Shopping for the perfect engagement ring can be intimidating for some men. While some women are clear as to their wishes, some men are left shopping blind. There is a lot of pressure to pick a ring that she will love, because she will be wearing this particular piece of jewelry for the rest of her life. This article will give you some tips to feel a little less intimidated while shopping for that perfect engagement ring.
If you don’t have any jewelry cleaner handy, try using toothpaste with baking soda to help clean tarnish off of your sterling or pure silver jewelry. Just rub the toothpaste on the tarnished area with a soft cloth and clean off. Make sure to dry the jewelry to prevent future tarnishing.
Jewelry is often very difficult to purchase for a friend or loved one because there are as many different styles and types of jewelry as there are people to wear it. Bracelets are a great solution for many and are available in a huge variety of styles made for the fanciest of occasions to casual every-day wear. Plain silver and gold bangles are a staple for most women, but charm or sliding-bead style bracelets offer the buyer and the wearer the ability to completely customize the bracelet, as well as give the presenter a whole host of additional gifts to give in the future with the purchase of more charms or beads.
Check for wear and damage in every piece you buy. Spending money on jewelry can be a worthy investment, but if the item you invest in is not in good condition, you will be wasting your money. Thoroughly examine each piece to be sure your investments are truly worth the money.
If you find yourself putting off wearing a bracelet because you wear a watch, buy a bracelet that matches your watch in style and color, and wear it on your other wrist. Bracelets are fun and are one of the only pieces of jewelry that you can see on yourself when you’re wearing them. Wear one on your wrist without a watch, or simply get rid of your watch altogether.
Costume jewelry needs to be handled carefully. Costume jewelry is often put together using glue and other adhesives, unlike stoned that are set using metal. Don’t submerge costume jewelry in water or clean it with harsh chemicals. It’s most beneficial to use a damp warm cloth to gently wipe, then use another cloth to dry. This will assure that you costume jewelry will continue looking great.
Look for jewelry stores that are accredited members of the Gemological Institute of America, or GIA, as well as the Jewelers of America. You are assured the best quality at the lowest price by stores with these certifications. You will find these certifications held by most big chain type outfits.
Try to fix scratches in watch glass before you waste money at a jeweler. Watch faces can easily get scratched by their constant exposure to the elements. To fix this, try rubbing a small amount of your toothpaste into the face of the watch. Use circular motion and see the scratches disappear like magic.
If you plan on selling jewelry online, you should make sure you know the materials. All jewelry sellers should know about the Federal Trade Commission’s Guides for both the Jewelry and Precious Metal Industries. If you don’t know all the rules, a customer could file a misrepresentation claim against you, which you do not want happening to you.
Educate yourself about the gems you have in mind before going to make a new purchase of jewelry. You need to know what questions to ask in order to avoid being taken advantage of by a jeweler. Nothing feels much worse than being ripped off for something you thought was a high quality product.
If you are considering the purchase of jewelry for a loved one you should first determine if they prefer silver, gold or platinum. Just about everyone has preferences when it comes to their jewelry and if you get them gold when they really like silver they may never wear it. That means that you will have wasted a lot of money on a gift that they do not like.
The best way to clean your jewelry is with an ammonia and water combination. This can easily be done at home. The commercial solutions on the market contain ammonia and water as their main ingredient. Go the cheaper route and make your own jewelry cleaning solution at home and you will be pleasantly surprised with the results.
As you shop for pearls, you have three options: natural, cultured, or imitation. Imitation pearls are by far the most affordable, but are also noticeably less lustrous than other choices. Natural pearls are rare and will cost you a fortune. Cultured pearls, on the other hand, are somewhat affordable, highly attractive and creamy in appearance, which makes them the best option for many buyers.
As stated at the beginning of this article, shopping for the perfect engagement ring can be intimidating for some men. There is so much pressure to pick a perfect ring, and with so many different pieces of jewelery out there, it can be hard to know which one to choose. Use the tips from this article to ease the stress of shopping, and guide you towards purchasing that perfect engagement ring that she will be sure to love.