It’s not always easy to find quality information about jewelry, nor is it always easy to incorporate this information into your daily life. There is quite a bit to learn about jewelry, and it might be hard to make sense out of it. This article contains answers to your everyday jewelry questions and concerns.
You never want to use bleach, ammonia, or any other cleaning solvents that are not designed specifically for cleaning jewelry. Doing so can damage the shine and luster of the stones on your favorite pieces.
Jewelry is best stored in an area with low humidity. A drawstring bag or closed box offers the best protection from moisture in the air. Humidity quickly tarnishes both precious and non-precious metal. Silver polishes work well to remove tarnish, but certain metals, such as bronze, may not polish well. The polish may remove the surface coating and then the metal underneath, such as copper, becomes visible.
Silver Jewelry
To distinguish between real and fake, bring a magnet when you shop for sterling silver jewelry. When you do this, you become able to find fake pieces of any type of sterling jewelry. You can use the magnet because non-precious metals actually are attracted by magnets. In addition, sterling silver pieces are always stamped with silver hallmarks indicating such factors as the degree of purity, the manufacturer’s symbol, and the date of manufacture. Some of the most common hallmarks are “925, “ster,” “sterling,” and “sterling silver.” Silver jewelry that lacks a hallmark may be a fake or composed of other metals.
Before you buy a gemstone, ask what type of gemstone it is. Gems are divided into three main categories: imitation, synthetic and natural. Natural and synthetic gems are real stones, but imitation is just plastic colored to look like the real thing. Synthetic gems come from a lab and natural ones are found in the ground.
Be sure to at least inquire about the insurance that is available when you buy jewelry from a reputable jeweler. These policies dictate whether or not the jeweler will replace or fix your item of jewelry if it is damaged. There are some jewelers that will also have insurance plans for pieces that get lost or stolen.
If you wear the piece for 24 hours, then you can be sure that it has been put together correctly and hangs nicely. This can also help you see whether the piece is durable enough to last.
The stone is an important part of a piece of jewelry so should be considered carefully. Purchase stones that are a reflection of you who are, and match your skin tone as well. Colors should be neutral so that they go with most of your outfits. Do not buy anything that you cannot wear.
Learning as much as you can about jewelry will increase your success in choosing the right piece, caring for your existing items and making informed decisions. With the information provided here, you’ll be able to spend more time putting the tips into action rather than searching for information. Keep the great tips you learned here in mind, and you will have nothing but upcoming jewelry success.