Archive | October, 2017

Making The Most Of Your Jewelry Wardrobe

31 Oct

Making The Most Of Your Jewelry Wardrobe

If you’ve purchased jewelry, it’s important to take the time to take care of it. Just a little effort can make even a simple piece of jewelry last for a long time. In this article, you’ll find out ways you can take better care of your jewelry, and how you can make old jewelry look like new.

Designer jewelry can be pricey and not affordable to someone on a budget. Luckily, there are quality replicas available, and for a price almost anyone can afford. These replicas resemble the real jewelry but without the huge hit to the wallet. You can have the luxury of wearing it whenever you’d like, instead of just on special occasions. They are truly a fashionable, affordable, alternative to designer name jewelry.

When choosing jewelry to wear to your wedding, why not pick up some cufflinks and a tie tack for your groom? It looks so nice in photos when the bride and groom match, so take it a step further and include the bling you’re both wearing! Have the best man give it to him on the big day as a present.

Use a gentle dish soap to clean your jewelry. The soap you buy for your kitchen can be great for jewelry too. Just make sure you buy a gentle dish soap. Look for one that is suitable for use on your hands. That way, you can be sure it won’t damage the jewelry.

ADVICE: Make sure you know what to look for when buying platinum jewelry. Platinum needs to be at least 95% pure in order for it to be considered real platinum.

You do not have to spend a mint on your jewelry. Don’t underestimate a classy piece of costume jewelry as a perfect accent for your best outfit. There is a large variety of great stones that are inexpensive. If you keep your eyes open you can acquire gems at crystal prices.

Beware of wearing hemp jewelry if you plan on swimming. Though hemp jewelry can be very beautiful and appealing when you are dry, you can quickly find yourself in dire straights. Hemp shrinks when wet and can quickly become too tight for you. Be especially wary of hemp choker style necklaces.

When buying jewelry online, read the descriptions carefully. Look up words if you do not know what they mean. It is easy to take a flattering picture, but a description should give you a good idea of what you are buying. You should pay attention to size, colors and materials.

When buying jewelry for someone you love, find out what they’re favorite color is. Some people don’t like gold, or don’t like silver, or maybe they love the combination of red and gold. Look at the jewelry the person already wears, find out their favorite color, then combine the two!

ADVICE: Create a solution of warm water and a few drops of dish-washing liquid and use it to soak your gold pieces. Scrubbing the piece with a soft toothbrush can help to remove any particulates that may be stuck to the jewelry.

When buying jewelry for someone that you care about make sure that you buy something that suits them both in color and style. This is important because it would come across as you not paying attention to their likes and dislikes. You want to make your purchase a special one.

If you are looking for diamond jewelry of any kind, remember to ask if the diamond you are considering is “conflict free”. Diamonds that are not conflict free may have been indirectly the cause of a great deal of suffering and even death. Conflict free diamonds are mined, processed, and exported under exacting conditions that do not allow any illegal activity or violence.

Gold jewelry can be effectively cleaned with one teaspoon of ammonia, one teaspoon of dish soap, and one cup of water. The dish soap will act as a de-greaser, while the ammonia has an oxidation quality. You can use this as your regular cleaner for gold jewelry, but never use it on precious stones.

Before you purchase a new piece of fine jewelry, think about how you will wear it. There’s no sense in spending a lot of money of pieces that you’ll never wear. Try to match the jewelry that you purchase with your style of clothing.

ADVICE: When buying jewelry for someone it is important to consider what he or she does on a daily basis. You do not want to give a mother with toddlers a necklace, as she will not be able to wear it when she is around her children.

Moonstones make a great, easy to care for alternative to more delicate, multicolored stones like opal. The play of color is just as gorgeous, though the background color tends to be very pale white, grey or blue. However, you do not have to worry about the stone cracking from dehydration.

A relatively recent popular trend is the rise of the “mood ring” or other such indicative jewelry, often made with liquid crystals that change their color in response to changes in body temperature. They are quite popular especially among children and teens, and can match many outfits because of their changing color.

