Whether you buy jewelry for yourself or loved ones, get it as a gift or receive valuable heirloom pieces, it is important that you are aware of the best buying, selling and cleaning jewelry practices. This article will teach you how to best shop for it effectively.Keep your whole jewelry looking like new by wiping it with a polishing cloth. This is a very easy way to make them shine without dealing with solvents and chemicals. Use this two-sided cloth on your jewelry as if it were composed of glass. Use one side for polishing and the other to polish it.Get a polishing cloth for your jewelery. These cloths can replace the need for chemicals or solvents during the process. It’s easy, just use the dual-sided cloth to wipe down your jewelry, just as you would polish a beautiful glass. Use the side of the cloth that is designed for polishing to remove fingerprints, dust and other surface imperfections, and then use the opposite side to buff the jewelry and make it gleam.

Sterling Silver

If you want to buy sterling silver pieces, then by all means bring a magnet. You can detect fake sterling silver with the magnet, as non-precious metals are attracted by the magnet. You can identify sterling silver by its markings, for example “sterling, it might simply say, “STERLING”. If you don’t see a stamp of any sort on a piece, it may not be sterling silver.Take care when you are storing your jewelry in the same place. Consider delegating each piece to its own resting place, utilizing compartmental boxes and storage units. Don’t just box all the pieces together in a pile. This can harm delicate parts, and tangle some pieces with others, like necklaces.Know the distinctions between kinds of stone you are buying with your jewelry. There are basically three distinct types: natural gems, synthetic and imitation. Natural and synthetic gemstones are both actual gemstones, but imitation gems are probably just colored glass or plastic. Natural stones are found underground and synthetic ones are grown in a lab.Wear jewelry around for a day to see if it hangs correctly and is comfortable. This will also helps you to determine if the piece is sufficiently durable.Keep your jewelry in a relatively air-tight container, and minimize its exposure to humidity. A jewelry box or drawstring bag out of a humid area is ideal. Both air and humidity can lead to tarnished metal. Precious metal jewelry can be polished to fix tarnish, but non-precious metals coated with a finish will never get back to their previous state.

Costume Jewelry

You will need to pay special attention when you are buying costume jewelery! A fair amount of the stones in costume jewelery are set in. You want to avoid immersing your costume jewelry. The best care is to wipe them clean with a warm damp cloth and then dry immediately with another cloth. This helps keep costume jewelry clean and shiny.

When purchasing sterling silver, take along a good magnifying glass, along with a small magnet. You are able to detect fake pieces of sterling jewelry with a magnet, as non-precious metals are attracted by the magnet. True sterling sliver always has some sort of hallmark stamp on it, such as .925, sterling or ster. 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.If you are getting jewelry for someone you consider to be one-of-a-kind, look for an item of jewelry that is in line with their clothing and lifestyle choices. A unique ring, and it shows them that you care about them enough to buy them something that they’ll wear.This method is especially true when earrings and necklaces are concerned.Good jewelry will last a lifetime. Choose reputable jewelry dealers when considering your next jewelry purchase. Quality jewelry will be constructed to last, and show a fine attention to detail. A good jeweler can provide you with some background on the piece, such as who crafted it, where it was manufactured, and where any stones in it came from. If you select high-quality jewelry, it will last you forever.Before you buy, you should first determine if and how the stone was treated. The way to care required will differ depending on the kind of treatment.The right sale can save you a lot of money. Check online, in the newspaper, and even storefront windows. If you buy the older fashions that are from the previous season, you can get it for almost 50 percent off of its original price.Before you buy anything new, found out about the latest trend. If there is one thing better than a beautiful piece of jewelry, it’s finding that jewelry at a great price!If you are selling jewelry on the Internet, make sure that you present it in an attractive way. This is very important because a customer can not physically see and feel the jewelry when purchasing it online.A diamond’s cut and clarity are often times more attractive than how big it is. You also need to think of the person who will be wearing the jewelry.Make sure that you learn about the jeweler’s insurance policy prior to making any purchases. You want to know if they will be able to repair or replace the piece if it was to break. You can even find insurance on jewelry pieces that were stolen or misplaced.If you take proper care of your necklaces, rings and other pieces, you can ensure that each item looks brilliant and holds its value through the years. Learn to properly care for your valuable jewelry, to protect not only your investment, but the memories it evokes. This is more information out there, and by continuously education yourself, you can get more from your own jewelry.