With so many different retailers all offering the best deals and most beautiful jewelry, shopping for the perfect piece can be quite a challenge. Fortunately, this handpicked selection of tips and suggestions is sure to leave you more enlightened when it comes to finding the best rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.
Don't clean your jewelry in harsh household chemicals like ammonia, bleach or turpentine. You can turn your stones this way and it will eat away the enamel on the pieces.
To distinguish between real and fake, bring a magnet when you shop for sterling silver jewelry. Magnets attract non-precious metals, and you can use this fact to detect fakes. Look for the hallmark stamped on the piece of jewelry to determine what percentage sterling silver it is. If the piece is not hallmarked in any way, be leery of its authenticity because oftentimes it is a sign of a fake.
Make sure you know what to look for when buying platinum jewelry. Platinum needs to be at least 95% pure in order for it to be considered real platinum. If it's lower it is platinum alloy. Also, be aware that platinum can develop a patina, which many people feel gives jewelry a nice antique look. This jewelry also does not wear away and is hypoallergenic.
When purchasing a ring make sure that you're purchasing a ring in your proper size. It can be hard to find rings in half sizes, but it is possible. Don't purchase a size up and consider having it re-sized. Resizing is oftentimes a lot more expensive than purchasing another silver ring in your size.
IF you're thinking of buying your child jewelry, a charm bracelet is an excellent way to go. Add a new charm at every milestone, such as, his or her first lost tooth. When your child grows up, he or she will have a special story that is attached with each charm.
Unless you're giving your fiancee an heirloom ring, don't shop for an engagement ring alone. Don't feel pressured to buy something out of your price range, but make sure you can find a ring that fits your future bride and that she loves the ring. Why ruin the moment, by having to take the ring back for resizing or, even worse, just take it back?
If you're making wire jewelry and don't have wire cutters, just use a pair of fingernail clippers. The fingernail clippers are small and great for fine cutting. They will be able to manipulate through most sterling silver wire with ease. The fingernail clippers will no longer be useful for your nails though, because wire will dull them fast.
Use a cloth dampened with a solution of water and a few drops of dish-washing liquid to clean your pearls. Lightly rub each pearl with the cloth, and allow them to air-dry. Never soak pearls, as doing so can cause massive damage to the integrity of the gem. Keeping your pearls clean ensures a long life for them.
You should regularly clean your silver jewelry. You should not let it get black or gray. A cheap, and simple, way to effectively clean your jewelry is to brush your pieces just like you would your own teeth. Just put a bit of toothpaste onto a dry cloth and rub. Clean in no time.
Be very careful with the types of beauty products that you wear near your fine jewelry. Some types of perfumes and even many lotions include ingredients that can damage your jewelry over time. Try to wear perfume in locations that won't make contact with whatever you are wearing and you will be able to avoid this problem.
You don't have to buy expensive cleaning solutions to clean your jewelry. Warm water and a few drops of dish-washing liquid is sufficient for cleaning gold, diamonds, and most gemstones. Harsh chemicals can damage the finish of your jewelry.
Do not let a seller talk you into something you cannot afford or do not really like. Some sellers are excellent at what they do, but remember that you are the one making the decision. You should ask for advice, but keep in mind that the sellers' best interest is to see you buy something expensive.
Storing jewelry can be the absolute death of its luster, even if you're storing it in the box it came in. Avoid storing jewelry in only those manufacturer's boxes and even store-bought jewelry boxes. If you're storing your items long-term, wrap them up in an airtight container to ensure maximum protection. One of those zippered plastic storage bags, works wonders.
Make the presentation and pictures of your jewelry everything. Your customers won't actually get to touch and feel the jewelry before they buy it, so having great pictures of your product will help sell it. It's important that your customers know exactly what they are getting since they can't physically see it.
Make up your mind about the size, style, and price of your jewelry before entering the jewelry shop. The salespeople are professionals and they know how to push you into decisions in which you didn't initially plan on making. After talking to a salesperson leave the shop and think over the decision before doing it.
When shopping for jewelry, keep in mind the "cost per use" factor. If you will only wear those gorgeous, dangly diamond earrings a handful of times, calculate how much money you are paying for each time you wear them. Pieces that you wear daily -- like your wedding ring -- are worth spending more money on, because your cost per use will be lower, and they will see more wear and tear.
Take care of your natural and synthetic pearls by gently wiping the jewelry and stones with a damp cloth to remove traces of perspiration, oils, and dirt. Never soak the pearls in water or expose them to steam cleaners, hot water, or ultrasonic cleaners. Protect your pearl jewelry by putting it on only after you have sprayed your hair with styling products, perfume, and so on.
With the advice in this article, you should have no problem finding the best deals, the most reputable sellers, and the most gorgeous and valuable pieces of jewelry. Remember these tips and you are sure to come out on top with an amazing bauble that will undoubtedly wow its intended recipient.
Orignal From: Questions About Jewelry? Try These Tips!
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