Many people are passionate about jewelry, either for themselves or for those they love. There are so many options and beautiful pieces available, it is helpful to become more knowledgeable about different aspects of jewelry. In this article, we will answer some of the questions that you have.
Try cleaning your jewelry collection with a polishing cloth. A polishing cloth is a very gentle way to get a good shine on all your pieces. Use a two-sided cloth to simply polish your jewelry as if it were composed of glass. Use one side to shine it and the other to polish it.
Always keep your jewelry in a place that doesn’t experience extreme temperatures or humidities. Keep them stored safely in a closed, dark area, like a jewelry box or drawstring bag. Precious, as well as non-precious metals, will tarnish if they are exposed to humidity and air over time. Silver polishes work well to remove tarnish, but certain metals, such as bronze, may not polish well. The polish may remove the surface coating and then the metal underneath, such as copper, becomes visible.
Sterling Silver
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. True sterling silver will also have a mark on it to indicate its quality, such as “.925” or “ster”. If the piece you’re inspecting doesn’t carry such a mark, be careful, as it is likely a fake.
When you are shopping, think about the color or type of gem you want to buy. A stone may be natural, synthetic or imitation. 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.
Wear the jewelry piece for a day so that you can get an idea of how comfortable it is and if it hangs right. This will also let you know how the piece holds up in every day environments.
Apply your makeup and let it set before putting on jewelry. Any kind of spare dust or oil will attach itself to your jewelry, so putting it on before makeup will just make it look a little dirty. This method is especially helpful in caring for necklaces or earrings.
Plastic Wrap
Untangling knotted chains can be easy if you know how to do it. Sometimes you give up on untangling a mess but you can get yourself some plastic wrap before you do give up. Lay the necklace out on plastic wrap, then apply baby or mineral oil. Gently untangle the knots with needles. Wash with dish soap and pat dry.
The price, style, color, material, occasion – there is so much to think about when selecting jewelry that it can easily become overwhelming. Use the tips in this article so next time you find yourself in a jewelry dilemma, you will know just what to do.