When you’re going to purchase or sell any jewelry you’re going to need to learn a lot about it so you know what to do. It can be overwhelming to know exactly where to start.

If you are looking to purchase sterling silver jewelry make sure that you have a magnet with you and a good eye. Precious metals, like sterling silver, will not be attracted 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”. If you don’t see a stamp of any sort on a piece, then be wary of whether it is actually silver or not.

Know the type of gem you’re buying, when you buy it. The three different types of stones are natural, imitation and synthetic. Imitation gems are basically plastic that is colored, while synthetic and natural are real. While natural gems come out of mines, synthetic ones come out of laboratories.

Always shop around when buying a diamond. Take a very close look at the piece you like, and then make the comparison to any others on your favorites list. Be aware that some dealers will use cheap tactics to make a diamond look better than it is.

If you want to maintain the look of your jewelry, you should prevent it from becoming tarnished. Try not to wear jewelry when you are around water. If you let some metals get wet too often, they can tarnish, rust or become dull. For added protection for your jewelry, try adding a thin coating of clear nail polish.

If you wear the piece for 24 hours, then you can be sure that it has been put together correctly and hangs nicely. Doing this also helps you see if the jewelery is long lasting or likely to break easily.

Think about what stones you would want before you purchase a new piece of jewelry. Think about your skin tone, and also think about your personality as you choose your favorite stones. Neutral colored jewelry is nearly always a good buy, because they blend in well with any outfit. Non-functional jewelry is just a waste of money as it will sit unused.

Caring for your jewelry properly is important; you should definitely give it some consideration. Take into account that different types of material takes different types of care, like stones and metals. Not all jewelry should be cared for in the same way. Whenever you buy a new piece of jewelry, ask the jeweler the best way to clean and maintain it.

Think about ordering custom jewelery if you want to make an original gift to someone who counts for you. This will express the time you spent to get their gift just right, just the kind of sentiment you want to show your special friends.

You have seen that the process of buying and selling jewelry will take some effort, work and research so that you will be able to buy the items that you are looking for, or sell your jewelry for a profit. Keeping the aforementioned tips in mind, you are well on your way to being successful with them.…