Whether you buy jewelry for yourself or loved ones, get it as a gift or receive valuable heirloom pieces, you need to know how to buy, sell and care for jewelry responsibly. This article will give you the tips and tricks that you need to get the most from the money and time you devote to jewelry.
Don’t use acetone, bleach, ammonia or turpentine to clean copper. This can cause your stones to turn and dull in color, along with eating away any enamel on the pieces.
Precious Metals
The metals in jewelry can tarnish if exposed to humid air, so you will want to store them in a way that protects them. To maximize protection, put your jewelry in a jewelry box or a small drawstring bag. Humidity and air tends to cause precious and non-precious metals to tarnish. The thing about this is that non-precious metals cannot fully recover from this because underneath, the copper shows through. However, keep in mind that precious metals can go back to their own original forms.
When you go shopping for sterling silver jewelry pieces, take with you a magnet and a monocle. Jewelry made with non-precious metals will be attracted to the magnet, revealing any fakes. True sterling sliver always has some sort of hallmark stamp on it, such as .925, sterling or ster. If the piece of presumed silver is not marked, be skeptical that is real silver. It could very well be a fake.
Your jewelry should be durable and long-lasting. When you look for a piece of jewelry, always use a dealer with a good reputation, ensuring that the piece you choose is of high-quality. Quality jewelry will be constructed to last, and show a fine attention to detail. Your jeweler should have all the information on the piece, including where it came from and who created it. Choosing a high-quality piece of jewelry is important, so that it will last forever.
Before you make a final jewelry-buying decision, take a look at what’s new and trendy. If there is one thing better than a beautiful piece of jewelry, it’s finding that jewelry at a great price!
Consider the stones whenever you buy jewelry. The stone will look best on you if it is complementary to your skin tone, eye, and hair color. Look for colors in neutral shades that you can wear with any of your favorite clothes. As long as you’re spending money, it makes more sense to purchase something that is functional as well as beautiful.
You should always make an effort to properly care for all of your jewelry. There’s an ideal way to clean every different type of setting and stone. Cleaning and maintenance techniques that work perfectly on one stone might cause damage to another. Ask a jeweler when you do not know how to take care of your jewelry.
For most people, jewelry has significant monetary and sentimental value. If you take care of your jewelry, you can have it last longer. Continue learning about jewelry care, and you’ll never have to retire another piece.