You could have tons of fun shopping for jewelry, but stressful if you want to buy expensive jewelry. From silver to platinum, there are many types of material that go into a piece of jewelry, and the cost of each piece varies. The uneducated shopper can easily end up paying over the odds. Use this advice to make the most of your next jewelry purchase.
Try using a simple polishing cloth on your jewelery collection. This will allow your jewelry to shine without using chemicals. Use the dual-sided cloth to gently buff your jewelry as you would a delicate glass. Use one side of the cloth for polishing, and the reverse to make it sparkle.
Sterling Silver
To distinguish between real and fake, bring a magnet when you shop for sterling silver jewelry. If an item of jewelry is attracted by a magnet, it is not sterling silver! Only non-precious metals can be drawn to a magnet. In addition, sterling silver pieces are always stamped with silver hallmarks indicating such factors as the degree of purity, the manufacturer’s symbol, and the date of manufacture. Some of the most common hallmarks are “925, “ster,” “sterling,” and “sterling silver.” Silver jewelry that lacks a hallmark may be a fake or composed of other metals.
Know the type of gem you’re buying, when you buy it. Gems can be natural, imitation or synthetic. 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. While natural gems come out of mines, synthetic ones come out of laboratories.
Your jewelry should endure an entire lifetime. Go to a dealer you can trust to make sure you get a quality item at a fair price. They should show a lot of craftsmanship, as well as be well-made. Your jeweler should have all the information on the piece, including where it came from and who created it. Investing in a high-quality jewelry piece ensures that you will have a timeless item that will be just as wearable in 20 years as it is today.
Always look at a number of different places when you are shopping for diamonds. Find a few reference pieces that you like, and see if other diamonds can do better. Don’t fall for any of the tricks used by shady dealers. They employ these tactics to make a diamond look better than it really is.
Now that you’ve read this article, you know a little more about how to make wise jewelry purchases. By implementing these suggestions, your next trip to the jewelers should save time and money.
