You need to have knowledge of jewelry care regardless of how you acquire it; you should also maintain a basic familiarity with buying and selling trends so you make the best choices with the pieces you have or are considering purchasing. This article offers advice on all aspects of jewelry ownership.
Watch how you store your jewelry when it isn’t being worn. Keep pieces separately by using compartments, boxes, hooks and holders. Do not ever just throw them in a pile. Not only will your necklaces get all tangled up, you risk damaging all your fragile and fine jewelry pieces.
Keep your jewelry in a relatively air-tight container, and minimize its exposure to humidity. A drawstring bag or closed box offers the best protection from moisture in the air. Air and humidity can tarnish metals of all types. It is possible to restore precious metals to their previous state, but it’s better to avoid damaging them in the first place.
Find out more about the gems you look at. Ask about where they came from and to which category they belong. There are different types of gems, including imitation, natural and lab produced. Imitation has little value, as it is generally plastic, while synthetic and natural are considered to be real gems. Synthetic gems are grown in a lab, natural gems are dug out of the Earth.
You want to ensure that your jewelry always looks its best so do everything you can to stop it from tarnishing. When you are close to water, do not wear your jewelry. Many metals can become tarnished, rusty or dull when exposed to water too often. If you must take your jewelry somewhere wet, prepare it by adding some clear nail polish on the surface.
Costume Jewelry
Make careful note of the condition of costume jewelry you wish to collect. Costume jewelry can prove to be a good investment, but also a costly one; keep in mind the pieces you wish to add to your collection don’t show too much wear. Compare pieces for quality, because good ones stay high or even grow in value over time.
Try out the jewelery by wearing it for a period of time, like a day, so you can see whether it’s uncomfortable or doesn’t hang as well as you hoped. Doing this also helps you see if the jewelery is long lasting or likely to break easily.
Think carefully about what stones you want in your jewelry. Try to choose a stone that meshes well with your taste or personality. Also, consider what looks good on you. Choose neutral colors that will easily match any outfit you decide to wear. Having a beautiful piece of jewelry is pretty worthless if you cannot wear it.
When it is properly selected and cared for, jewelry has considerable value, both sentimental and financial. By learning what you need to treat your jewelry, you can protect the money and memories invested in it. There is more to it than what you’ve read here, and continuing to learn can help you mazimize the wear and value of all your jewelry pieces for years to come.