Jewelry is a wonderful way to express feelings, whether it be to celebrate an achievement, or to show your love and pride. Even something small can be appreciated greatly. Read this article to consolidate your knowledge of jewelry and be able to select tasteful items.
The use of polishing cloths are helpful in cleaning your jewelry. These cloths can replace the need for chemicals or solvents during the process. Use a two-sided cloth to simply polish your jewelry as if it were composed of glass. First use the polishing side, and finish with the other side to make it shine.
Precious Metals
Keep jewelry stored safely and away from both air and humidity. To ensure it is protected, keep your jewelry in a drawstring bag or a jewelry box that is closed. Air and humidity can cause the metals that the jewelry are made of to tarnish. While precious metals can be polished back to their original luster, non-precious metals are only coated in which case polishing causes the copper metal underneath to show through.
You need to know the type of gem that you are purchasing. There are basically three distinct types: natural gems, synthetic gems and imitation stones. Imitation is plastic that is colored to looked like the stone, but natural stones and synthetic stones are real. Natural comes from the ground, while synthetic ones are created in a lab.
Jewelry should last a life-time. Get jewelry from a jeweler with a good reputation to be sure that it’s of high-quality. Jewelry should display exemplary craftsmanship and be well-made. Ask the jeweler what the origin of the piece is, like the maker and the origin of the stones. When you are looking for jewelry of the highest quality, it is important to be careful in your choice, as you want something that will last a lifetime.
Make sure you take precautions to stop your jewelery from losing its shine. Keep your jewelry away from water. Metals can become dull, rusty or tarnished if submerged in it. For added protection for your jewelry, try adding a thin coating of clear nail polish.
Costume Jewelry
If you like to collect costume jewelry pieces, become very choosy about each piece’s condition. Costume jewelry, while expensive, can be a great investment. However, if a piece shows wear it will lose value. The most useful pieces in your collection are the ones that are in excellent condition.
You need to pay special attention when caring for costume jewelry. Many of the stones and embellishments are just glued in instead of set in a professional setting. For this reason, costume jewelry should never touch water, and you should avoid using detergents on it. It’s most beneficial to use a damp warm cloth to gently wipe, then use another cloth to dry. This will clean off any residue and make it look like new, without damaging it.
As was already stated, jewelry makes the ideal gift for many reasons. Because it is such a thoughtful gift, even a small piece will please the person you give it to. There are also some things that you may want to know about maintaining the jewelry that you already have. Regardless, apply the suggestions given in this article to increase the pleasure you find in jewelry!