond selection, too.

You need to pay special attention when caring for costume jewelry. Many of their settings are glued instead of set. Take care not to use chemicals or lots of water in an attempt to clean your costume jewelry. To care for it best, wipe your jewelry with a damp, warm cloth and dry it with a different cloth. This keeps dirt from building up and making your jewelry look dull.

Before you buy, ask the jeweler if and how the gemstone was treated. There are several different types of treatment, and each one needs it’s own type of care. Cleaning a treated gem using the wrong chemical might damage it.

TIP! Dry saunas and steam rooms can cause damage to jewelry. The jewelry can be damaged from extreme heat or moisture.

Choosing the perfect gift for a woman can be hard, but you can’t go wrong with jewelry. The ideas here should help you get the right piece regardless of your relationship.