Most women have a large amount of money invested in their jewelry. With such a large investment being made, taking proper care of your precious gems is important. Taking care of your jewelry extends its life, and makes it sparkle against your skin. So just how should you care for your precious possessions? Read the following tips and you will find out.
Consider buying a small barrel tumbler. If you wear a lot of jewelry or just want to keep the pieces you own in good condition, you probably clean it on a fairly regular basis. You might want to get a small barrel tumbler for polishing. They are inexpensive and do a thorough job.
Buying jewelry for someone else can be challenging. Look at what they choose for themselves and try to find something similar. Avoid sized items like rings unless you know what their size is. If you guess, what’s going to happen if you guess wrong? It may help to go window shopping with them and see if they mention a certain store, brand, or even a specific item.
Know what you are looking for, when you first get to the store. If you are well-prepared for your visit to the jeweler, you will be less likely to make impulse purchases should the opportunity arise. Have a plan and stick to it, to make sure you stay in budget and on track.
When learning a new jewelry-making technique, use cheaper materials. For instance, if you are learning wire techniques, pick up some aluminum or copper wire from a local craft store, instead of using your sterling silver wire. This will help you get the valuable practice you need to master the technique, while sparing your pocketbook. If you mess up on your top-quality materials, they may become unusable.
To get use out of an earring after one half of a pair is lost, use it as a brooch. Many earrings can be worn just as a brooch can, and can make a great accent piece. Try pinning the earring to a scarf or attaching it to your top just below the collar bone. A more delicate earring is a great way to accent a purse or a belt.
Be sure to clean your silver jewelry using professional cleaning products. Using home methods may be effective, but using cleaners specifically meant for silver can help to prolong the life of your silver jewelry. In addition, under no circumstances scrub, your silver. Instead, opt for using denture cleaners to scrub the silver without causing brush marks or other damage.
Know what to ask your salesperson. Find out if the gemstone you are interested in is natural, synthetic or imitation. Natural gems cost the most because they have a higher cost to attain them. Synthetic gems are man-made and are easier to get, so they are cheaper. Imitations are the cheapest overall, but, of course, they are not be of the best quality.
Clean your diamonds at home between jeweler cleanings. You can simply, and cheaply, keep your diamonds sparkling as bright as ever. All you need to do is get a small amount of toothpaste and put it on a dry cloth. Rub the stone completely. Rinse and enjoy the return of the sparkle.
Change your jewelry styles depending on the season of the year. Add spice to your wardrobe. In spring, for example, you will want to be wearing sterling silver and different designs with their origins in mother nature. Look for flower and insect designs that reflect the freshness of the season.
Remove your jewelry when you are going to be using beauty products. Lotions, perfumes, hair sprays, and shaving creams will hurt your jewelry. It may just make your jewelry dirty, but it could also damage your jewels. If you forget once in a while, that should be okay. Don’t make a habit of it.
This goes for any type of sauna, whether it’s the dry type or the steam type. The moisture and high temperatures in saunas can do real damage to your jewelry.
Always take off all types of jewelry before you go to sleep. This will help you to avoid two major problems at the same time. The first is that it is easy to lose pieces in your sleep. The second problem is that sleeping on jewelry can add stress to it and greatly shorten the lifespan.
When you are viewing diamonds it is important that you do not look at them while they are sitting against a black background. You may perceive color differently and choose a diamond that is not really what you are looking for. Make sure to view it under a magnifier so you will see any flaws it may have.
Make sure that you get everything that the jeweler told you in writing before you buy a diamond. This is important in case you find out that the diamond you were sold is not what they said that it was. Your receipt will be the only proof that you have.
Brand name should not be the primary concern when buying jewelry. Few people can identify jewelry brands on sight. A jeweler who convinces you that a brand is worth paying more for is probably just out to get as much of your money as possible. You’ll be able to find high-quality jewelry from any number of brands.
Taking care of your precious jewelry is important for many reasons. Your jewelry will look better, last longer, and retain its value. In this article we have discussed some important tips for caring for your precious gems. Follow them and you will enjoy your lovely jewels for a lifetime to come.