Jewelry is a great gift to give to a loved one or a friend, and a lot of people buy jewelry every day. But with so many different options available to choose from, it can be difficult to know which piece of jewelry is of the best quality so that you get the best. Luckily, there are ways to check the quality so that you won’t have to worry.
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.
Many people see jewelry labeled as sterling silver plated and oftentimes think they’ve hit the jackpot when they purchase it at a very low price. In this case unfortunately, you do get what you pay for. This type of jewelry only contains a very thin coating of sterling silver on top of a cheap metal which can usually be identified as copper. The jewelry will eventually tarnish and cause the copper to show through underneath with enough wear.
If you have a large collection of fashion jewelry, make sure to only clean them with a damp cloth. Using polishing cloths or jewelry cleaning liquids will only eat away at the top layer causing the base metal to show through. After you are finished cleaning, keep your jewelry stored away to prevent any damage or tarnish.
A piece of jewelry should be long lasting. When purchasing your next jewelry item, focus on buying a quality, well-made piece. High-quality jewelry is durable and displays excellent craftsmanship. Your jeweler should have all the information on the piece, including where it came from and who created it. You need to buy quality jewelry so that you can pass it down as an heirloom.
When going shopping for diamonds, make sure to set yourself a budget and stick to it. The world of diamonds can seem overwhelming and the prices vary a great deal. By keeping a budget in mind, you can cut down the vast variety, to a much more sensible variety to choose from.
Jewelry is often very difficult to purchase for a friend or loved one because there are as many different styles and types of jewelry as there are people to wear it. Bracelets are a great solution for many and are available in a huge variety of styles made for the fanciest of occasions to casual every-day wear. Plain silver and gold bangles are a staple for most women, but charm or sliding-bead style bracelets offer the buyer and the wearer the ability to completely customize the bracelet, as well as give the presenter a whole host of additional gifts to give in the future with the purchase of more charms or beads.
Combine your gold and silver jewelry. What used to be “so not in fashion” is now considered modern and sleek. Gold earrings can be worn with a silver necklace, or you can even pair gold and silver rings on one hand. The color combination goes great with any outfit as well.
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.
Feel comfortable in your jewelry venue of choice. If you feel that the seller may be trying to get you to buy a piece you are not interested in, walk away. Some jewelers are paid on commission, so the more they sell you, the better they are paid. Take this into consideration when choosing a jeweler.
Never use solutions or chemicals on emeralds. Chemicals, especially ammonia, will degrade emeralds to the point that they are unrecognizable. Emeralds are especially porous gemstones, so make sure to take great care when cleaning and storing these precious stones. If you are not careful with these, they will quickly lose their worth.
When selling a piece of jewelry online, you should make certain that you include size and lengths information. This is extra important with an online transaction because the customer can not physically see the jewelry. For example, if you are making jewelry pieces that are wire-wrapped, then you should include photos to assure your customers that the pieces are smoothly finished. Therefore, the sweater won’t be poked by a sharp wire.
You should check your rings periodically for loose stones or bent prongs. It is best to catch these issues early and have the ring repaired by a professional jeweler than to lose a precious stone. Most jewelers can re-tip worn prongs to ensure your stone stays secure.
If you are considering the purchase of jewelry for a loved one you should first determine if they prefer silver, gold or platinum. Just about everyone has preferences when it comes to their jewelry and if you get them gold when they really like silver they may never wear it. That means that you will have wasted a lot of money on a gift that they do not like.
When you set out to buy jewelry, buy a piece because you love it, not because of who makes it. The brand may be a significant factor in the price. Usually, brand names like Cartier and Tiffany are much more expensive than jewelry without the brand name for the same piece. Remember that there is top-quality jewelry available under any number of different brands.
As with most things, we all want to get the best things for the cheapest price. So, the next time you decide to buy a piece of expensive jewelry as a present for a loved one, try to use these tips so that you can make sure you are getting the best bargain and quality for the amount of money you paid.