To give a girl jewelry, make sure you are giving something appropriate for your relationship. Giving her a ring or something very expensive will make her think you are serious about her, and if you are not, then you are leading her on. It is also important to give her something that suits her style.

Keep a silver polishing cloth handy so you can quickly wipe down your jewelry before you put it on. Frequently polishing your jewelry will not only make it look great but it will also keep it from tarnishing as quickly. Keep your jewelry looking pristine when you use a polishing cloth frequently.

ADVICE: Ask your jeweler if they have the current equipment that is used to distinguish real diamonds from those that were created in a lab. Most of the older equipment can detect cubic zirconia, but sometimes they mistake lab diamonds for real ones.

With some consumer purchases, warranties and extended care plans are not worth the money. This is not the case with jewelry! Jewelry can last a lifetime – or longer – if it is well-maintained. Purchasing a service plan along with a piece of jewelry is a wise investment, as repair work, resizing and resetting can extend a piece’s life significantly.

Create a tribal look with your jewelry by layering necklaces and bracelets. Take the time to match up pieces of your jewelry that look good together. The look will not be achieved by just throwing on every thing you own. Pick necklaces of varied lengths and not just one length. When layering bracelets the smaller the bracelet the better. Use chunky pieces sparingly.

Taking care of your jewelry lets you get the most for your money. A quality piece of jewelry should be able to last you a lifetime. Thanks to the tips in this article, you now know how to keep your jewelry looking great. If you keep the advice here in mind, you’ll be enjoying your favorite earrings and necklaces for years to come.

Jewelry Cleaning Tips Anyone Can Use Today

31 Oct

Jewelry Cleaning Tips Anyone Can Use Today

Adorning the body with precious stones and metals goes back thousands of years. Jewelry comes in many different designs. The tips in this article are a good introduction to help you in selecting your favorite jewelry.

EXTRA INFO: Try adding a special personal touch to your pieces by getting them professionally engraved. You can add just about anything and it makes it a more special and memorable piece to you or somebody you care about.

When trying to showcase jewelry, either for sales or for bragging rights, you need to take high-quality photographs of them. Nothing showcases their beauty like a great photo of the piece. Make sure that you use a good background and stick with darker colors; lighter colors take away from the jewelry’s shiny qualities.

Buying used jewelry can be a great way to expand your options without spending a lot of money. Look for estate sales or yard sales. Depending on where you live, prices may be lower than antique stores (which use the name “antique” to charge a bit more). Browsing in person can be a fun way to find things you might not have thought to go looking for.

EXTRA INFO: When purchasing a ring make sure that you’re purchasing a ring in your proper size. It can be hard to find rings in half sizes, but it is possible.

Use a toothbrush and small bit of toothpaste to clean your precious gems. This works really well on diamonds. The toothpaste is a non-abrasive scrubber and the toothbrush is small enough to get into those little nooks and crannies. This method is safe to use as often as you like.

When choosing jewelry to wear to your wedding, why not pick up some cufflinks and a tie tack for your groom? It looks so nice in photos when the bride and groom match, so take it a step further and include the bling you’re both wearing! Have the best man give it to him on the big day as a present.

EXTRA INFO: Diamonds are the perfect gemstone to buy for your wedding jewelry. The beauty of these stones is not only how they look, but also that they can be worn again for almost any occasion.

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.

Keep your silver jewelry untarnished and clean. Your pieces do not look good when they are dirty. You can clean them at home using toothpaste or baking soda. Lightly scrub with the toothpaste or soak in baking soda overnight. You will wake up in the morning to clean shiny silver.

Make sure you apply these tips next time to think about buying jewelry. The world of jewelry is filled with a multitude of choices, but the right information makes the decision-making process a whole lot easier.

