Many people love jewelry and, they enjoy both wearing it themselves, and giving it to friends and family. There are so many options and beautiful pieces available, it is helpful to become more knowledgeable about different aspects of jewelry. Keep reading for more insight and information on the joys of jewelry.
Take a magnet and a keen eye with you when you head out to purchase any jewelry made from sterling silver. Magnets attract non-precious metals, and you can use this fact to detect fakes. Look for the hallmark stamped on the piece of jewelry to determine what percentage sterling silver it is. If you don’t see such a mark, you might want to reconsider the purchase. This is usually an indication that the piece is fake.
Always keep your jewelry in a place that doesn’t experience extreme temperatures or humidities. Keep them stored safely in a closed, dark area, like a jewelry box or drawstring bag. Precious, as well as non-precious metals, will tarnish if they are exposed to humidity and air over time. Precious metals, through some work and polish, can be restored to their original condition. Non-precious metals are coated, which means that polishing will allow copper metal to come through.
Make sure you know what kind of gem you are getting when you are buying jewelry. Three different kinds of gems are available for purchase: imitation, synthetic and natural. You have to know that imitation refers to colored plastic. Natural stones are dug up out of the ground and synthetic ones are grown in a lab.
If you wear the piece for 24 hours, then you can be sure that it has been put together correctly and hangs nicely. Doing this also tells you how well it stands up to normal daily wear.
This article should have given you tips on how to pick out jewelry and be sure that you have found the perfect piece, no matter the material. You will surely enjoy your purchase for many years.
