Forms of jewelry have been around for thousands of years. Jewelry makes a great fashion statement and a great piece of accessory to complete any number of outfits. There are many decisions to make when it comes to purchasing, making or gifting jewelry. Use the tips below to make the right choices when it comes to selecting the jewelry that’s right for you.
Try opting for silver over gold. The olden days of silver being a lesser metal than gold are over. Silver is also consistently priced, while gold continues to rise in price. You don’t have to worry about karats with this metal. Just make sure to avoid nickel silver or German silver as they contain no real silver.
When jewelry shopping, you need to be prepared to carefully look, and inspect anything that you may want to buy. You need to get a loupe. This is a small pocket-sized magnifier that can show you what kind of quality you will be getting. It magnifies the jewelry so that you can inspect it to see if you are getting something of bad quality or good quality.
You don’t have to settle with the traditional clear diamonds. Diamonds are available in practically every color in the rainbow. They come in blue, pink, red, yellow, brown, black, purple and many more colors. You can find pieces where colored diamonds are the focal point or you can find pieces where they act like accents.
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.
When buying gold, be sure that your receipt is clearly marked with the karat weight, as well as the manufacturer. These are things you need to know in case you later want to appraise or sell the piece, or perhaps have it re-sized. The information included is also necessary for any returns processes you may have to go through.
Keep your plastic wristwatch clean and shiny. Just because you didn’t spend a lot on your jewelry doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take good care of it. A simple and cheap way to keep your watch looking great is to put toothpaste on a dry cloth and rub. Your plastic watch will look brand new.
If you plan on selling jewelry online, you should make sure you know the materials. All jewelry sellers should know about the Federal Trade Commission’s Guides for both the Jewelry and Precious Metal Industries. If you don’t know all the rules, a customer could file a misrepresentation claim against you, which you do not want happening to you.
When it comes to choosing the perfect wedding or engagement ring, it is important to be able to pay for it with cash. Sure, nothing says love like a great ring, but you do not want to put yourself in debt or end up paying overwhelming amounts of interest for it. It is the thought that counts for most.
If you are trying to sell your jewelry products online, the best way to do this is know what you are selling. The better you know the jewelry you are selling, the more trust and confidence you will build with your customers. Always present your items as accurately as possible.
Remove rings and bracelets before using bleach products. Bleach can damage jewelry, causing irreparable damage. This includes washing powder, liquid detergent, and even bathing in a chlorine treated hot tub or swimming pool. If you happen to get any kind of bleach product on your jewelry, wash it immediately using clear warm water, and dry with a soft cloth.
Invest in a jewelry box. If you keep your jewelry in different compartments of a jewelry box, it will protect your pieces from scratching one another and will slow tarnishing. When storing pearls in your jewelry box, an added measure is to place them in a piece of natural material such as a cotton pouch.
Try using an aluminum pan, baking soda and boiling water to clean tarnished sterling silver jewelry. First, lay the jewelry in the bottom of the aluminum pan. Next, sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the jewelry. Once the jewelry is covered with baking soda, pour boiling water into the pan. Use a spoon to push the jewelry around in the pan. When the water cools, remove your jewelry and dry it off. Finally, polish it with a cloth to remove any remaining tarnish.
Choosing the right ring is a big decision and you may live with the consequences for the rest of your life. Discuss and know with confidence what your partner wants. Although it may seem that your spouse will love it because they love you, their mind may change in a couple year when they have to look at the ring hanging off of their finger everyday.
When shopping for jewelry online, remember to check the retailer’s return policy and only buy from ones who guarantee sufficient time for returning merchandise that is not what you expected. Photographs online can be enhanced, including color saturation and highlighting, making jewels appear more sparkly and gold more rich or smooth. Insist on photographs with close-up details that show markings, verify that the site is secure before ordering.
As the beginning of this article mentioned, jewelry has been a part of mankind for thousands of years as a great adornment for outfits. Jewelry makes a lasting statement and shows a great deal of your personality. Apply the tips from the article above to go on your way in becoming an expert in selecting the right jewelry choices for you and others.