Superior Tips To Help You Find The Right Jewelry

31 Oct

Superior Tips To Help You Find The Right Jewelry

Nothing shows that you took the time and cared, quite like nice jewelry. It has always been, and always will be, the best gift to pick up on a moment’s notice. No one is ever sad or disappointed that they received jewelry instead of a card or picture. There are a few things that you should remember when shopping for jewelry and they are listed in this article.

Try cleaning your jewelry collection with a polishing cloth. This is a fairly simple way to achieve shine without dealing with solvents and chemicals. Use the dual-sided cloth to gently buff your jewelry as you would a delicate glass. Use a two-sided cleaning cloth, one for polishing and one for shining.

SOLID TIP! If you see a ring that claims to be diamond and has a sterling silver setting, be very wary. Diamonds are only professionally set in white gold, yellow gold or platinum.

Pewter jewelry has been widely popular for decades. If you’re looking to invest in jewelry pieces made from pewter, make sure that they are lead free. For a long time, pewter jewelry has contained lead causing many unhealthy side effects to the wearer. Usually modern jewelry made from this metal is advertised as lead-free if it doesn’t contain any.

To distinguish between real and fake, bring a magnet when you shop for sterling silver jewelry. When you do this, you become able to find fake pieces of any type of sterling jewelry. You can use the magnet because non-precious metals actually are attracted by magnets. You can recognize sterling silver by stamps that say ‘.925’ or ‘ster’. If the piece of presumed silver is not marked, be skeptical that is real silver. It could very well be a fake.

When buying jewelry, make sure that you don’t just rely on really prestigious name brands. This can generally lead to you paying 80% more than that of another popular jewelry retailer. Most of the non-prestigious jewelry retailers, also offer very nice holiday and yearly discounts, so it’s an overall better deal to shop with them.

SOLID TIP! When cleaning your fine jewelry, always follow the recommended cleaning directions for the gemstones used in the piece instead of the metals. Many jewelry cleaners designed to remove tarnish from metals can also dull or even destroy many soft precious gemstones.

Try making your own jewelry pieces. It just takes some tools and some materials to get started. More specifically, there are many kinds of materials you can use. You can use wire, string, beads, yarn, thread, glass, stone, metal, etc. The only limitation is your hands and your imagination, so have fun with it.

IF you’re thinking of buying your child jewelry, a charm bracelet is an excellent way to go. Add a new charm at every milestone, such as, his or her first lost tooth. When your child grows up, he or she will have a special story that is attached with each charm.

When choosing jewelry to wear to your wedding, decide first if you wish to buy it or rent it. Often the jewelry you wear as a bride isn’t necessarily something you’d wear again, so renting is an excellent choice and will get you a higher grade of item than you might be able to buy outright.

SOLID TIP! Use an egg to antique your sterling silver jewelry. Just boil the egg, chop it up, and put it in a bag with your silver piece.

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!

Check for wear and damage in every piece you buy. Spending money on jewelry can be a worthy investment, but if the item you invest in is not in good condition, you will be wasting your money. Thoroughly examine each piece to be sure your investments are truly worth the money.

If you’re new to making wire jewelry, practice with copper wire or craft wire before moving on to sterling silver. There is a learning curve when it comes to making wire jewelry, and it’s likely you will have to try a few times before getting it right. Sterling silver is expensive and starting with that material is not very cost effective.

SOLID TIP! When deciding on the jewelry for your wedding, check out the differences between purchasing and renting. If you are only planning on wearing these extravagant pieces once, then renting may be your best bet.

To open a jump link when making chain jewelry, hold the jump link steady with pliers your left hand, and grip the opposite side of the opening with pliers in your right. Gently twist your hands towards each other. This twisting action helps the jump ring maintain its circular shape without distortion, which will occur if you try to push the sides together without twisting.

Use an egg to antique your sterling silver jewelry. Just boil the egg, chop it up, and put it in a bag with your silver piece. In a few hours your jewelry will change colors and then you can polish it to a beautiful antiqued look. This is an effective method because egg contains sulfur, and sulfur causes the reaction when mixed with sterling silver.

