It can be great fun to go jewelry shopping, but the price tags can be stressful. Jewelry is created from a variety of different materials and there is a vast cost difference between each type. The uneducated shopper can easily end up paying over the odds. These tips can help you be more knowledgeable about all aspects of purchasing jewelry.
Try using a simple polishing cloth on your jewelery collection. In this way, you will not have to deal with chemicals or solvents while you achieve the shine you love. Use this two-sided cloth on your jewelry as though you were cleaning glass. Use the side that is designated for polish, and the other to make it shine.
Steer clear of ammonia, bleach or other strong chemical solvents when you need to clean these items. This can dull your stones and eat away their enamel.
Take care to store your jewelry safely. Keep pieces separately by using compartments, boxes, hooks and holders. Resist the urge to jumble all your pieces together in one box or basket. This can harm fragile and fine pieces, along with severely tangling necklaces with other pieces.
If you are shopping for sterling silver jewelry, you’ll need a magnet and an eye for the real thing. 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. Sterling silver should always bear a stamp that says Sterling, Ster. or .925. Be wary of pieces that lack any silver hallmarks, as this is an indication that they’re not genuine sterling silver.
Know the type of gem you’re buying, when you buy it. A stone may be natural, synthetic or imitation. Natural stones and synthetic gems are both real, but imitation gems are probably just colored glass or plastic. While natural gems come out of mines, synthetic ones come out of laboratories.
Before purchasing a new pieces, look at the latest jewelry trends. If there is one thing better than a beautiful piece of jewelry, it’s finding that jewelry at a great price!
If you wish to keep a piece of jewelry looking fantastic, preventing it from tarnishing is important. For example, avoid taking your jewelry somewhere it can get wet. Lots of jewelry materials are dulled or tarnished by water exposure. If you must take your jewelry somewhere wet, prepare it by adding some clear nail polish on the surface.
Having read this, you should now know some tips to use when you are going to buy watches, necklaces, cuff links, etc. Keep this advice in mind to save some money and time next time you go jewelry shopping.