It is a very bad idea to walk into a jewelry story with little idea of what you are looking for. There are quite a few things you will want to consider before making your decision on something so important. This article will provide you with the information you need to make smart decisions on jewelry purchases.
Keep your fragile stone jewelry stored in separate boxes, away from your other pieces, to prolong the life of these stones. You don’t want them getting scuffed or broken, by being in direct contact with stronger and harder jewelry pieces. Try wrapping these fragile stones in velvet or silk, before placing them in the boxes. It’s best if you keep the boxes that they originally came in, for this purpose.
You don’t have to settle with the traditional clear diamonds. Diamonds are available in practically every color in the rainbow. They come in blue, pink, red, yellow, brown, black, purple and many more colors. You can find pieces where colored diamonds are the focal point or you can find pieces where they act like accents.
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. Don’t purchase a size up and consider having it re-sized. Resizing is oftentimes a lot more expensive than purchasing another silver ring in your size.
If you’re trying to buy a diamond on a budget, look for one that has slight inclusions and is a less than perfect color of white. Often times, you cannot even see the inclusions and “off” color with the naked eye, but it can save you hundreds or thousands on the price of the stone.
To help you make chainmaille jewelry, it is important that you choose your tools wisely. The handle of your pliers should fit comfortably in your hands and the tip should be sturdy. This will help you to manipulate the wire with the most ease and comfort, preventing unnecessary strain and pain.
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!
In order to save money on the purchase of jewelry you should consider looking at local antique shops. Many people sell their antique jewelry to the shops when they are in need of money or if they have inherited it and just don’t want it. There is no reason to pay the high markups that come with jewelry.
Make sure you give yourself adequate time when ordering a new jewelry piece. Most pieces have a turn around time of six to eight weeks. This can become a problem quickly if you need the jewelry for an important occasion. Make sure you give yourself extra time on top of the proposed time-frame.
Stick to one stand-out piece of jewelry per outfit, and choose simpler pieces for the rest. If you are wearing long, shoulder-grazing earrings, for instance, keep your necklace simple. This gives the eyes somewhere to rest and keeps your ensemble from looking too busy.
When soldering a wedding ring and an engagement ring together, make sure the jeweler polishes the rings. Engagement rings are often worn for some time before the wedding band is and it will look like the rings do not match if they are not polished to look new.
Take care when cleaning pearls. They are porous and soft, meaning they can get scratched easily. Clean them with a gentle damp cloth after wearing, and store them in a breathable bag (not plastic). Try to keep them in a room that maintains a regular temperature. Always put your pearl jewelry on after applying lotion or perfume, as contact with these products can diminish the luster.
Some people have difficulty tolerating the feel of metal around sensitive parts of their bodies, such as their wrists or necks. This makes it difficult for them to wear necklaces, bracelets, or watches. However, a popular substitute is a carefully knitted or crocheted piece with beads, which can be just as beautiful, but is much more comfortable.
One of the most important things you can do while shopping for jewelry is to shop around. Salesman will try and commit you to a purchase before you leave their shop. Be sure and be firm and tell them that you will return if you don’t find a better offer.
Rings, bracelets, necklaces, and other jewelry should be removed prior to participation in any physical work, exercise, or team sport. Sweat and oils can damage your jewelry. Also, increased physical movement makes it especially easy to snag prongs or dislodge stones from their settings. Furthermore, jewelry that has fallen off during activity is less likely to be found afterward.
Your jewelry should be removed prior to and during completion of daily chores and cleaning. Many household cleaners and chemicals are very caustic and can significantly compromise the quality of gold and silver, as well as that of the more colorful gems like rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. If you cannot remove rings, you should wear thick, protective gloves on each hand.
In order to get what you are paying for, you need to know what you are looking for. This article has given you the valuable information you need to be a great jewelry shopper. It is up to you to implement the information to get what you are looking for.