For thousands of years, people have used jewelry to adorn themselves, express powerful sentiments, and create a strong and memorable image for themselves. From the cheapest baubles to the most expensive and luxurious diamonds, gold, and jewels, a single piece of jewelry can make a major statement that cannot be avoided. These informative tips will leave you with a new appreciation of jewelry.
Buy brightly colored jewelry to pair with the same black clothing. The same little black dress can seem like a completely new and exciting outfit simply by adding different accessories. Brightly colored jewelry will stand out against a dark color as well as giving you a dynamic look.
Never, EVER buy fake jewelry for someone you love! That means gold-plated, cubic zirconia, or gold-filled. Stick to the real stuff – you can get a bargain on real gold, silver, or even platinum if you look hard enough. Fake jewelry can turn the skin black or green, and that is the LAST thing you want to do!
If you have tangled necklaces, you can untangle them with ease. Do not give up, but instead get a piece of plastic wrap. Place the knotted necklace on the plastic wrap and coat it with baby oil. Untangle it with some needles. Rinse the necklace off as best you can and gently pat it dry with a soft cloth. Use soap only if it has been approved to not damage your jewelry.
Diamonds are indeed a girl’s best friend and although they are one of the hardest minerals, they do require certain care to keep them beautiful. The best recommended cleaning solution is one part ammonia to six parts water which is applied with a soft-bristled brush. You then rinse with clean water, and use a soft cloth to dry. Sparkling diamonds are the end result.
When buying turquoise jewelry, make sure you’re getting the real thing. Some of the things you can check for are that the color is uniform throughout and that the stone tends more toward opaque than clear. Also, the presence of veins or splotches, ranging from white to black, are a good indication of a real turquoise rather than a fake one. Most important, buy from a reputable dealer and ask for written authentication of the value. Unfortunately, with all the enhancements done to fake turquoise stones, sometimes it’s hard to tell the real thing from an imitation.
Jewelry should never be cleaned with bleach. Bleach damages soldered joints and can eat away at finishes. Jewelry should not be worn in swimming pools for two reasons. Jewelry is easily lost in swimming pools and chlorine bleach is used in the water of pools. If cleaning with bleach, remove your jewelry or wear protective gloves.
Be sure to get your higher-end jewelry insured. You really never know what could happen and when. You can lose a gem because the prong gets weak or someone can just steal it. By getting it insured, you will have it protected and be able to replace it if something does happen.
When you are trying to clean silver, the best thing you can do for it is to apply some toothpaste to it and let it sit for a while before wiping it off with a soft cloth. This helps dingy jewelry to shine and sparkle like it once did.
Budget your jewelry purchases well in advance and stick to the price range you settle on. The jewelry store can be every bit as tempting as the candy shop, but you must resist the urge to splurge. Jewelry carries lots of memories and associations with it; you do not want to spoil a piece by spending so much that you regret the sight of it later.
When it comes to taking care of your jewelry be sure that you are only using a soft cloth to rub it down. This is critical in ensuring that you are not causing further damage by scratching it. Be sure that you purchase a jewelry specific cleaning cloth and do not use it for any other purposes.
When you set out to buy jewelry, buy a piece because you love it, not because of who makes it. Nobody will realize where this piece came from, and the seller may sell the piece at a higher price because of this brand. Excellent quality can be found from a lot of different jewelry brands.
For unique or one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, consider looking in places other than shopping malls. Art galleries are increasingly featuring jewelry as an art form, with showcases and openings where you can meet the designer. You can often even commission a piece based on your own style or preference. Don’t be intimidated by galleries, as they are all just people creating items that are offered for sale.
When shopping for pearls, know the difference in the types of pearl jewelry that is available. Natural pearls are ones that occur in nature, with no interference from human activity. These, however, are very rare and even more expensive, if they can be found. Cultured pearls are genuine, but have been carefully cultivated by pearl farmers. Fake pearls are really just plastic or some other composite that is basically worthless. Be sure that you buy from a reputable jeweler to avoid getting ripped off.
As if anyone really needed any more reason to admire and cherish gorgeous rings, necklaces, and bracelets, the tips you have just read are only a tiny sampling of the joys and pleasures associated with wearing, buying, and even making jewelry. With this information, you will find that each piece takes on a whole new meaning.
