A gift of jewelry is a very personal and potentially, costly gesture that can communicate a lifetime of sentiment. Whether you are preparing to shop for yourself or someone else, the information found in this handpicked selection of jewelry tips and tricks, is sure to help you make a more informed purchase.
Take care to store your jewelry safely. The right jewelry box that has separate compartments, hooks and holders to keep the pieces apart is the best choice. Tossing all of your jewelry into the same box is a bad plan. This can damage the finer and more fragile pieces, and items like necklaces can entangle with each other and other pieces into a big mess.
When trying to showcase jewelry, either for sales or for bragging rights, you need to take high-quality photographs of them. Nothing showcases their beauty like a great photo of the piece. Make sure that you use a good background and stick with darker colors; lighter colors take away from the jewelry’s shiny qualities.
If you see a ring that claims to be diamond and has a sterling silver setting, be very wary. Diamonds are only professionally set in white gold, yellow gold or platinum. Very rarely and mostly never will you see a diamond ring set in sterling silver. There are a few infrequent cases with a few low grade diamond chips set in silver, but usually this will not happen. If you see a jewelry store with this practice, they are usually selling zirconia and claiming them as diamonds.
Always keep your receipt. Making sure that you have a means of returning the item in question is one of the most important things to do in jewelry shopping. You never know if the person you are purchasing for may not like the piece, or if you may find a better deal elsewhere.
Soak diamonds for twenty minutes in a solution made of four parts water and one part ammonia for a sparkling shine. Scrub them with a soft dampened toothbrush allows cleaning of hard to reach places, such as under the gem or around the prongs. Dry it with a soft cloth to keep it shining and looking new.
Consider your setting when buying an engagement ring. Do not rush into the first or cheapest setting you are shown. Your setting is equally as important as the stone you are getting set into it. Consider if you want a classic, or modern style for your ring’s look and feel.
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.
Buy your stones loose when you are creating your own jewelry designs. You will be able to pick out a stone that best reflects your desires. Once you find the perfect stone, your ideas for a perfect setting will be much easier to decipher. Any good piece of jewelry starts at the stone.
If you buy a diamond labelled as antique, research it. You should get a certificate of authenticity with your diamond. This should be from an independent source. Antique diamonds need to be at least a hundred years old to be considered antique. The diamond should also be from a recognizable European art period.
When buying jewelry for someone it is important to consider what he or she does on a daily basis. You do not want to give a mother with toddlers a necklace, as she will not be able to wear it when she is around her children. Toddlers love to pull on necklaces and it could hurt the mother’s neck or cause the necklace to break. She would then feel guilt and no one wants that.
When you decide to give someone a gift of jewelry, take a look at the jewelry they already own to see what their preferences are in color and metal. Many jewelry collections are tightly color-coordinated, so you should select stones to match an established scheme. Metal preference is even stronger, but easy to determine. Remember that very few people mix gold- and silver-toned metals.
As you shop for pearls, you have three options: natural, cultured, or imitation. Imitation pearls are by far the most affordable, but are also noticeably less lustrous than other choices. Natural pearls are rare and will cost you a fortune. Cultured pearls, on the other hand, are somewhat affordable, highly attractive and creamy in appearance, which makes them the best option for many buyers.
Choose jewelry colors that reflect the season. In Spring, wear pastels and bright shades of green. In Summer, go for deeper greens, blues and browns. In the Autumn, show your fall colors with orange, rust, yellow and brown. During the Winter months alternate between sparkling white, sky blue and silver, and warm tones of gold, red and deepest green.
Invest in tools to help you stay organized. Jewelery making can involve a lot of small pieces. Investing in containers with smaller compartments inside or using tackle boxes for storing your jewelery is always a good way to stay organized. Your creative ventures will go a lot smoother this way.
Some people have difficulty tolerating the feel of metal around sensitive parts of their bodies, such as their wrists or necks. This makes it difficult for them to wear necklaces, bracelets, or watches. However, a popular substitute is a carefully knitted or crocheted piece with beads, which can be just as beautiful, but is much more comfortable.
Educating yourself on the different types, styles, and price points available in the jewelry market, can help you to avoid a costly misstep. The advice in this article will make it easier for you to find the best piece of jewelry from the best seller, and of course, at only the very best price available.
