Developing your jewelry collection can take some real knowledge and experience. Learning what is truly worth buying and what looks really good on you is a process. Finding just that right piece of jewelry can take some effort but hopefully these tips will make it a little easier.
Save some of your most fragile jewelry for special occasions only. Some fragile stones like opal and peridot should only be worn for special events and then carefully stored until the next occasion. This may seem irritating since you want to be able to wear your best pieces, but it can prolong their life if you avoid exposing them to harm too often.
When looking to invest in jewelry containing sapphires, opals or rubies make sure that you understand what lab created means. Lab created gemstones are grown in a laboratory using scientific means. Jewelry that you see labeled as lab created such as sapphire has never seen Mother Nature. If you are looking for natural gemstones, you may be paying a higher price and spend significant time looking for a vendor outside of your local mall.
Make sure you know what to look for when buying platinum jewelry. Platinum needs to be at least 95% pure in order for it to be considered real platinum. If it’s lower it is platinum alloy. Also, be aware that platinum can develop a patina, which many people feel gives jewelry a nice antique look. This jewelry also does not wear away and is hypoallergenic.
Make sure you don’t wear your fine jewelry all of the time. When you are performing housekeeping tasks or washing your hands with soapy water, remove your jewelry. Swimming in a pool is another great reason for you to remove your fine jewelry to keep it safe. Everyday harsh chemicals can severely damage fine jewelry, sometimes ruining it beyond repair.
Make sure that you have a silver polishing cloth on hand for your silver jewelry. All silver tarnishes, so a polishing cloth will help you quickly and easily, have your silver jewelry looking like new without having to deal with smelly, messy silver polish. You can buy a polishing cloth for about $5.
When making jewelry and you want to turn a bead into a linked piece, take an eye pin and thread it through the bead’s hole. Let the bead slide to the bottom of the eye pin. Directly above the bead, use your pliers to bend the eye pin approximately 45 degrees. Using wire cutters, trim this to about half an inch in length. Using small round pliers, grasp the tip of the wire and start looping it around the pliers tip. Don’t give up if your eye pin loop is not directly round – practice makes perfect!
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.
See if your gem has had any treatments prior to buying, and if so, which treatments. Gemstone treatment can affect the type of care the piece needs. Applying the wrong chemical when cleaning a gemstone can cause the protective treatment to dissolve, and damage the appearance of the gem.
When you are giving jewelry to a significant other, you should keep in mind to always give a piece of jewelry that is appropriate for the stage of the relationship. This is because jewelry can be misinterpreted as to the real motive of the person giving the jewelry. Therefore, you need to select the piece of jewelry that is appropriate for the relationship.
When buying pieces of jewelry that are unique, consider trying to buy as much of a complete set as you can. With unique pieces, it may be hard to find other jewelry that is complementary. Buying a complete set of unique jewelry also makes it easy to give each part of the set as a separate gift over time.
You should not wear your jewelry if you plan on going for a swim or if you plan on going in any other body of water that may contain harsh chemicals. These sorts of things can cause your jewelry to age much more quickly. Protect your jewelry and be conscientious.
Making hemp jewelry can be fun for you and your friends. Sometimes the hemp can get a little fuzzy when stored for a long time. A good way to combat the fuzzy look of hemp is to melt a wee bit of wax and smear it over the hemp before you tie it.
Stay away from fads when buying expensive jewelry. Decide whether the ring or necklace you want to buy will be out of style in a couple years. Buying jewelry can often be an investment with a great turnaround. But if the piece of jewelry goes out of style it can be next to worthless when you turn around and try to sell it.
An important jewelry tip is to avoid focusing solely on carat weight when selecting precious gemstones such as diamonds. Cut, color and clarity play significant roles in the overall appearance and sparkle of a stone, and should be given equal consideration. By keeping these factors in mind, you will avoid paying a premium for something that does not necessarily improve the look of your jewelry.
A jewelry collection is very personal; what you have really will depend on what you like. There are tips however that are pretty universal in selecting what jewelry is worth the expense. These tips should lead you in the right direction to learn what you like and what is worth the money.
