A gift of jewelry is a very personal and potentially, costly gesture that can communicate a lifetime of sentiment. Whether you are preparing to shop for yourself or someone else, the information found in this handpicked selection of jewelry tips and tricks, is sure to help you make a more informed purchase.
Keep your jewelery in a space that is dry and doesn’t have any air flow. Store jewelry in a sealed box or drawstring pouch for the best protection. Certain metals begin to tarnish when exposed to humidity. It is possible to polish precious metals, but polishing non-precious metals will damage the coating, which makes the copper that metal was covering show.
If you have metal allergies, make sure to purchase nickel free jewelry. Nickel is a common alloy that is mixed in with precious metals such as sterling silver to make them more pliable. Silver itself is very liquid in its original state and therefore not substantial enough to be properly molded into jewelry. Oftentimes, another alloy such as nickel is added. Make sure you check what you are purchasing to make sure it is nickel free.
Do not use ultrasonic cleaners and jewelry cleaning liquids on your precious and semi- precious gemstones. Most gemstones are easily damaged and their properties become corroded by the chemical properties in jewelry cleaning liquids. Ultrasonic cleaners can shake the gemstone settings apart and deteriorate the glue used to secure the gemstone in the setting.
Keep your jewelry from getting tarnished to preserve its best appearance. Don’t take your jewelry into the water, regardless of whether you are showering or hitting the beach. Many metals can become tarnished, rusty or dull when exposed to water too often. It is wise to place a single coat of transparent nail lacquer on jewelry in order to protect it.
If you are truly in love with a piece of costume jewelry, even if it is in less than good condition, it is okay to spend the money on it. A piece that you will treasure is more of an investment than the monetary cost of an item, so splurging can be allowed.
If you’re making wire jewelry and don’t have wire cutters, just use a pair of fingernail clippers. The fingernail clippers are small and great for fine cutting. They will be able to manipulate through most sterling silver wire with ease. The fingernail clippers will no longer be useful for your nails though, because wire will dull them fast.
Do not be afraid to buy silver jewelry. Gold items are incredibly expensive right now, and silver is “in”. Search for products that are labeled as sterling silver because they have a large amount of the metal in them. Not only will you save money, but you will have the opportunity to buy a nice piece of jewelry that you might have missed otherwise.
If you have some fine jewelry or heirloom jewelry whose value you want to protect through insurance, it is wise to take excellent pictures of these pieces and to have an appraisal done by a professional. Make sure that the pictures you take are good, quality ones. Using a flash when taking these pictures will not lead to good pictures of your jewelry. It is best to capture a picture of your precious jewelry under soft, diffused fluorescent bulbs.
When you clean your jewelry, be sure to dry it and polish it before returning it to storage. This is especially true for gold and silver jewelry. The metal can tarnish if left damp. The stones in your jewelry will also develop water stains if they are put away with water on them.
When selecting the right piece of jewelry, it is important to have a gemologist or other registered jewelry appraiser present to ensure you are getting the right price. The difference in quality of some precious gems may look minimal to the untrained eye, but these slight differences can change the price of jewelry substantially.
Aquamarines are one of the world’s most popular stones. The transparent blue reminds many of clear ocean waters in the tropics on white coral sands, and the mineral itself is extremely strong and frequently appears in flawless, large crystals which are easy to cut into spectacular pendants and cocktail rings.
Mystic Fire topaz is a new and fascinating entrant into the world of jewelry stones. It is made of topaz coated with a special refractive coating, so that it refracts different colors at different angles. However, care should be taken with this stone because the coating is easy to scratch, ruining the effect.
Wearing too much jewelry can look gaudy. It may appear that you are seeking attention or that you may be bragging that you can afford a lot of jewelry. Instead, downplay jewelry and let it make the statement of enhancing your beauty instead of diminishing it. Tons of jewelry can be confusing and distracting to the viewer and may cause discord with all the bling of it.
To get an impressive diamond on a limited budget, consider dropping your standards on color and clarity just a little. Clarity ratings like SI1 and SI2 are not perfect, nor is a color rating of H or I. That said, the naked eye cannot see the difference between these and higher ratings.
Educating yourself on the different types, styles, and price points available in the jewelry market, can help you to avoid a costly misstep. The advice in this article will make it easier for you to find the best piece of jewelry from the best seller, and of course, at only the very best price available.
