Jewelry has been with mankind forever, and the number of designs and options available continues to grow at a furious pace. This article will help you get started in choosing the right jewelry piece which will last you a lifetime.

Jewelry is best stored in an area with low humidity. Store them in a closed jewelry box or small drawstring bag for maximum protection. Tarnish is a chemical reaction that happens when silver and other metals are exposed to moisture and air. Polishing will work to restore the color and shine for precious metals, but with non-precious metals, polishing will not help the change in color.

Bring a magnet when shopping for sterling silver jewelery. Use the magnet to detect fake jewelry; real silver will not be attracted to the magnet, but the cheaper metals will. You will always find a hallmark stamp such as “.925” or “STER.” on genuine sterling, or alternately, it might simply say, “STERLING”. If the piece you’re inspecting doesn’t carry such a mark, be careful, as it is likely a fake.

Natural Gems

Do some research on the gem in your new piece of jewelry before you buy. The types of gems available are synthetic, imitation and natural. Both synthetic and natural gems are real; however, imitation is simply plastic. While natural gems come out of mines, synthetic ones come out of laboratories.

Good jewelry will last a lifetime. Always purchase pieces from reputable jewelers in order to make sure you are getting quality pieces. High-quality jewelry is durable and displays excellent craftsmanship. A credible jeweler should offer a complete history of the piece, including information about the creator and the source of the gemstones. You need to buy quality jewelry so that you can pass it down as an heirloom.

What color gold do they seem to favor – white or yellow? Do they normally wear a bracelet? What type of earrings do they prefer – drop and dangle or studs? Take a mental note of this important information. This will give you a good idea of where to start when purchasing that special item.

Always check with your jeweler about insurance policy options before buying anything. Insurance policies allow you to bring a defective or broken piece into the jewelry store for repair. In certain instances, there may even be jewelry insurance available to cover loss or theft.

If you want to maintain the look of your jewelry, you should prevent it from becoming tarnished. Exposure to water can affect the finish, so avoid it. Metals can become dull, rusty or tarnished if submerged in it. You can give your jewelry an additional layer of protection by applying a thin coat of clear nail polish to it.

Wearing the jewelry yourself can help you decide if it will be appropriate for your intended recipient. In this way, you will be able to tell if the item will withstand normal wear.

For those creative, quirky people in your life, shop for handcrafted original pieces. This shows that you are both thoughtful and creative, traits that someone who would want a unique piece of jewelry is likely to value.

Before purchasing a gemstone, find out if it has been treated, and if so, how. You will need to know what type of care it might require as a result of the treatment. For example, you should avoid cleaning a gem that has been treated with a certain solution that could peel off the treatment because this could harm the gem.

Plastic Wrap

Untangle your knotted messes of delicate chains and necklaces. You can easily give up on a knotted mass of metal, but instead grab some plastic wrap. Place the knotted necklace on the plastic wrap and coat it with baby oil. Untangle it with some needles. Wash them using dish soap, and then pat dry them.

When you want to sell jewelry on the Internet, you should try to show it off in an attractive way. This is extra important because the customer can not handle jewelry with an online transaction. Make sure you take a photo of the jewelery in a place that will focus on it and not the background.

Take the time to compare your options when shopping for diamonds. Every diamond is unique and has its own set of flaws. Sometimes an imperfection isn’t so important, but you need to see the diamond in person to determine this. Jewelers can price their diamonds differently according to the flaws in the diamonds. You can make the most of your investment if you take the time to comparison shop and hunt down the best diamond that falls within your price range.

Keep your jewelry in place with a strong clasp or closure. You may end up losing a treasured or costly piece through no fault of your own. You can avoid this by looking at the clasps prior to purchasing new pieces. Valuable bracelets and necklaces should be secured with a safety clasp. Some people may even choose to put a second or third clasp on their priceless pieces to keep them safe while wearing them.

You will want to avoid necklaces getting tangled, which can damage them. Try to find some attractive-looking hooks to hang them. Organize these hooks in a row and use them to keep your necklaces free-hanging and untangled. You can group them by style, length or other criteria. This will keep them untangled, and it looks nice as well.

Don’t focus on brand when buying a piece of jewelry. The brand may be a significant factor in the price. Usually, brand names like Cartier and Tiffany are much more expensive than jewelry without the brand name for the same piece. It is easy to find quality pieces from a variety of brands.

These tips should be helpful in preparing you to make a personal statement with jewelry. There is such a vast range of jewelry to pick from that it can all be a bit overwhelming. So make sure you do a little homework before you go shopping.