Jewelry always makes a wonderful way to mark momentous occasions, whether for love or special achievements. A piece of jewelry, no matter what the size, is something someone can hold onto and cherish over the years. When you plan to keep the piece for yourself, or give it to a special someone as a gift, this article is aimed to help you be more educated in the choices that you make when selecting jewelry.
Use a soft cloth on your jewelry as often as you want. A polishing cloth is a very gentle way to get a good shine on all your pieces. You can use the two-sided cloth to polish your jewelry in the same way you would polish a drinking glass. Use one side of the cloth for polishing, and reserve the other side for shining it afterward.
Don’t clean your jewelry in harsh household chemicals like ammonia, bleach or turpentine. Harsh chemicals will dull your stones and dissolve the enamel on your jewelry.
Precious Metals
When storing your jewelry, be sure that you store it in a place with low humidity and free of open air. To keep your jewelry properly protected, store it in a drawstring bag or jewelry box. Humidity quickly tarnishes both precious and non-precious metal. Polishing will work to restore the color and shine for precious metals, but with non-precious metals, polishing will not help the change in color.
Be sure that you understand the kind of gemstone that is in the jewelry that you are purchasing. There are different types of gems, including imitation, natural and lab produced. You have to know that imitation refers to colored plastic. Natural stones are mined, and synthetic stones are created in a laboratory.
Always compare prices before purchasing any diamonds. Take a very close look at the piece you like, and then make the comparison to any others on your favorites list. Keep an eye out for deceptive tricks to cause you to think a diamond is better than it actually is.
Before purchasing a piece of jewelry, be sure to ask the jeweler about insurance policies. Many stores offer a policy where you can bring broken or damaged jewelry back to the original jeweler for repair at little to no cost. You might find some jewelers who are willing to insure it against loss and theft.
Keep your jewelry from tarnishing as best as you can. Don’t take your jewelry into the water, regardless of whether you are showering or hitting the beach. Many of the metals become tarnished, rusty or dull when they get exposed to the elements of water. A single coat of transparent nail polish may help protect certain types of metal.
As you have read above, jewelry is a gift that is great for many occasions. Even the most delicate necklace or a modest pair of diamond earrings can make a big difference to the wearer. You must also learn how to care for the jewelry that you own yourself. Apply everything you have learned in the article to improve the satisfaction you have in jewelry.