Finding the right jewelery can take some time and research. You will now wonder where you can start.
Polish your jewelry regularly with a jeweler’s polishing cloth. This is a chemical-free method to maintain the appearance of your fine jewelry. Simply use the two-sided polishing cloth to polish your jewelry the same way you would polish a glass. Use the side of the cloth that is designed for polishing to remove fingerprints, dust and other surface imperfections, and then use the opposite side to buff the jewelry and make it gleam.
Try to avoid cleaning it with harsh chemicals like ammonia or turpentine. These chemicals can wreak havoc on your jewelry, from discoloring bands, to dulling stones, to eroding enamel or glue.
When storing your jewelry, be sure that you store it in a place with low humidity and free of open air. A box designed especially for jewelry gives the best protection, but a cloth bag can also work. Metals will become tarnished when exposed to air and humidity. You will be able to polish precious metals to remove tarnish, but non-precious metals may lose their coating, showing the copper metal beneath.
Bring a magnet when shopping for sterling silver jewelery. Take the magnet with you to find fake pieces of jewelery, sterling silver will not stick to the magnet. You will always find a hallmark stamp such as “.925” or “STER.” on genuine sterling, or alternately, it might simply say, “STERLING”. Be wary of pieces that lack any silver hallmarks, as this is an indication that they’re not genuine sterling silver.
Be sure that you understand the kind of gemstone that is in the jewelry that you are purchasing. You have three options as far as the type of gem: natural, imitation and synthetic. While natural and synthetic stones are the real deal, imitation stones are made to look like a real gemstone, but could be anything from colored glass to plastic. Natural stones are found in the earth and are mined out, while synthetic ones are grown in laboratories.
Always check with your jeweler about insurance policy options before buying anything. If your jewelry becomes damaged, you can return it to the source and have it repaired. In some instances, you can even insure your jewelry against loss or theft.
You could wear it for a day to make sure it is not uncomfortable. Doing this also tells you how well it stands up to normal daily wear.
Costume jewelry should be treated differently than your other jewelry. Stones in costume jewelry are usually held in place with glue instead of a physical setting. Don’t immerse costume jewelry in water, and never wash costume jewelery pieces with harsh chemicals. Wiping your jewelry off with with a slightly dampened cloth and then wiping it dry is usually sufficient to keep it clean. This will make your costume jewelry sparkle for weeks, months, or even years.
Clearly, buying and selling jewelry successfully requires ample amounts of research and effort. These suggestions will help you to make intelligent choices in the jewelry market.
