Jewelry shopping is usually a lot of fun, but it can also be stressful, if you are looking to buy a very expensive piece of jewelry. Jewelry is created from a variety of different materials and there is a vast cost difference between each type. If you are not educated in this area, you might end up overpaying for jewelery. Read on if you want some great advice about purchasing jewelry.
Do not use any chemicals on your jewelery stones. These chemicals can wreak havoc on your jewelry, from discoloring bands, to dulling stones, to eroding enamel or glue.
Never store your jewelry in open air or humidity. Store them in a closed jewelry box or small drawstring bag for maximum protection. Humid air affects the metals in jewelry and causes tarnishing. Precious metals are able to be polished and retain their luster, but the non-precious metals have a coat, and polishing will cause the metal under it to show through.
Sterling Silver
If you are shopping for sterling silver jewelry, you’ll need a magnet and an eye for the real thing. By using the magnet you can quickly determine if the jewelry item is made of a cheaper metal and not sterling silver. There should be a stamp hallmarked that says something like .925 sterling or ster, on sterling silver If there is no marking on the piece, it may not be sterling silver.
Make sure you know what kind of gem you are getting when you are buying jewelry. Jewels come in natural, synthetic and imitation forms. Synthetic stones are lab created jewels, while imitation stones are normally colored glass. Natural gems are dug up from the ground, and synthetic gems are man-made in a lab.
Do some shopping around when you are looking to buy some diamonds. Take a very close look at the piece you like, and then make the comparison to any others on your favorites list. However, be mindful that there are fraudulent ways to make the diamond look better than it is.
Before you make a final jewelry-buying decision, take a look at what’s new and trendy. One of the few things that can enhance the appeal of a lovely piece of jewelry is knowing that it came at a great discount!
Before purchasing a piece of jewelry, be sure to ask the jeweler about insurance policies. You want to know if they will be able to repair or replace the piece if it was to break. In some instances, you can even insure your jewelry against loss or theft.
Now that you’ve come to the end of the article, you are armed with the knowledge you need when shopping for that next great piece of jewelry. These tips could save you a lot of money.