When buying jewelry, pick jewelry that will go good with the majority of your wardrobe. If you spend hundreds of dollars on an amazing piece of jewelry, you will want to be wearing it any chance you get. Consider foregoing a more expensive piece in favor of one that you could wear more often.

SOLID TIP! Beware of wearing hemp jewelry if you plan on swimming. Though hemp jewelry can be very beautiful and appealing when you are dry, you can quickly find yourself in dire straights.

When making jewelry and you want to turn a bead into a linked piece, take an eye pin and thread it through the bead’s hole. Let the bead slide to the bottom of the eye pin. Directly above the bead, use your pliers to bend the eye pin approximately 45 degrees. Using wire cutters, trim this to about half an inch in length. Using small round pliers, grasp the tip of the wire and start looping it around the pliers tip. Don’t give up if your eye pin loop is not directly round – practice makes perfect!

Keep your silver jewelry untarnished and clean. Your pieces do not look good when they are dirty. You can clean them at home using toothpaste or baking soda. Lightly scrub with the toothpaste or soak in baking soda overnight. You will wake up in the morning to clean shiny silver.

When selling jewelry online, you must be certain to present information as accurately as you possibly can. If you do not know about a certain feature, you should be certain to admit this. Otherwise, you could have an angry customer file a misrepresentation claim against you for not letting him or her know about a certain feature.

SOLID TIP! Do not be afraid to buy silver jewelry. Gold items are incredibly expensive right now, and silver is “in”.

When making or gifting jewelry, make each piece even more meaningful by selecting stones, beads, and colors that communicate different emotions. Green gems like jade and emeralds represent growth and vitality, which makes them ideal gifts for expectant mothers, newlyweds, or perhaps friends who are especially active in eco-friendly lifestyles and initiatives.

Do not let a seller talk you into something you cannot afford or do not really like. Some sellers are excellent at what they do, but remember that you are the one making the decision. You should ask for advice, but keep in mind that the sellers’ best interest is to see you buy something expensive.

If you are going to sell jewelry online, make sure you describe your products with a lot of details. Add as many pictures as possible, but do not use pictures to replace a good text. Be very careful of the vocabulary you use, especially when it comes to materials and colors.

SOLID TIP! Always spray perfume before you put on your jewelry. The chemicals in perfume are not good for jewelry and can even cloud certain items like pearls.

Those little boxes that your jewelry comes in when you first purchase it make great jewelry storage containers. All you have to do is take the padding out of the box, and then you are able to store several pieces of jewelry in there. This is a safe method for storing your jewelry.

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.

When shopping for expensive jewelry, bring a trusted friend or family member along. It can also be a confusing one, with so many choices available. Bringing a second person along gives you an extra set of eyes, as well as, an important second opinion.

SOLID TIP! Foiled rhinestones are a popular choice for children’s jewelry because they are extremely inexpensive and offer all the sparkle of a more expensive stone, or even more. Try them in such popular pieces as stretch bracelets, earrings, or anklets as a cheerful accent for children who wish to wear jewelry often.

With some consumer purchases, warranties and extended care plans are not worth the money. This is not the case with jewelry! Jewelry can last a lifetime – or longer – if it is well-maintained. Purchasing a service plan along with a piece of jewelry is a wise investment, as repair work, resizing and resetting can extend a piece’s life significantly.

Observe each piece carefully and do not purchase anything that you are not completely positive about. Follow the guidelines listed and you will be able to pick up something great that your loved one is guaranteed to enjoy for the rest of his or her life. You can’t go wrong when you go with jewelry.

Jewelry Tips You Have To Know About

30 Oct

Jewelry Tips You Have To Know About

If you have metal allergies, make sure to purchase nickel free jewelry. Nickel is a common alloy that is mixed in with precious metals such as sterling silver to make them more pliable. Silver itself is very liquid in its original state and therefore not substantial enough to be properly molded into jewelry. Oftentimes, another alloy such as nickel is added. Make sure you check what you are purchasing to make sure it is nickel free.

