Getting the most relevant jewelry tips can be confusing, not to mention time consuming. There is so much information available, you may not know what to keep in mind and what to disregard. Thankfully, you do not have to look any further than this article, as the best tips are compiled below.
Don’t spend a lot of money purchasing cheap costume jewelry. Costume jewelry does sell in more designs and cost significantly less than fine jewelry. Yet, over the course of a few months or years, costume jewelry loses its color which causes the cheap metal to show through underneath. Invest in one or two pieces of fine jewelry that are sure to last a lifetime.
If you see a ring that claims to be diamond and has a sterling silver setting, be very wary. Diamonds are only professionally set in white gold, yellow gold or platinum. Very rarely and mostly never will you see a diamond ring set in sterling silver. There are a few infrequent cases with a few low grade diamond chips set in silver, but usually this will not happen. If you see a jewelry store with this practice, they are usually selling zirconia and claiming them as diamonds.
Do not attempt to shine your silver or gold jewelry with toothpaste. It is simply an incorrect home remedy that many try to pass off as fact that it works. The chemicals in toothpaste will erode your jewelry causing the gemstones to permanently lose their luster. For only a few dollars you can buy a proper polishing cloth and jewelry shining liquid.
A great place to purchase almost any type of jewelry in the world is Ebay. Ebay is an amazingly large marketplace that serves as a gateway to the world. You can purchase affordable vintage, fashion and fine jewelry. Ebay can help you get the best deals and even purchase jewelry that has long since been considered rare or no longer manufactured.
To keep your jewelry from overpowering you, select pieces that compliment your body type. If you’re petite, it’s best to stick to smaller pieces with more simplistic shapes. Tall or larger women may want to choose a powerful statement necklace to create a striking visual look. Whenever you choose a new piece of jewelry, think about your proportions and how well that piece will work with them.
View the gemstones in correct lighting, with the right background. Diamonds or other gems should never be viewed on a black background. Black backgrounds alter your perception of a gems real shine and color, so you may make a purchase and later realize that the stone is not as clear and perfect as you originally assumed.
To remove tarnish from your silver jewelry without harsh chemicals, line the inside of a pot with aluminum foil, and add four cups of water and an eighth of a cup each of baking soda, salt and dish soap. Gently place all of your pieces into the liquid, counting them as you go. Bring the mixture up to a simmer for a couple of minutes, then turn off the burner and allow it to soak. Pour everything gently through a colander, then place the pieces on a towel to dry, counting them as you go.
If you have pearl jewelry, you can add to their preservation by putting on perfumes and lotions first ,then after they’re absorbed into your skin, put your pearls on. Since pearls are porous, these products can be absorbed into the pearl, which can cause it to lose its natural luster.
Invest in tools to help you stay organized. Jewelery making can involve a lot of small pieces. Investing in containers with smaller compartments inside or using tackle boxes for storing your jewelery is always a good way to stay organized. Your creative ventures will go a lot smoother this way.
A beautiful stone that many do not know about is Alexandrite. One of the great aspects of this stone is its color-changing ability, depending on whether you are indoors or outdoors. Some of the most common places to find alexandrite are earrings, rings, and pendants.
When shopping for jewelry, keep in mind the “cost per use” factor. If you will only wear those gorgeous, dangly diamond earrings a handful of times, calculate how much money you are paying for each time you wear them. Pieces that you wear daily — like your wedding ring — are worth spending more money on, because your cost per use will be lower, and they will see more wear and tear.
Save some money when purchasing new pieces of jewelry by waiting for the right season. Timing is everything to retailers, especially after major gift-giving holidays like Valentine’s Day. Retailers often stock up on pieces that are projected to be big sellers, only to find that they are overstocked when “the day after” comes crashing down. Keep your eye on pieces that may go on sale after holidays, or just surprise yourself with a hidden gem that you never noticed before.
When searching for antique jewelry to invest in, make sure you know what defines a piece as being an “antique.” Generally, an item is deemed to be an antique if it is 100 years or older. This can be difficult to ascertain, so you will need to either shop at a reputable antique store or do extensive research on your own. Details to look for include clasps, hooks, engravings and hinges.
When buying jewelry for others, do your homework first. Find out their favorite colors, preferences between gold, silver, white gold or platinum and ring size. Buy real gold rather than plated. Same for gemstones, it’s better to buy more modest pieces with real gold and genuine gemstones. Also make sure you find out the jeweler’s return policy.
Educating yourself is the easiest way to avoid any hassle. As was discussed in the article, you may waste time with information that does not apply to you. Going forward, keep these awesome jewelry tips in mind, and you can feel confident that the information you have is the very best.