What attracts you to jewelry? Do you know what different kinds of jewelery are, or how to find a good piece? The tips in the article which follows will help you to navigate the sometimes complex world of purchasing jewelry for any situation. Peruse through these tips so you can be ready for anything that you may encounter in the world of jewelry.
Jewelry should be stored in an air-tight and humid free area. A box designed especially for jewelry gives the best protection, but a cloth bag can also work. Continued exposure to humidity extremes or air causes metals typically used in jewelry to tarnish. Precious metals can often be polished to remove most tarnish. Non-precious metals often have a single coat of metal. Therefore, polishing them can remove the coat and show the copper that is found underneath.
A magnet is a useful tool when shopping for jewelry in sterling silver. To spot scams, see if the magnet attracts the piece. If it does, then shout “FAKE!” at the top of your lungs and move to the next store. True sterling silver will also have a mark on it to indicate its quality, such as “.925” or “ster”. If there is no hallmark, watch its authenticity since it may be fake.
Always shop around when buying a diamond. Find a few reference pieces that you like, and see if other diamonds can do better. There are deceptive tricks that can be used to enhance a diamond, so you need to be on the lookout.
Make sure you check into insurance policies when you make a jewelry purchase from a jeweler. If your jewelry gets damaged or broken, you can come back to the store and have it repaired or replaced. You should also think about getting additional insurance in cause of theft or loss.
Consider how you should best clean each piece of your jewelry. Metals, gemstones and settings all have different storage and cleaning requirements. What works for a certain kind of stone may not work for another. Speak with a knowlegeable jeweler if you do not know the best way to take care of your jewels.
Costume jewelry should be taken care of. Costume settings are often glued-in as compared to set-in. You want to avoid using strong chemicals or immersion baths on your costume jewelry. Wiping it down with a damp, warm cloth and then drying it with another cloth is the best care for it. This will assure that you costume jewelry will continue looking great.
Use this advice to guide and protect all of your jewelry investments. You should save money and know how to select the ideal piece. The more you know about jewelry, and the more you surround yourself with the craft, the better your taste will become.
