Buying jewelry can be a very good experience and especially if what you buy is something that you can hold onto and pass down from generation to generation. You have to be sure to find pieces that suit you, but also those that are worth what you intend to pay for them.
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.
When cleaning your fine jewelry, always follow the recommended cleaning directions for the gemstones used in the piece instead of the metals. Many jewelry cleaners designed to remove tarnish from metals can also dull or even destroy many soft precious gemstones. Use a cleaner safe for all gemstones and avoid harsh chemicals.
When choosing your wedding band set, keep in mind the jewelry you already own and regularly wear. A yellow gold wedding band isn’t the best choice if most of the jewelry you already own is white gold or silver. You will most likely be wearing your wedding band every day. Make sure it’s not only something you like, but something that matches what you already own.
The best tool for any jewelry hunter, whether searching for personal treasure or for the profit in reclaiming gold or silver, is a jeweler’s loupe. Jeweler’s loupes are small, but powerful magnifying instruments designed specially for use in examining jewelry at very close range. Some jeweler’s loupes also have a built-in, battery-powered light which can be very handy if examining pieces in a dimly lit area. Most jeweler’s loupes are extremely economical in cost and can help you make the most of your jewelry-buying dollar, especially when buying from second-hand sources.
When shopping for jewelry, you may need to check what kind of metal you’re buying. Everyone’s heard of a cheap necklace turning skin green, but you may also have a bad reaction to certain metals in earrings. For earrings, look for items labeled “sensitive skin” or for stainless steel, silver, or gold.
To keep your rings from overpowering your hands, never wear more than two on the same finger. Rings can easily look excessive, and even a series of thinner rings can look overwhelming. If you are wearing an oversized ring, it is best to wear only a few other rings along with it.
Question any piece of jewelry that is so cheap it’s too good to be true. Look at any gemstones to ensure they don’t have large inclusions in them. Look for stamps on the metal to prove that it is what it’s claiming to be. If someone takes offense to your double checking authenticity, they’re probably lying.
There are a lot of different types of stones to think about getting when buying new jewelry. Choose stones that have a reflection on your personality and that also complement the color of your skin. If you choose a neutral color it will match anything you wear. Non-functional jewelry is just a waste of money as it will sit unused.
If you follow all of the handy advice that was given to you in this article you should have no problem when it comes to procuring jewelry. Do not over think things though, because that can lead to mistakes being made. Just remember what you learned and apply it to your sale.