With gold and jewels costing so much money, purchasing, storing, and even cleaning your jewelry requires some knowledge so that you don’t end up suffering any type of financial loss. It’s always great to have some information at your disposal and this article will clue you in on some great jewelry-specific tips you can use.
When dealing with precious and fragile stone jewelry, take them to get professionally cleaned. This is much better than scratching or destroying them yourself with regular jewelry cleaners. Even the jewelry cloths may be too much for some stones. Make sure though that they are not cleaned too often as this can be very counterproductive and actually weaken the stones.
When shopping for sterling silver jewelry, it is a good idea to bring a small magnet along with you. Magnets attract non-precious metals, and you can use this fact to detect fakes. Sterling silver always has some sort of stamp to indicate it is sterling. If the piece you’re inspecting doesn’t carry such a mark, be careful, as it is likely a fake.
The best tool for any jewelry hunter, whether searching for personal treasure or for the profit in reclaiming gold or silver, is a jeweler’s loupe. Jeweler’s loupes are small, but powerful magnifying instruments designed specially for use in examining jewelry at very close range. Some jeweler’s loupes also have a built-in, battery-powered light which can be very handy if examining pieces in a dimly lit area. Most jeweler’s loupes are extremely economical in cost and can help you make the most of your jewelry-buying dollar, especially when buying from second-hand sources.
When buying jewelry, don’t worry too much about current trends. Look for classic pieces that can be worn over several years. Something that’s too current will be quickly out of date. A stylish piece that you enjoy but isn’t the latest thing can be a part of your wardrobe for years to come.
Unless you’re giving your fiancee an heirloom ring, don’t shop for an engagement ring alone. Don’t feel pressured to buy something out of your price range, but make sure you can find a ring that fits your future bride and that she loves the ring. Why ruin the moment, by having to take the ring back for resizing or, even worse, just take it back?
Know what you are looking for, when you first get to the store. If you are well-prepared for your visit to the jeweler, you will be less likely to make impulse purchases should the opportunity arise. Have a plan and stick to it, to make sure you stay in budget and on track.
When buying turquoise jewelry, make sure you’re getting the real thing. Some of the things you can check for are that the color is uniform throughout and that the stone tends more toward opaque than clear. Also, the presence of veins or splotches, ranging from white to black, are a good indication of a real turquoise rather than a fake one. Most important, buy from a reputable dealer and ask for written authentication of the value. Unfortunately, with all the enhancements done to fake turquoise stones, sometimes it’s hard to tell the real thing from an imitation.
Picking a good quality diamond is important when purchasing diamond jewelry. Ask to see the diamond under a jeweler’s loop or a diamond microscope. You should notice no visible flaws, fractures, cloudiness or black spots. Watch out for chips that are hidden under prongs as well.
As stated previously in the article, there’s always a potential to suffer a financial loss when dealing with jewelry, whether you’re buying it, selling it, cleaning it, or trying to store it. Use the tips you just read in this article to protect your jewelry and to protect your wallet.
