Jewelry 101: Your Go-To Guide For All Things Jewelry

TIP! Don’t use harsh chemicals like turpentine or bleach to clean jewelry. You can turn your stones this way and it will eat away the enamel on the pieces.

What does jewelry personally mean to you? Can you tell the difference between costume jewelry and more valuable pieces? These tips should help you understand the complex world of jewelry. You may learn how to give better jewelry gifts, how to wear and care for your own jewelry, and more by reading the tips below.

TIP! Before you buy a new piece of jewelry, research the latest trends. Getting a great deal on beautiful bauble makes getting it even more enjoyable.

When storing your jewelry, be sure that you store it in a place with low humidity and free of open air. Keep them stored safely in a closed, dark area, like a jewelry box or drawstring bag. Humidity quickly tarnishes both precious and non-precious metal. Polishing will work to restore the color and shine for precious metals, but with non-precious metals, polishing will not help the change in color.

TIP! Ask about insurance from your jeweler before purchasing a new piece. This is so that if something happens to your piece, you can return it to have it replaced or repaired.

Before you buy a gemstone, ask what type of gemstone it is. Gemstones come in three different varieties: natural, imitation and synthetic. Both synthetic and natural gems are real; however, imitation is simply plastic. Natural stones are found in the earth and are mined out, while synthetic ones are grown in laboratories.

TIP! Going through a day wearing the jewelry will let you get familiar with how it hangs and whether or not it will be comfortable. Doing this also helps you see if the jewelery is long lasting or likely to break easily.

Jewelry is an investment that should last forever. Go to a dealer you can trust to make sure you get a quality item at a fair price. Jewelry should display exemplary craftsmanship and be well-made. Your jeweler should have all the information on the piece, including where it came from and who created it. You need to buy quality jewelry so that you can pass it down as an heirloom.

TIP! It is a good idea to determine the best approaches for jewelry care. There’s an ideal way to clean every different type of setting and stone.

What color gold do they seem to favor – white or yellow? Do they normally wear a bracelet? What type of earrings do they prefer – drop and dangle or studs? Take a mental note of this important information. Noticing these things lets you choose jewelry more suited to their tastes.

TIP! If the person you are shopping for is a unique individual, consider choosing a one-of-a-kind piece crafted specifically for them. Finding something that shows you put thought and effort into the gift is more important the the gift itself, so whether or not what you choose exactly what they wanted, they are sure to be pleased.

Take stones into consideration when you go to purchase new jewelry. Choose pieces that have stones which express your personality and those that make you feel great when you wear them. Neutral colored jewelry is nearly always a good buy, because they blend in well with any outfit. Taking these things into account will give you a piece of jewelry you can wear many times and in diverse situations.

TIP! A brooch can add visual interest and an accent to an otherwise dull belt. You can add it anywhere on the belt that you think looks good.

Taking proper care of your jewelry requires careful consideration. You should know that different materials require different maintenance. What is beneficial to one stone or setting may hurt another. It’s best to speak with a jeweler before you attempt to care of an unfamiliar piece of jewelry.

TIP! Before you buy a gemstone, it is important that you learn about the treatment process it underwent. Depending on the type of treatment used, the piece will require varying types of care.

Try searching for sales when purchasing jewelry. Finding the right sale can save you a lot of money. Use the resources at your disposal like the Internet, newspapers, and even window shopping to find the best sales. Consider buying something that is out of style to get a better deal.

TIP! Before you purchase a new piece of fine jewelry, think about how you will wear it. There is no point in filling your jewelery box with things you cannot wear.

Avoid steam saunas and dry ones. Sweat, heat and water, can all damage jewelry. Even if permanent damage does not occur, wearing your jewelry during these activities increases the need to clean it.

TIP! A jewelry set makes an excellent present for that special someone. You can often get a better price if you buy an entire set.

Don’t focus on brand when buying a piece of jewelry. It will be difficult for others to tell where you purchased an item, and if you’re only buying something because of the name, it could very well be overpriced. Many brands offer excellent quality.

TIP! Always remove your jewelry before swimming. The chlorine in a pool can tarnish or corrode jewelry, decreasing its value.

The increasing cost of purchasing gold can be a hindrance to owning that piece you really desire. If you simply must have that gold ring, necklace or bracelet, be flexible in terms of karats. 18 karat pieces are made up of at least 75% pure gold. This is considered to be the best combination of price and quality.

TIP! You will want to avoid necklaces getting tangled, which can damage them. Try to find some attractive-looking hooks to hang them.

Long chains can be shortened and the excess metal can be sold for a profit. By removing several inches of excess material, you will be able to sell a small amount of gold while still having enough of the piece to wear. By pruning your gold pieces, you may be able to bring in a tidy sum.

If you really want to be flashy and turn heads, wear onyx or crystal jewelry. You don’t have to waste money to get great results.

TIP! Natural rubies and sapphires are hard to tell apart from their chemically produced counterparts. Both are beautiful and share physical properties, but created stones sell at an enormous discount over the cost of flawless mined stones.

Displaying your jewelry can be a little confusing if you are trying to sell your goods locally. You may be able to purchase something where you buy your other materials. A wide variety of everyday items can be used to display your jewelry creatively.

TIP! It is important to stick to your designated budget when you are out jewelry shopping. No piece of jewelry is worth going into debt over.

Make sure you follow these tips the next time you want to buy jewelry for yourelf or for someone else. Saving money is simple if you’re able to find a wonderful deal on tasteful jewelry. The greater your understanding of jewelry, the more refined your tastes will become.