No matter why you are buying your jewelry, whether for yourself or as a gift, it is important to know the proper way to care for jewelry as well as buy and sell it responsibly. In this article you will learn some handy tricks for getting the most out of the money and effort you put into jewelry.
Before dealing with harsh chemicals, try a polishing cloth to bring back the luster of your jewelry. It will allow you to make your jewelry look as good as new without the use of chemicals. All you do is polish it like you would a glass with the two-sided cloth. Use a two-sided cleaning cloth, one for polishing and one for shining.
Costume Jewelry
If you want to collect costume jewelry, concentrate on getting quality peices. Even though it is not as expensive as its precious counterpart, costume jewelry represents a significant investment, one that can be lost if the pieces are allowed to get worn and broken. Pieces that are in great shape will fetch you better prices down the road, should you choose to sell them.
Think about what stones you would want before you purchase a new piece of jewelry. Think about your skin tone, and also think about your personality as you choose your favorite stones. Colors should be neutral so that they go with most of your outfits. Do not buy something that looks nice on the shelf but that you will never use.
You need to know how to care for each piece in your jewelry collection. Metals, gemstones and settings all have different storage and cleaning requirements. Each piece is individual in its needs so don’t assume what works well for one piece will work well for all. For the best information on how to look after your jewelry, you should talk to a jeweler.
Costume Jewelry
You will need to take special care when you are buying costume jewelery! Many of the components of costume jewelry are glued into their settings rather than held in with prongs or other more permanent methods. You want to avoid using strong chemicals or immersion baths on your costume jewelry. For best results, use a warmed, damp cloth to wipe your jewelry and then use another cloth to dry it. This will ensure that all of your costume jewelry looks like it did the day you bought it.
Well-cared-for jewelry is immensely valuable, both in terms of memorable sentiment and real economic worth. By educating yourself on proper jewelry care and maintenance, you can preserve the money and memories invested in your pieces. When you educate yourself on everything there is to know about jewelry you learn what it takes to get the most from your jewelry.