For thousands of years, people have used jewelry to adorn themselves, express powerful sentiments, and create a strong and memorable image for themselves. From the cheapest baubles to the most expensive and luxurious diamonds, gold, and jewels, a single piece of jewelry can make a major statement that cannot be avoided. These informative tips will leave you with a new appreciation of jewelry.
Personalized jewelry will never fail as a gift, especially for Mother’s Day. A ring with the birthstones of all her children will make a Mom beam with delight. You could also get a bangle bracelet with her childrens’ names engraved on the inside. My favourite is a ring with “I Love You” engraved on the inside.
Much like a bride’s dress, wedding jewelry may have to be adjusted and sized, therefore you should choose your jewelry as soon as your dress choice has been made. Your best estimate is that when your dress is done, your jewelry will be sized correctly as well, so include that in your time management planning.
If you would like to buy a pair of earrings for a loved one, make sure they have pierced ears first! It is a major faux pas to pick up a pair of gorgeous baubles only to find out they’re unwearable. If you can, check her jewelry box, or ask someone close to her who might know like her Mother.
To make sure no one can tell that you’re wearing costume jewelry, choose pieces that have a real metal setting. A gold or platinum setting can give an artificial gemstone a much more authentic look. This will make sure that you still look elegant even when you’re buying your jewelry on a budget.
Repurpose your jewelry to get the most wears out of each piece. Wrap a necklace around your wrist to fashion a new bracelet. Slip a pair of clip-on earrings onto a pair of pumps as shoe clips, and add a bit of sparkle to plain heels. Attach a pin or brooch to a necklace and update its look.
Use a cloth dampened with a solution of water and a few drops of dish-washing liquid to clean your pearls. Lightly rub each pearl with the cloth, and allow them to air-dry. Never soak pearls, as doing so can cause massive damage to the integrity of the gem. Keeping your pearls clean ensures a long life for them.
Clean your diamonds at home between jeweler cleanings. You can simply, and cheaply, keep your diamonds sparkling as bright as ever. All you need to do is get a small amount of toothpaste and put it on a dry cloth. Rub the stone completely. Rinse and enjoy the return of the sparkle.
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.
Buying used jewelry is an option to consider, as well. Used jewelry can be found in consignment and pawn stores, art galleries, estate sales, jewelers, or in some cases, yard sales. Before you consider used jewelry, research the type of piece you think you are looking for, so that when you see it at one of these places, you will be able to determine if the item is indeed legitimate or just a reproduction.
When it comes to taking care of your jewelry – be sure that you take it off before taking care of your laundry. This is important to avoid the risk of losing it in your laundry as well as exposing it to harmful cleaning chemicals.
Post pictures of you working in your studio if you are going to sell jewelry online. Many sites buy their pieces abroad and sell them at a higher price. If you do that, be honest and open about it. Using pictures of your studio will show people that you are really selling your work.
Don’t use toothpaste to clean your jewelry. There are countless websites out there claiming that toothpaste is a great way to clean jewelry. Fine jewelers will tell you otherwise. The abrasives in toothpaste can damage the surface of metal and will permanently ruin soft stones such as turquoise, amber and lapis.
When buying jewelry for someone that you care about consider diamonds if you are unsure of what to get. This is because most anybody will wear them and they will always hold their value. Diamonds come in many different shapes sizes and price ranges to cover any occasion.
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.
When buying jewelry for someone that you care about make sure that you are not stepping over your own boundaries of what you can afford. While most likely you do want to impress the other person, no jewelry purchase will adequately make up for putting yourself at a severe financial risk.
As if anyone really needed any more reason to admire and cherish gorgeous rings, necklaces, and bracelets, the tips you have just read are only a tiny sampling of the joys and pleasures associated with wearing, buying, and even making jewelry. With this information, you will find that each piece takes on a whole new meaning.