Whether your purchase jewelry for friends, inherit valuable pieces or receive jewelry as a gift, it is important that you are aware of the best buying, selling and cleaning jewelry practices. This article offers some basic guidelines for preserving the appearance and value of your jewelry.
Keep your jewelry looking like new by wiping it with a polishing cloth. This will give your jewelry shine and luster without the use of potentially harmful chemicals. Just polish each piece with the special cloth in the same way you would polish a piece of glass. Use one side to shine it and the other to polish it.
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.
Recious Metals
Don’t keep your jewelry in open air or someplace with a lot of humidity. Keep them stored safely in a closed, dark area, like a jewelry box or drawstring bag. Precious, as well as non-precious metals, will tarnish if they are exposed to humidity and air over time. Precious metals can often be polished to remove most tarnish. Non-precious metals often have a single coat of metal. Therefore, polishing them can remove the coat and show the copper that is found underneath.
Know which kind of stone you are buying with your jewelry. A stone may be natural, synthetic or imitation. Natural and synthetic are both real, while imitation is just basically colored plastic. Natural stones are dug up out of the ground and synthetic ones are grown in a lab.
When shopping for diamonds, it’s best to comparison shop. Get up close to inspect the diamond carefully. Make a comparison with other pieces you have looked at. There are many ways to make a diamond look better than it really is.
The stone is an important part of a piece of jewelry so should be considered carefully. The gemstone you choose should work with your skin tone and suit your personality. Pieces in neutral tones work well with any item in your wardrobe. Buying something that does not work with multiple outfits is pointless.
For a gift that is as unique as its recipient, look for handcrafted or customized pieces. This shows that you are both thoughtful and creative, traits that someone who would want a unique piece of jewelry is likely to value.
The brooch adds a unique touch and a bit of your style to your outfit. Pin it in the center of your waist or towards your hip.
Keep your jewelry unsoiled by only putting it on after all of your makeup has been applied. Makeup can gravitate dust and grime towards your jewelry leaving it to look dull. In particular, this hint is aimed towards your necklaces and earrings.
Before you buy any gemstone, determine what, if any, treatment it received. There are several different types of treatment, and each one needs it’s own type of care. Some cleaning solutions that work perfectly well on untreated gems can strip off treatments, and even damage stones, if you use them on treated gems.
Get the tangles out of a delicate necklace that’s in a knot. While it can be frustrating untangling metal necklaces, consider using plastic wrap. Place the tangled pieces on this plastic with some mineral or baby oil. Untangle it with some needles. Once it’s untangled, use dish soap to wash the necklace and pat it dry.
Make sure you look around for awhile when you decide you want to shop for jewelry. Every single diamond is unique and has individual flaws. If you can personally view a flaw, it may become less significant in your eyes. In addition, different stores will price slightly different. The price is often dependent on the imperfections. Don’t just look at one jewelry shop. Take the time to really look around until you find the best deal possible.
If you care for your jewelry well, it will be worth a fortune, in both in the sentimental and economic senses. By educating yourself on proper jewelry care and maintenance, you can preserve the money and memories invested in your pieces. Educate yourself with the information available about caring for your jewelry and you will enjoy it for many years.