Whether it’s for you or a loved one, jewelry can really brighten one’s day. It can be difficult, though, to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. How can you know you’re getting the best? How do you even know what kind of jewelry to get? How is it to be maintained? This article will give you some tips to make your choices a little easier.
When looking to invest in jewelry containing sapphires, opals or rubies make sure that you understand what lab created means. Lab created gemstones are grown in a laboratory using scientific means. Jewelry that you see labeled as lab created such as sapphire has never seen Mother Nature. If you are looking for natural gemstones, you may be paying a higher price and spend significant time looking for a vendor outside of your local mall.
When jewelry shopping, you need to be prepared to carefully look, and inspect anything that you may want to buy. You need to get a loupe. This is a small pocket-sized magnifier that can show you what kind of quality you will be getting. It magnifies the jewelry so that you can inspect it to see if you are getting something of bad quality or good quality.
Don’t purchase used earrings without disinfecting the posts or ear hooks. Other people have been wearing them, especially true for vintage pieces, and there are plenty of germs lying around. Take some lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide, squeeze some onto a cotton swab and run it over the ear pieces of the earrings. This will kill the germs, making it safe to wear the earrings.
When looking to invest in fine jewelry, understand the different price ranges different metals and gemstones fall into. For example, understanding that opal is very expensive, you can already figure out if you see someone selling it for under twenty dollars, it is a fake. Knowing that sterling silver is a lot cheaper than white gold, but quite similar in appearance, can help narrow down your price when looking to invest in a nice pair of earrings.
If you want to buy one of the ladies in your life a piece of jewelry, but don’t know her size, just sneak something out of her jewelry box that she already wears. That way you can have that item sized and get her the perfect jewelry in the perfect size – she’ll be totally amazed!
Use an egg to antique your sterling silver jewelry. Just boil the egg, chop it up, and put it in a bag with your silver piece. In a few hours your jewelry will change colors and then you can polish it to a beautiful antiqued look. This is an effective method because egg contains sulfur, and sulfur causes the reaction when mixed with sterling silver.
Consider your setting when buying an engagement ring. Do not rush into the first or cheapest setting you are shown. Your setting is equally as important as the stone you are getting set into it. Consider if you want a classic, or modern style for your ring’s look and feel.
Get everything in writing. If the salesperson tells you that the gem has a warranty, or that it is on sale for a certain price next week, you want to have a record of that. Keeping a detailed written account of whatever information passed between you and the salesperson can help you be on top of any discrepancies that may appear later on.
When buying gold, be sure that your receipt is clearly marked with the karat weight, as well as the manufacturer. These are things you need to know in case you later want to appraise or sell the piece, or perhaps have it re-sized. The information included is also necessary for any returns processes you may have to go through.
Do not underestimate the power of pearl jewelry. Pearls are often considered a throwback to the days of old. How untrue this is. Modern pearls come in so many varieties, you can cheaply acquire them and spice up any fashion style you are trying to pull off. They come in many colors and shapes.
Deep, rich blue sapphires are commonly known as the birthstone for those born in September. Their dark, mysterious coloring is often thought to have protective powers over anyone who wears the gem in their rings, bracelets, or brooches. Blue sapphire nicely complements purples and deep scarlet accents and looks beautiful with all settings, but especially platinum or silver.
One way to prevent damage to jewelry is to always be careful with clothing. The best way to ensure that clothes don’t hurt the jewelry is to always add accent pieces after being fully dressed. In a similar fashion, make sure that jewelry is always removed before any articles of clothes.
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.
A quick and cost effective cleaning solution for fine jewelry requires little more than toothpaste and a toothbrush. While toothpaste should not be used on costume jewelry, it works great for brightening up silver, gold and gemstones. The small bristles on a toothbrush also penetrate and clean filigree style settings far better than a cleaning cloth.
Gently cleaning with a soft damp cloth is the best way to avoid disturbing the setting. Dry the piece by rubbing it gently with a soft cloth. Don’t ever use a steam cleaner or any harsh chemicals on fashion and costume pieces.
Purchasing jewelry will be a must for most people at some point in their lives. The right piece of jewelry can make a massive impression on someone. Make sure to use the advice given in this article tin orrder to have the jewelry that will continue to be loved long into the future.
