Whether you buy jewelry for yourself or loved ones, inherit valuable pieces or receive jewelry as a gift, you need to know how to buy, sell and care for jewelry responsibly. This article will provide you with some key tips on all aspects of jewelry ownership.
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. Air and humidity can tarnish metals of all types. The thing about this is that non-precious metals cannot fully recover from this because underneath, the copper shows through. However, keep in mind that precious metals can go back to their own original forms.
This will result in damage to both the stones and eat away their enamel.
If you are in the market to buy some silver jewelry, use a magnet and examine the jewelry very carefully. You are able to detect fake pieces of sterling jewelry with a magnet, since non-precious metals are drawn to magnets. You can identify sterling silver by its markings, for example “sterling,” “ster, “STERLING”. If there is no hallmark, then be wary.
When shopping for genuine sterling silver jewelry, you need both a discerning eye and 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. Another way to tell if a metal is sterling silver is to check for a hallmark stamp, for example .sterling, .ster, or .925. If the piece of presumed silver is not marked, be skeptical that is real silver. It could very well be a fake.
A piece of jewelery can last you your whole life. When choosing jewelry, you should always buy from a reputable store or dealer, ensuring that the piece you choose is of high-quality. A high-quality piece of jewelry should be well-made and feature superior craftsmanship. Ask the jeweler about the history behind the piece and learn more about who made it, like the maker and the origin of the stones. It is important that your pieces are high-quality if you want it to become a treasured heirloom passed down for generations.
Pay attention to the types, white gold or yellow, and any other typical jewelry that they wear. This is a good idea of where to start when purchasing that special item.
If you like to buy costume jewelry, make sure that you examine the condition carefully. Costume jewelry make good investments and they can be costly, but an item that shows major signs of usage will be a poor investment of your time and money. Costume pieces kept in great condition will enhance your collection much more over time.
Always check with your jeweler about insurance policy before buying a new piece of jewelry. If something happened to your jewelery, you can come back to the store and have it repaired or replaced. Some jewelers will offer insurance for jewelry pieces that might have been misplaced or lost.
Keep your jewelry from getting tarnished to preserve its best as you can. Try to keep your jewelry when you are around water.Water can cause some types of metal if it is exposed to it too often. If you want to give your jewelry a measure of protection from this element, prepare it by adding some clear nail polish on the surface.
When you are looking for jewelry to purchase, give careful thought to the stones you prefer. Any stones that you choose should go with your skin tone and reflect your personality. Neutral colored stones go well with many different outfits. Do not buy anything that you cannot wear.
Wear the jewelry piece for a day or so to be sure that it fits right and is comfortable. This will also let you to determine if the piece holds up in every day environments.
Pin it in the center of your hip or towards your hip.
Costume jewelry needs special care. Many of their settings are glued instead of set. You want to avoid using strong chemicals or immersion baths on your costume jewelry. Use a gentle cloth, like microfiber, to clean it. One wet, then another, dry. Doing so will keep your jewelry looking its best for life.
This tip especially applies to necklaces and earrings more than anything else.
Before you buy any gemstone, determine what, and if so, how. The way to care for a stone needs is dependent on how it was treated with.
For a gift that is as unique as its recipient, look for handcrafted or customized pieces. A one-of-a-kind jewelry piece is a great way to show someone how much they mean to you.
If you are trying to sell jewelry on the Internet, it is important to post ample photographs from many angles so that each piece is presented in a pleasing and accurate way. This is extra important because the potential buyer can not handle the item that is being sold.
Avoid both steam saunas and dry saunas. The moisture and heat can do real damage to your jewelry to become damaged.
Untangle a delicate necklace easily. If you are about to give up, get some baby oil and plastic wrap. Put the necklace on the plastic wrap and cover it with a little baby oil. Use a straight pin to untangle the knot. Rinse the necklace off as best you can and gently pat it dry with a soft cloth. Use soap only if it has been approved to not damage your jewelry.
Well-cared-for jewelry is immensely valuable, both in terms of memorable sentiment and real economic worth. With proper knowledge on how to care for your jewelry, you can keep your memories safe and the value of the jewelry high. There is a lot more information out there, so keep educating yourself so that you will know how to get the most out of your jewelry.