It takes a lot of homework to buy or sell jewelery and get the most out of it. It can be puzzling to know where to start.
To keep your jewelry looking attractive, polish it regularly using a cloth made especially for this purpose. This is a chemical-free method to maintain the appearance of your fine jewelry. You just have to polish each piece the same as you would polish glass using the two-sided cloth. First use the polishing side, and finish with the other side to make it shine.
The metals in jewelry can tarnish if exposed to humid air, so you will want to store them in a way that protects them. A box designed especially for jewelry gives the best protection, but a cloth bag can also work. Humidity and air tends to cause precious and non-precious metals to tarnish. You can restore the precious metals back to their former glory, but plated jewelry is different. Trying to polish those pieces can reveal the non-precious metals underneath, such as copper.
When shopping for genuine sterling silver jewelry, you need both a discerning eye and a small magnet. Take the magnet with you to find fake pieces of jewelery, sterling silver will not stick to the magnet. In addition, sterling silver pieces are always stamped with silver hallmarks indicating such factors as the degree of purity, the manufacturer’s symbol, and the date of manufacture. Some of the most common hallmarks are “925, “ster,” “sterling,” and “sterling silver.” If there is no marking on the piece, it may not be sterling silver.
Ask the jeweler what type of insurance is available for your purchase. These policies dictate whether or not the jeweler will replace or fix your item of jewelry if it is damaged. There are even some jewelers that will cover the replacement if the piece has been lost or stolen.
If you want costume jewelery, you will have to take care of it. Costume jewelry make good investments and they can be costly, but an item that shows major signs of usage will be a poor investment of your time and money. Jewelry that’s in good repair can be a much better investment.
After reading this article, you should have no problem finding the piece of jewelry that is perfect for you. If you read up about jewelry, it can make it much easier to choose a design.
