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. Some handy hints are right here to help you optimize the cost of purchasing jewelry, and the effort you need to go to so as to find the right piece.
Don’t use things that contain harsh chemicals like bleach, ammonia, acetone or turpentine, to clean your jewelry. These can erode both the color and the materials of your jewelry.
Jewelry should be stored in an air-tight and humid free area. A drawstring bag or closed box offers the best protection from moisture in the air. Air and humidity can cause the metals that the jewelry are made of to tarnish. Precious metals are capable of being polished until they are like new, while non-precious metals will not be able to be saved. This is because the non-precious metals are simple copper metal coated with the covering of precious metals, and when polished, they will allow the copper to show through.
To distinguish between real and fake, bring a magnet when you shop for sterling silver jewelry. By using the magnet you can quickly determine if the jewelry item is made of a cheaper metal and not sterling silver. Sterling silver will always be hallmarked with a stamp such as .925, ster. or sterling. If the item has no markings indicating its authenticity, then be wary.
When purchasing jewels, you should understand which type of stone you are getting. Gemstones come in three different varieties: natural, imitation and synthetic. While both natural and synthetic stones are still real, imitation is just glass or plastic made to look like the natural stone. The difference here, however, is that synthetic is man-made in a laboratory while natural is found buried in the earth.
Always look at a number of different places when you are shopping for diamonds. Compare the jewelery you like with others that are similar; make sure to examine the pieces closely. There are ways to hide some of a diamond’s imperfections, so be very particular about each one you view.
Always check with your jeweler about insurance policy options before buying anything. In the unfortunate, but possible event that your jewelry gets damaged, the jeweler will be able to replace or fix it for you. In certain instances, there may even be jewelry insurance available to cover loss or theft.
When collecting costume jewelry, pay close attention to the condition of any piece you are considering. While normally is a beautiful investment, a piece of costume jewelry that is in poor condition is not worth buying. Investing in quality means that you can enjoy the jewelry for many years to come.
Jewelry is extremely valuable, economically and sentimentally. By learning what you need to treat your jewelry, you can protect the money and memories invested in it. Continue learning about jewelry care, and you’ll never have to retire another piece.