If you want to boost the look of your outfit, you can add color with a little jewelry. Or maybe you want to buy a gift for a close friend. You are sure to find useful advice in this selection of tips and tricks.
Keep your jewelry looking like new by wiping it with a polishing cloth. This is a fairly simple way to achieve shine without dealing with solvents and chemicals. Buff your jewelry with the two-sided cloth, just as if you were cleaning a glass. Use a two-sided cloth to clean your jewelry, one for polishing, and the other for shining.
Try to avoid cleaning it with harsh chemicals like ammonia or turpentine. This can cause the stones to lose their luster in addition to eating away the enamel on any of the pieces.
Know the type of gem you’re buying, when you buy it. The three different types of stones are natural, imitation and synthetic. Natural and synthetic gems are real stones, but imitation is just plastic colored to look like the real thing. While natural gems come out of mines, synthetic ones come out of laboratories.
When buying new jewelry, carefully consider the stones. Try to select stones that are an extension of your individuality and that enhance the tone of your skin. Neutral colored stones will work well with any outfit in your closet. Having a beautiful piece of jewelry is pretty worthless if you cannot wear it.
Wait until after your makeup is complete and set before putting on jewelry. Putting jewelry on prior to applying makeup or hairspray allows gunk and grime from your beauty products to settle on the jewelry, leaving it dull and potentially harming the finish. This is even more necessary for earrings and necklaces.
A diamond’s cut and clarity may be more attractive than its size. Keep the individual you are buying the diamond for in mind.
A matched jewelry set is a no-fail gift for any woman on your list. The larger jewelry stores will often give discounts on an entire set of jewelry. You do not have to give your loved one the entire set at once. You can present him or her with one piece as each occasion comes around. This is a fabulous way to always have a gift that someone will love.
Do not swim while wearing jewelry. The strength of chlorine means it can hurt the shine of your jewelry and decrease its life. Salt water is equally as bad for your jewelry. Taking jewelry off before getting in the water will protect it and extend the life of the jewelry.
Avoid the debacle of twisted and tangled necklaces by utilizing decorative hooks like those used for hanging robes. Install a series of these hooks on a closet door or wall to hang necklaces. You can organize the pieces by style, length or color. This organizational tip can help you from getting a tangled mess of necklaces in your jewelry box.
When you set out to buy jewelry, buy a piece because you love it, not because of who makes it. You’ll probably pay too much since a jeweler will be aware that you are probably buying the name and not the piece. Besides, many “regular” people won’t even recognize the brand when you wear it. There are several high quality brands.
When shopping for expensive jewelry, choose one that is sure to last for years. You should be getting a quality item because of the price, but make sure you select something that will not go out of style. A piece that is made in a popular style may not look quite so fashionable later. Look for something classic and timeless.
If you own gold, whether it’s in the form of bracelets or necklaces, you can keep your pieces and still make money from them. By removing several inches of excess material, you will be able to sell a small amount of gold while still having enough of the piece to wear. With several chains of real gold, you can earn a good bit of cash, even a couple hundred dollars, just by shaving a few inches off of your jewelry.
Alexandrite has a lot of encouraging qualities, but does not get as much press as other stones. Depending on the surrounding light, an Alexandrite stone will change colors from green to purple. Alexandrite is mostly found in rings, earrings, and pendants.
If you have small pieces of jewelry from your childhood that you’d like to keep wearing, layer them with more mature pieces. If you are wearing a bunch of necklaces, try layering a simple pendant, like a heart or cross, with more complex pieces that are made of similar materials or similar in color.
Illusion Setting
An illusion setting can be a unique choice if you want a big, brilliant diamond effect. An illusion setting is created by using a mirrored plate placed on your ring prior to the diamond being set. This reflects the diamond in the mirror, enlarging it visually and enhancing its sparkle. If you are considering this setting, keep in mind that repairing these pieces is difficult.
If you are in the market for an expensive item, be sure to shop around and research the reasons for any price variances. Whether you buy it, give it, receive it or inherit it, a fine piece of well-cared-for jewelry is something you can enjoy for many years to come.