EXTRA TIP! When shopping for diamonds, make sure that you shop for them based on their four main criteria: color, cut, clarity, and carat. The color refers to the hue of the stone.

Chunky necklaces have been around for a long time but they have become a fashion trend. Whatever your style, you can find a beautiful necklace made of stones, gems or beads. Colorful metal can be cut into fanciful flowers or linked together to form a chunky chain. If you are interested in this trend, you can find a necklace you love at just about any price.

Make sure you don’t wear your fine jewelry all of the time. When you are performing housekeeping tasks or washing your hands with soapy water, remove your jewelry. Swimming in a pool is another great reason for you to remove your fine jewelry to keep it safe. Everyday harsh chemicals can severely damage fine jewelry, sometimes ruining it beyond repair.

EXTRA TIP! If you lose the butterfly backing for your post earrings, you can easily replace them. Any local craft stores carry replacement backings for post earrings in the jewelry making aisles.

If you are looking to purchase fashion jewelry, make sure to invest a few dollars. While fashion jewelry is available in almost every design and price range under the sun, purchase something in the mid-price range. If you go too cheap, you may end up purchasing something with unhealthy metal alloys or inferior quality workmanship.

To make create a simple, feminine look, try layering thin necklaces. The delicate appearance of a thin chain necklace can soften your look and draw attention to your face. When layering necklaces, it’s best to make each layer a different length, but to only wear necklaces with a very similar style.

EXTRA TIP! When collecting costume jewelry, pay close attention to the condition of any piece you are considering. This type of jewelry can be extremely expensive and makes an incredible investment.

Some classic and very affordable types of jewelry that are available are pearls. These are very classic staples to any collection. They are also available in three types that include natural, imitation, and cultured. There are many colors and variations available such as classic white, pink, gold, black, etc.

When buying new jewelry, carefully consider the stones. Choose stones that have a reflection on your personality and that also complement the color of your skin. Choose neutral colors that will easily match any outfit you decide to wear. It will be of no value to you to purchase jewels that are not easy to incorporate into your lifestyle.

EXTRA TIP! Amethyst, quartz, and other purple stones can make any ring, necklace, or brooch appear luxurious and regal by conveying a sense of royalty and privilege. These richly colored gems look most striking against settings made of yellow gold, although more and more jewelry designers are pairing deep purple stones with pink-tinged rose gold.

When trying to shop for diamonds, make sure to take your time. Diamonds, unlike things like computers and cars, will not go bad on you. They should last a lifetime. Also, for the price ranges that these stones run, you should not buy them on impulse. Take your time and create the special piece for you or someone you care about.

Any time that you are working on cleaning your house or any other place, you should first remove any pieces of jewelry that you are wearing. Not only is there a strong possibility of loss, but the cleaning chemicals can be very strong on your fine jewelry. Avoid these problems by first removing any jewelry.

EXTRA TIP! 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.

Finding the right piece of jewelry to wear for a special occasion can be a hard task. If wearing your hair in an up-do, a pair of dangling earrings may look nice. Whereas if you are wearing a dress with a “busy” pattern, a simple necklace and studded earrings might be more appropriate. Base your jewelry off of your outfit and what will complement it, and you will be sure to find the right piece for that special occasion.

When giving a woman jewelry is it important to be creative when giving it to her. Women love excitement, and if you can find a fun and exciting way to give her the jewelry she may like it even more. She will forever have a story to tell to her friends and family about how sweet and creative you were when you gave her the piece of jewelry.

EXTRA TIP! If you have gold jewelry, it is important that you do not use harsh chemicals when you try to clean them. Harsh chemicals can make your gold jewelry dull and cause it to lose its natural luster.

When looking to invest in fine jewelry, understand the different price ranges different metals and gemstones fall into. For example, understanding that opal is very expensive, you can already figure out if you see someone selling it for under twenty dollars, it is a fake. Knowing that sterling silver is a lot cheaper than white gold, but quite similar in appearance, can help narrow down your price when looking to invest in a nice pair of earrings.

