Jewelry is one of the most ancient and long-lasting decorative art forms in the world. For countless generations, people have bought and given jewelry to beautify each other, commemorate memorable occasions, and pay tribute to important relationships. Read this article for some useful hints for joining in the historical family of happy jewelry owners.
If you are looking to purchase sterling silver jewelry online, make sure to also purchase a silver acid testing kit. Such kits are widely available online as well for under ten dollars. They provide a safe way for you to acid test the jewelry you receive to make sure of its authenticity. This way, if you are purchasing a vintage piece that may not be hallmarked, you are still able to know that you have not been scammed.
Don’t spend a lot of money purchasing cheap costume jewelry. Costume jewelry does sell in more designs and cost significantly less than fine jewelry. Yet, over the course of a few months or years, costume jewelry loses its color which causes the cheap metal to show through underneath. Invest in one or two pieces of fine jewelry that are sure to last a lifetime.
To make an outfit look more balanced, mix and match different kinds of jewelry. If you wear a statement necklace, you can pair it with some basic rings or bracelets. If you like to wear oversize rings, compliment them with a simple chain necklace. This will help to accentuate your more dramatic pieces and will keep your look from feeling like too much.
If you’re going to buy earrings for a woman, also get a matching necklace. If you want to buy a necklace, grab a bracelet, too. A matched set of jewelry is double the joy for whomever you’re buying it for, which makes picking the perfect item twice as much fun for you!
To help maintain its appearance, take good care of it to keep it from getting tarnished. Exposure to water can affect the finish, so avoid it. Water can dull and rust some types of metal if it is exposed to it too often. You can give your jewelry an additional layer of protection by applying a thin coat of clear nail polish to it.
When giving a piece of jewelry to someone, you must always remember to keep the receipt. This applies to almost anything you purchase, but this definitely applies to a piece of jewelry because of how expensive it is. If you want to return the piece of jewelry for whatever reason, you need the receipt to get your money back. Otherwise, you will be stuck with a useless piece of jewelry that you spent lots of money on.
If you buy a diamond labelled as antique, research it. You should get a certificate of authenticity with your diamond. This should be from an independent source. Antique diamonds need to be at least a hundred years old to be considered antique. The diamond should also be from a recognizable European art period.
Avoid letting your jewelry come into contact with chemicals, such as those found in hairspray, lotion, perfume and other products. Some chemicals can stain or otherwise damage precious metals and stones. Porous stones like pearls, opal or turquoise should not be submersed in water for long, either, to prevent damage.
While it’s easy to point the finger at the metals in your jewelry causing your skin irritation, it could be as simple as the jewelry needing a good cleaning. Since bacteria and dirt can build up on your jewelry causing irritation, a warm water and gentle soap cleaning is recommended to rid the irritants and hopefully the bad reaction as well.
The only time you should take your jewelry to a professional is to have it repaired. If you need your jewelry cleaned, this is something you should learn to do yourself. But if it has become damaged, you never want to try to fix it yourself. Make sure you take it straight to the pros.
When cleaning your jewelry, make sure to use warm water and soap. Always dry thoroughly with a soft cloth, making sure not to leave any water behind on your jewelry. Some pieces come with special cleaning instructions, so make sure to follow those as well. It is important that you do not use any other chemicals unless specified.
When it comes to men’s jewelry fashion tips, it is important to consider that it you should limit the amount of jewelry you wear on your body at a given time. Too much and you will come across looking gaudy and possibly more feminine than you would hope.
For a quick, simple, retro look, choose a length of attractive ribbon that matches your outfit to wear as a choker. Various colors of lace ribbon are also very attractive when used in this way. This charming look from the 70s is easy and inexpensive to achieve and surprisingly fetching.
To take good care of your jewelry, invest in a nice jewelry box. It will keep your necklaces and bracelets from getting tangled and other pieces from getting scratched or tarnished. It is always nice to have a well organized box when you are looking for an accessory before you go out.
While styles and fashions change, jewelry itself is here to stay. You and your loved ones can hardly get through life without acquiring at least a few pieces of jewelry. Ideally this article has shown you a few handy ways to improve the jewelry-owning experience. When it is treated properly, jewelry can become your most valuable and enduring possession.
