Jewelry is almost always a wonderful gift idea for a special woman, especially if you don’t have many other ideas of what to get her. Let us now provide you with a few tips that can make the process of choosing that perfect gem an easy process for anyone.

You should always store your jewelry very carefully. For best results, separate different pieces into different boxes, compartments or hooks. Throwing the jewelry together into the jewelry box is a no-no. This can damage fragile, delicate jewelry, and necklaces can become very tangled in other jewelry pieces.

Never store your jewelry in open air or humidity. To protect your jewelry it is important to secure it in a small bag with a drawstring, or in a jewelry box that remains closed a majority of the time. Precious, as well as non-precious metals, will tarnish if they are exposed to humidity and air over time. Silver polishes work well to remove tarnish, but certain metals, such as bronze, may not polish well. The polish may remove the surface coating and then the metal underneath, such as copper, becomes visible.

Sterling Silver

Take a magnet and a keen eye with you when you head out to purchase any jewelry made from sterling silver. Precious metals, like sterling silver, will not be attracted to the magnet. You can generally tell genuine sterling silver by its stamp, which will look something like “.925 ster.” Silver jewelry that lacks a hallmark may be a fake or composed of other metals.

Know the distinctions between kinds of gems before you make a jewelry purchase. There are three different types: natural, synthetic and imitation. Imitation has little value, as it is generally plastic, while synthetic and natural are considered to be real gems. Synthetic gems come from a lab and natural ones are found in the ground.

If you like to buy costume jewelry, make sure that you examine the condition carefully. A piece that isn’t in very good condition won’t be worth it, and since you may be thinking of an expensive item as an investment, it’s important to watch for wear and tear. Costume pieces kept in great condition will enhance your collection much more over time.

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.

When buying jewelry, think about what kind of stone would be right. You should chose stones that reflect your personality, as well as complement your skin tone. Neutral colors work better to match all your clothing. Having a beautiful piece of jewelry is pretty worthless if you cannot wear it.

Research the proper methods for cleaning your jewelry. Various settings, types of metals, and gemstones need different types of care to protect them and make sure they get cleaned properly. What works for a certain kind of stone may not work for another. For the best information on how to look after your jewelry, you should talk to a jeweler.

The brooch adds a unique touch and a bit of your style to your outfit. Place the broach in the middle of your waist for the best effect.

In order to make sure your jewelry is always looking clean, you should only put a piece on once you’ve applied your make-up. The small particles of powdered makeup can easily dull the shine of your jewelry. This tip is especially important when it comes to earrings and necklaces.

Before you buy, ask the jeweler if and how the gemstone was treated. The way to care for a stone differs greatly depending on how it was treated. Some cleaning solutions that work perfectly well on untreated gems can strip off treatments, and even damage stones, if you use them on treated gems.

When selling a piece of jewelry online, you should aim to present the piece in an attractive manner. A nice photo and description is essential since your online customer will not be able to see the piece in person. Make sure you take a photo of the jewelery in a place that will focus on it and not the background.

Take your jewelry off before you go swimming. The life and luster of your jewelry can be damaged by the strong chemical chlorine. Salt water is equally as bad for your jewelry. Take off your jewelry before diving in the water to keep them looking their best.

The high price of gold can interfere with your fine jewelry purchases. If you decide you must have real gold jewelry, you may want to save money on the karats instead. Eighteen karats means the piece contains seventy-five percent of gold: this remains affordable and looks like a luxury item.

If you own gold, whether it’s in the form of bracelets or necklaces, you can keep your pieces and still make money from them. Consider removing excess portions of gold or silver that will not affect the overall piece. You can actually make a tidy sum by selling off odds and ends of jewelry in this manner.

If you are a jewelry maker who sells at craft fairs, holiday markets and such, you may have trouble coming up with ways to properly display it. The next time you go shopping for new materials, look for things you can use for display. You can use items like cigar boxes, baskets and other unusual items to display your jewelry in an interesting way.

Buy a piece of jewelry you can reasonably afford. You will soon come to realize that debt incurred for a rash decision on a momentary urge will devastate you financially. Especially if you are a couple just starting out, a less costly option may be better for you. You can always add to the ring when finances are better or add a nice ring guard as an anniversary present.

It has been said already, but jewelry is rarely, if ever, the wrong choice for that perfect gift. Follow the advice here to aid in making a good jewelry choice for your spouse, companion, mom or offspring.