One of the most remarkable things about the world of jewelry is its ability to span centuries without losing value. In the past, only the wealthiest individuals could afford access to the most beautiful gems, diamonds, and precious metals. Today, however, almost anyone can find and wear jewelry for their style and budget. These useful and proven tips about jewelry will help you find the perfect piece.
Save some of your most fragile jewelry for special occasions only. Some fragile stones like opal and peridot should only be worn for special events and then carefully stored until the next occasion. This may seem irritating since you want to be able to wear your best pieces, but it can prolong their life if you avoid exposing them to harm too often.
When buying jewelry, make sure that you don’t just rely on really prestigious name brands. This can generally lead to you paying 80% more than that of another popular jewelry retailer. Most of the non-prestigious jewelry retailers, also offer very nice holiday and yearly discounts, so it’s an overall better deal to shop with them.
Knowing what type of jewel you are buying when you purchase jewelry is very important. Natural gems and imitation gems have been joined recently by synthetic gems, making three main categories. Natural and synthetic gems are real stones, but imitation is just plastic colored to look like the real thing. While natural gems come out of mines, synthetic ones come out of laboratories.
When storing your fine jewelry in a chest or case, wrap each piece in a small piece of velvet cloth. That way harder gemstones will not scratch softer gemstones and metals. It also helps pieces not get tangled with themselves and the velvet helps to keep the pieces safe from excess moisture.
To make a patterned outfit really stand out, pair it with a neutral necklace. A neutral piece in a complimentary tone will anchor your ensemble and make you look more coordinated. Try choosing a piece that offsets your outfit in some way. For example, if you’re wearing a vintage floral top, a modern neutral necklace can give your look some balance.
To make create a simple, feminine look, try layering thin necklaces. The delicate appearance of a thin chain necklace can soften your look and draw attention to your face. When layering necklaces, it’s best to make each layer a different length, but to only wear necklaces with a very similar style.
If you are considering a titanium wedding band, remember that it cannot be re-sized and may be a bit more difficult to cut off in an emergency than rings made from precious metals. Titanium rings are less likely to bend or crush under pressure, however, so an accident that would heavily damage a gold or platinum ring may not harm a titanium one.
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.
If you’re new to making wire jewelry, practice with copper wire or craft wire before moving on to sterling silver. There is a learning curve when it comes to making wire jewelry, and it’s likely you will have to try a few times before getting it right. Sterling silver is expensive and starting with that material is not very cost effective.
With the information you have just read, you will be able to enjoy and appreciate all types of necklaces, rings, and bracelets on a whole different level than before. Far from being just pretty little baubles, different pieces of jewelry have the power to transform and transcend like very few things can.