When it comes to taking care of your jewelry be sure that you remove it before going in the bathtub or shower. This is important because not only do you run the risk of losing it down the drain, but the cleaning materials used safely on your body may cause temporary or permanent damage to your jewelry.

EXTRA TIP! Store your jewelry in the same way you wear it. This means hanging necklaces and earrings, and storing rings on padded sticks.

If you lose the butterfly backing for your post earrings, you can easily replace them. Any local craft stores carry replacement backings for post earrings in the jewelry making aisles. You can find them in different metals such as sterling silver, gold plating, silver plating or silver tone metal. You no longer have to throw your old earrings out, you can replace the backing quite affordably.

Mother of pearl is a popular choice for jewelry because it offers all the beauty and iridescence of fancy pearls at a much lower price, and can be carved into a multitude of shapes. It can be recovered from many organisms and a very popular source is currently abalone shell. One popular shape is the hibiscus flower.

EXTRA TIP! Jewelry is best worn on special occasions. When you wear your best jewelry to work everyday you lose the opportunity to show it off.

If you are in the market for jewelry, always seek out sales. You can save big money with the right sale. Look for great deals in old-fashioned newspapers, on the Internet, and even at retail stores. Sometimes, you can save about half the original price on trendy pieces that aren’t as trendy anymore.

One easy way to give old brooches a new life is to use them as buckles on everything from hats to pants to purses. While brooches worn the intended way may look outdated, a decorative brooch clipped onto a plain hat, scarf or purse makes for an eye-catching and unexpected accent.

EXTRA TIP! An important jewelry tip is to avoid focusing solely on carat weight when selecting precious gemstones such as diamonds. Cut, color and clarity play significant roles in the overall appearance and sparkle of a stone, and should be given equal consideration.

When buying gold, be sure that your receipt is clearly marked with the karat weight, as well as the manufacturer. These are things you need to know in case you later want to appraise or sell the piece, or perhaps have it re-sized. The information included is also necessary for any returns processes you may have to go through.

Consider buying both of your wedding bands and your engagement ring together. Many jewelers will offer a quantity discount if you purchase all three rings during the same visit. This can also be the easiest way to match your rings, which is something that many couples try to do.

EXTRA TIP! If you are purchasing a piece of jewelry for a friend or loved one, stay away from metals that have caused the person reactions in the past. Make sure to ask about any allergies to base metals and precious metals alike before you purchase, and as always, get a receipt, just in case.

When selling jewelry online, you must be certain to present information as accurately as you possibly can. If you do not know about a certain feature, you should be certain to admit this. Otherwise, you could have an angry customer file a misrepresentation claim against you for not letting him or her know about a certain feature.

If you are showering a woman with gifts on a regular basis, make sure that the jewelry items you are giving her are spaced out. If you fail to leave enough room in between each jewelry gift, she may get used to it and expect jewelry on a regular basis.

EXTRA TIP! Do not make the mistake of purchasing a “discount diamond” on a land excursion to any of the Caribbean islands. Diamonds are part of a global market, which means that there is no country or continent that can rightfully claim that it has the best deals.

To avoid a tacky amount of jewelry keep to the rule of two. Two great pieces at a time is the most you should attempt in one outfit. Choose a bracelet and a necklace, a necklace and a ring, or ring and a bracelet. Keep it simple for maximum effect.

It is best to store your precious jewelry in a box or case of some sort. It should be lined with a soft material to prevent abrasion to delicate gem stones. If you keep each piece of jewelry in a separate section to prevent them from rubbing on each other and getting scratched up.

When wearing chunky pieces, it is important not to overdo the jewelry. When you look in the mirror, you shouldn’t be distracted by too many accessories. Look for a strand of turquoise stones for a rugged look. Whimsical, colorful flowers are perfect for casual wear. If you need something more elegant, it is easy to find a crystal or pearl necklace.

