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.
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 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.
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.
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.
When buying or selling jewelry, consider looking into specialized pawn shops. These shops are going to have individuals who know what they are talking about. They will be able to appraise the approximate value of the jewelry much more accurately than a typical pawn shop, allowing you to have peace of mind with your sale or purchase.
If you want costume jewelery, you will have to take care of it. Costume jewelry can prove to be a good investment, but also a costly one; keep in mind the pieces you wish to add to your collection don’t show too much wear. Costume pieces kept in great condition will enhance your collection much more over time.
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.
Get everything in writing. If the salesperson tells you that the gem has a warranty, or that it is on sale for a certain price next week, you want to have a record of that. Keeping a detailed written account of whatever information passed between you and the salesperson can help you be on top of any discrepancies that may appear later on.
Buy your stones loose when you are creating your own jewelry designs. You will be able to pick out a stone that best reflects your desires. Once you find the perfect stone, your ideas for a perfect setting will be much easier to decipher. Any good piece of jewelry starts at the stone.
When you go to make a new jewelry purchase, you need to give yourself a strict budget. It can be extremely easy to overspend on an awesome piece of shiny jewelry. It will be a lot harder to enjoy later if you do not stick to your own budget goals.
Always make sure you buy jewelry after you are educated in the subject. For example, do not go to buy a diamond without first educating yourself on the specifics of diamonds. A dealer may try to sell you something that is not worth his asking price based off of your ignorance. If you are well informed you cannot be hoodwinked.
While it’s easy to point the finger at the metals in your jewelry causing your skin irritation, it could be as simple as the jewelry needing a good cleaning. Since bacteria and dirt can build up on your jewelry causing irritation, a warm water and gentle soap cleaning is recommended to rid the irritants and hopefully the bad reaction as well.
After every time that you wear a piece of pearl jewelry, you should make sure that you wipe the pearl down with a wet cloth. This will help the pearl from getting too dry which can cause it to become brittle. Keep your pearl looking great when you keep it moisturized.
Make sure that the gold on the piece of jewelry you are buying is real. Many jewelers try to sell fake gold as real gold, and you do not want to pay good money for fake gold. To tell if it is real, use a magnet. Real gold does not stick to a magnet, so if it does stick, then it is fake.
When it comes to men’s jewelry fashion tips, it is important to consider the fact that gold and silver should never be mixed together. While this may seem obvious to some people, this can be a common clashing mistake for many men. No matter what part of your body it is on, do not wear silver and gold at the same time.
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.
