Monday, July 2, 2012

Jewelry Buying Tips All Can Use

Does your sense of style need an update with some new jewelry? Perhaps you're looking to add a splash of color to a drab outfit. Maybe you just need a nice gift for a friend. By following the advice in this article you can feel confident on whatever selection you make.

Diamond jewelry that is worn everyday should be cleaned and inspected by a jeweler twice a year. The gemologist will clean your diamond and inspect it for damage.

Use just a damp cloth to wipe off your jewelry, taking care to protect the setting. Follow this by gently drying the item with a soft, dry cloth. Don't ever use a steam cleaner or any harsh chemicals on fashion and costume pieces.

A good piece of jewelery can last you your whole life. Go to a dealer you can trust to make sure you get a quality item at a fair price. A high-quality piece of jewelry should be well-made and show superior craftsmanship. The jeweler must be able to provide a history of the piece. This will tell you who made the piece, and where the components came from. This way, you can ensure you are paying a fair price. Investing in a high-quality jewelry piece ensures that you will have a timeless item that will be just as wearable in 20 years as it is today.

It is hard to determine whether a sapphire or a ruby is natural or synthetic. They are both physically and chemically identical, however, the artificial stones may be much cheap than the natural flawless ones. Before investing a great deal of money in a piece of sapphire jewelry, you should first have it verified by an experienced, respected gemologist.

When you purchase jewelery ensure you know what you are buying. There are basically three distinct types: natural gems, synthetic gems and imitation stones. Natural gems and synthetic gems are real gemstones, whereas imitation is just an item of plastic with gemstone colors. Natural gemstones are mined, while synthetic gems are artificially grown.

Be cautious of storing all of your pieces of jewelry together. You can protect your jeweled investments with hooks, boxes and holders that keep each piece intact and prevent tangles. Do not just throw them into piles in a box. Not only can this harm the fine and fragile pieces, but things like necklaces can get severely tangled up with other necklaces or other jewelry.

Cleaning jewelry is as important as storing your valuable pieces properly. Before cleaning, make sure there are no loose gemstones or breaks that will suffer from cleaning the piece. Get these items repaired and cleaned by a professional.

If you are looking to purchase sterling silver jewelry make sure that you have a magnet with you and a good eye. You are able to detect fake pieces of sterling jewelry with a magnet, as non-precious metals are attracted by the magnet. You can generally tell genuine sterling silver by its stamp, which will look something like ".925 ster." If you don't see such a mark, you might want to reconsider the purchase. This is usually an indication that the piece is fake.

Steam saunas and dry ones are very much included. Extreme moisture and heat can seriously damage the piece.

If there are knots in your necklaces, you can easily untangle them. If you are about to give up, get some baby oil and plastic wrap. Place your jewelry on the plastic wrap and add a little baby oil. Use a straight pin to untangle the knot. Wash them using dish soap, and then pat dry them.

While it's not as good as a professional cleaner, toothpaste will get the job done in a pinch. Apply a very small dab of toothpaste on a soft lint free cloth or even a paper towel. Rub the toothpaste on the jewelry for a bit, and then use water to rinse or wipe the toothpaste off. This will make the silver look good enough to wear, but remember to give it a proper cleaning later.

Apply your makeup and let it set before putting on jewelry. The dust, oils and particles from makeup rub off on jewelry; putting on jewels first means they will get dingy and dull with a film of makeup over them. This method is especially helpful in caring for necklaces or earrings.

Since you have gained a little bit more understanding about jewelry, you should have more faith in your ability to choose gemstones, diamonds, beads and shiny precious metals. Buying a jewelry item that is heir-loom quality is a traditional move that will bring you enjoyment years down the road.

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