Deciding which pieces of jewelry to purchase for yourself or as a gift can be a daunting task. Or maybe you want to buy a gift for a close friend. You are sure to find useful advice in this selection of tips and tricks.
Watch how you store your jewelry when it isn’t being worn. Precious metals and certain gemstones will tarnish if they are exposed to humidity, so keep the away from this. Don’t just box all the pieces together in a pile. Storing them improperly can damage the fragile pieces, and necklaces can get tangled with other pieces.
Precious Metals
Be sure that you store all of your jewelry safely away from air and humidity. A drawstring bag or closed box offers the best protection from moisture in the air. When non-precious and precious metals are expose to air and humidity, they tend to tarnish. Precious metal jewelry can be polished to fix tarnish, but non-precious metals coated with a finish will never get back to their previous state.
Before adding a piece of jewelry to your collection, research current trends. Purchasing a new trinket to add to your collection is always delightful, especially if you find it on sale.
For jewelry to stay shiny and new-looking, it is important to keep it from tarnishing. Try not to wear jewelry when you are around water. Metals can become dull, rusty or tarnished if submerged in it. Use a thinner coat of your clear nail polish on your jewelry for extra protection.
Look at the condition of costume jewelry before making a purchase. If you do not maintain the piece, it will depreciate in value. Compare pieces for quality, because good ones stay high or even grow in value over time.
A brooch will accent your belt and will instantly add visual interest. Place the brooch close to your hip or in the middle of your waist.
Ask your jeweler before you make a purchse about what kinds of treatments were used on the gemstones in the piece. It is important to understand the varying treatment processes because each one requires a specific care regimen. You do not want to try to clean a treated gem with a solution that may strip the treatment and damage the gem in the process.
When deciding on which jewelry pieces to buy, look through the sales advertisements. You can save a lot of money with the right sale. Check ads in the newspaper, on the Internet, and in stores for the best deals. If you wait to buy jewelry until that particular style is going out of fashion, you can get it for almost 50 percent off of its original price.
Plastic Wrap
Learn how to unravel a knotted necklace, even one with delicate loops. Don’t be tempted to give up on the tangled metal. It’s plastic wrap to the rescue. Put the necklace on the plastic wrap and add a little mineral oil or baby oil. Use some needles to untangle. When your necklaces are straight, use dish soap to wash the oil off and pat them dry.
Know what you want to do with jewelry prior to purchasing it. There is no need to spend your money on a bauble that you cannot see yourself wearing. When making a selection, remember your outfits, clothing and accessories.
With the advice you’ve learned here, you should be better prepared to select, appraise and care for any kind of jewelry. The investment that you make now in a quality-piece will be something to be proud of and enjoy for years to come.