Choosing jewelry can be difficult – even overwhelming. There is so much choice and so much you need to know; especially if you have never purchased much. The following tips will help you learn some useful things that you need to know about jewelry. When you know what things to look for it makes it more enjoyable.
Sterling silver jewelry makes a great investment. Pieces of jewelry made from sterling silver last for a lifetime and provide endless elegance. Sterling does tarnish, but can be quickly shined up using a polishing cloth. However, pieces of sterling silver jewelry that have specialty coating can last ages without tarnishing.
When purchasing sterling silver, take along a good magnifying glass, along with a small magnet. You can tell if a piece of silver is sterling or not by using a magnet. Sterling will not react to the magnet, but non-precious metals will be attracted. You can recognize sterling silver by stamps that say ‘.925’ or ‘ster’. If you cannot find a stamp, you might be looking at a cheap imitation.
Knowing what type of jewel you are buying when you purchase jewelry is very important. Natural gems and imitation gems have been joined recently by synthetic gems, making three main categories. Natural stones and synthetic gems are both real, but imitation gems are probably just colored glass or plastic. The difference here, however, is that synthetic is man-made in a laboratory while natural is found buried in the earth.
If you have a ring that’s too large, you don’t have to pay to get it re-sized. You can get a ring guard. A ring guard is a small, plastic tube with a slit. Press the ring into the slit, and the plastic will make the ring fit tighter. You may also be able to buy a multipack of different sizes and shapes.
Don’t buy novelty jewelry unless you know for sure that the person you’re buying it for will like it. If your wife is a fan of Sleeping Beauty, then a dwarf pendant is an appropriate gift. Don’t just buy an item of jewelry because it’s cute, make sure it’s appropriate, too.
Always keep your receipt. Making sure that you have a means of returning the item in question is one of the most important things to do in jewelry shopping. You never know if the person you are purchasing for may not like the piece, or if you may find a better deal elsewhere.
To keep pearl jewelry looking like new, store it separately from other jewelry. While many gemstones are hard, pearls are quite soft and can be scratched easily. Try keeping your pearls in their own container with a soft lining. If you really want your pearls with the rest of your jewelry, try placing them in a soft bag first.
In order to keep your jewelry at its best, remove your jewelry before doing house cleaning, going swimming, performing personal care such as using lotion and bathing, or before exposing yourself to extreme heat or cold. The metal in your jewelry can tarnish or even crack if it is exposed to harsh chemicals such as chlorine, or if it is rapidly heated and cooled.
Don’t store your jewelry in the bathroom or laundry room. Any space where the humidity is normally high, or where the temperature fluctuates drastically, can lead to damage of your precious jewelry. Instead, store it in a climate-controlled location such as your bedroom, perhaps inside or on top of a dresser.
Don’t wash your hands while wearing inexpensive or costume jewelry, this can damage the finish. Even though these pieces may not have much monetary value, they can be highly sentimental and should be cared for with the same respect as precious jewelry. Place it in a pocket or in your purse before you wash your hands, so that you don’t leave them behind.
The increasing cost of purchasing gold can be a hindrance to owning that piece you really desire. It is possible to save extra money when you compromise on karats, if gold necklaces or rings are what your heart truly desires. Many people believe that 75 percent pure gold is the most ideal ratio of price and quality. This grade is commonly referred to as 18 karats.
You can make money with your gold bracelets and necklaces. The best part, though, is you still get to keep the pieces. Carefully remove an inch or two from the piece, then sell that section. Just be sure to leave enough length so that you can continue to wear it. By clipping a little off of several chains you can make several hundred dollars.
Make the presentation and pictures of your jewelry everything. Your customers won’t actually get to touch and feel the jewelry before they buy it, so having great pictures of your product will help sell it. It’s important that your customers know exactly what they are getting since they can’t physically see it.
When buying jewelry for someone that you care about, make sure that the type of jewelry that you get them fits the type of relationship you are in. This is important because, often times, the recipient will view the gift as a physical form of expressing the intentions that they have.
When it comes to purchasing jewelry, listen to your gut feeling if you are having trouble making decisions. This is important because you may regret not going with that first item that jumped out at you – there is definitely a reason that it caught your eye in the first place.
The tips that have been provided should boost your self-confidence when it comes to jewelry buying and care. You now know what things to look for concerning jewelry, and having the knowledge should also give you the ability to talk to any jeweler with confidence.
