You can never know too much about jewelry. One mistake could result in costing you a small fortune. This article will help you avoid needless mistakes. The tips given here can guide you in acquiring jewelry and steer you away from some common mistakes people make.
Don’t clean your jewelry in harsh household chemicals like ammonia, bleach or turpentine. Doing so can damage the shine and luster of the stones on your favorite pieces.
Arm yourself with a magnet and a magnifying glass when shopping for sterling silver jewelry. Take the magnet with you to find fake pieces of jewelery, sterling silver will not stick to the magnet. Sterling silver will always be hallmarked with a stamp such as .925, ster. or sterling. If the piece of presumed silver is not marked, be skeptical that is real silver. It could very well be a fake.
Make sure you know what kind of gem you are getting when you are buying jewelry. A stone may be natural, synthetic or imitation. While both natural and synthetic stones are still real, imitation is just glass or plastic made to look like the natural stone. Natural stones are dug up out of the ground and synthetic ones are grown in a lab.
Costume Jewelry
Collecting costume jewelry is a popular pastime, but if you wish to participate, be careful of the condition of the jewelry. Quality costume jewelry may cost more, but a cheaply made piece will fall apart and will quickly become unusable. A piece in good condition will be much more resourceful to you in the future.
When buying jewelry for a one-of-a-kind person, buy them something equally unique. Look for something that fits their personality. An item that highlights their personality indicates that you put time and effort into the purchase, which is what you should convey when giving jewelry to someone.
Shop the sales to get great jewelry on a budget. You can save huge amounts of money if you are savvy. You can snag a sweet sale by perusing your neighborhood shops, checking the classified ads, or even going online. If a particular piece was designed to fit a current trend, and that trend is nearing conclusion, then you could make a saving as big as 50%.
If you have tangled necklaces, you can untangle them with ease. Before giving up on a tangled knotted mass of precious metal, source some plastic wrap. Place your necklace on the wrap and put baby oil or mineral oil on it. Use a sewing needle to untangle the necklace. Use ordinary dish soap to remove the mineral oil and let dry.
When you are buying jewelery, make sure you know what you are going to use it for. You don’t need a box full of unused jewelry. As you shop for jewelry, try to envision whether you can see yourself wearing a piece with your current wardrobe.
A diamond’s cut and clarity are often times more important than how big it is. Keep the individual you are buying the diamond for in mind.
Any type of necklace or bracelet should have a strong clasp. It is extremely easy to lose your valuable chains, pendants and stones with jewelry that has a flimsy clasp. You can purchase a safety clasp to secure expensive pieces of jewelry. It is common to have two or three clasps for expensive jewelry.
Don’t wear jewelry when swimming. The chlorine in a pool can tarnish or corrode jewelry, decreasing its value. The cumulative effects of salt water can affect jewelery just as badly. Taking these off before swimming will protect their beauty and extend their life.
Using robe hooks will help to stop necklaces from becoming tangled. You can hang your necklaces in a row and separate them by color and length. This will keep them untangled, and it looks nice as well.
Brand name should not be the primary concern when buying jewelry. It will be difficult for others to tell where you purchased an item, and if you’re only buying something because of the name, it could very well be overpriced. There are excellent quality jewelry pieces from various brands.
Think of expensive jewelery as an investment for the years to come. Although you usually get high-quality jewelry when you spend a lot of money, you also need to consider the style of the piece. Trends in jewelry can be fleeting and result in unworn pieces later. Therefore, you should search for an item that is classic and timeless.
Well, it’s easy when you know how. This article has just touched on a few of things that you should know about this very rewarding hobby. There is much to learn, but at least you’ve now got a few good ideas to put to work.