You want to know the best tips and tricks for making your jewelry look its best. You have done everything you can, but you still end up with tarnished, scratched, or discolored jewelry. Follow the tips and advice provided in this article to keep your jewelry looking beautiful.
Sterling silver jewelry makes a great investment. Pieces of jewelry made from sterling silver last for a lifetime and provide endless elegance. Sterling does tarnish, but can be quickly shined up using a polishing cloth. However, pieces of sterling silver jewelry that have specialty coating can last ages without tarnishing.
To distinguish between real and fake, bring a magnet when you shop for sterling silver jewelry. Precious metals, like sterling silver, will not be attracted to the magnet. There should be a stamp hallmarked that says something like .925 sterling or ster, on sterling silver If you cannot find a stamp, you might be looking at a cheap imitation.
Before you buy a gemstone, ask what type of gemstone it is. Gemstones now come in natural as well as synthetic and imitation types. Synthetic and natural are real stones, while the imitation ones are plastic that is colored. Natural stones are dug up out of the ground and synthetic ones are grown in a lab.
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.
Nothing tells a woman you care like buying her jewelry with her birthstone. The fact that you took the time to research her birth date, and then her birthstone, will show her that you are willing to take the time to make her happy. No woman can turn that down!
Combine your gold and silver jewelry. What used to be “so not in fashion” is now considered modern and sleek. Gold earrings can be worn with a silver necklace, or you can even pair gold and silver rings on one hand. The color combination goes great with any outfit as well.
When you are looking at buying any type of jewelry, be it costume or vintage, it is important to remember that just because a piece may be signed, it does not necessarily mean it is more valuable. Some jewelry creators sign every piece they make, which drops the value of a signed piece dramatically.
You should carefully consider how to best care for your jewelry. There’s an ideal way to clean every different type of setting and stone. Something that may help one piece of jewelry might hurt another one. Speak with a knowlegeable jeweler if you do not know the best way to take care of your jewels.
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.
If you purchase any diamond over one carat, you need to get proof. Any diamond included in jewelry that is over one carat should come with a diamond grading report. This should be done by an independent gem grader and the report should include any information that could potentially affect its value.
In summary, you want to know why your jewelry does not look as good as it did the day you purchased it despite all the care you have done for it. Hopefully you learned not only why this was occurring but also how to prevent it in the future.