The Best Online Jewelry Companies Revealed

30 Oct

The Best Online Jewelry Companies Revealed

Finding the very best jewelry information is not always the easiest thing to do. There is so much information available, sifting through irrelevant information becomes time consuming, not to mention discouraging. Luckily, the best jewelry tips available anywhere, are right here in this very article. Read more about it below.

IMPORTANT! If you have a light ivory skin tone with darker hair, consider purchasing jewelry in silver, white gold or platinum. The silvery colors look elegant set against an ivory skin tone especially if you have brown or black hair.

Do not purchase any jewelry from retailers in China. This country is notorious for selling fake gemstone and metal jewelry. Oftentimes, the jewelry advertised as sterling silver with real turquoise is just a piece of metal sprayed in silver and the turquoise is a fake piece of plastic. Such vendors may accept returns, but the hassle of shipping it back at your own cost, is usually not worth it. Be aware of scams like this.

Your diamond shopping experience is missing something important if you are not comparison shopping. Make a close-range examination of stones you find appealing, and contrast them with other likely purchases. Some diamond sellers use misleading practices to try to increase the apparent quality of their merchandise, so you should be wary of these tactics.

IMPORTANT! When jewelry shopping, you need to be prepared to carefully look, and inspect anything that you may want to buy. You need to get a loupe.

When storing your fine jewelry in a chest or case, wrap each piece in a small piece of velvet cloth. That way harder gemstones will not scratch softer gemstones and metals. It also helps pieces not get tangled with themselves and the velvet helps to keep the pieces safe from excess moisture.

If you buy an item of jewelry for your wife on your anniversary, why not get a matching piece for her birthday? It’s always lovely to have jewelry that goes together, so complete a set over a year for her! No woman will be disappointed when you present her with a beautiful piece of jewelry.

IMPORTANT! When purchasing a ring make sure that you’re purchasing a ring in your proper size. It can be hard to find rings in half sizes, but it is possible.

Before purchasing earrings that have diamonds or other stones in them, make sure that the stones can be replaced. You do not want to be put in a situation where the stones have fallen out of your earrings and they cannot be replaced. If you are unsure, you can always ask a jeweler before you buy them.

When buying jewelry, you may want to consider lab-created stones. Gems created in a lab can be just as beautiful as natural gemstones, but they are often less expensive. You may be able to buy a much larger lab-made stone for the same price as a smaller natural stone. If you have ethical concerns, lab-made is definitely the way to go.

IMPORTANT! If you’re planning a traditional wedding, then you can’t go wrong with pearls! You can have them on your tiara, wear them as stud or dangle earrings, have a gorgeous “Y” necklace adorned with them, or even a pearl and Swarovski crystal bracelet. Blue pearls are an excellent way to get really traditional, or borrow your Mother’s or Grandmother’s single strand necklace.

To keep your jewelry looking great, take steps to prevent it from tarnish. When wearing your jewelry, you should avoid exposure to water. Many types of metal will become dulled, tarnished, or rusty when exposed to it. It is wise to place a single coat of transparent nail lacquer on jewelry in order to protect it.

The color gemstones are an important consideration when shopping for new jewelry. Purchase stones that are a reflection of you who are, and match your skin tone as well. Also think about what color clothing you wear often, and chose a neutral color that will match many of the outfits in your closet. As long as you’re spending money, it makes more sense to purchase something that is functional as well as beautiful.

IMPORTANT! A fun craft for your wedding is to make your own jewelry. It really is simple and it gives you the ability to customize the items exactly as you wish.

Gems are given chemical treatments in the process of cutting, polishing and setting. When you are thinking of buying, ask what treatment a stone was given. Different treatments come with different requirements for cleaning and storage. You want to avoid unknowingly cleaning the gem with a chemical or solution that could strip off the protective treatment.

Keeping yourself educated about jewelry, and abreast of new information, is very important. As you go forward, you can feel confident in the solid advice you received here. Keep this article, and these tips, in mind and you will find that your experience could not be easier or more successful.