Here are some ideas for selecting and purchasing jewelry as a gift or for yourself.

Use a polishing cloth on your jewelry pieces. This method ensures your jewelry stays shiny without having to use any type of chemicals or solvents. Use the two-sided cloth to polish your jewelry as if it were composed of glass. Use one side for polishing and the other to polish it.

Take a polishing cloth to each piece of jewelry in your collection. This is a chemical-free method to maintain the appearance of your fine jewelry. Buff your jewelry with the two-sided cloth, just as if you were cleaning a glass. Use one side to shine it and the other to polish it.

If you want to buy sterling silver pieces, then by all means bring a magnet. If an item of jewelry is attracted by a magnet, it will be attracted to the magnet. You will always find a hallmark stamp such as “.925” or “STER.” on genuine sterling, or alternately,” “ster, “STERLING”. If your silver is not marked, watch its authenticity since it may be fake.

Jewelry should last forever. When purchasing your next jewelry item, always use a dealer with a good reputation, well-made piece. A valuable piece of jewelry should be well-made and feature superior craftsmanship. The jeweler ought to know the history of the piece, like who crafted it and where the stones came from if there are any. It is important that your pieces are high-quality jewelry if you want it to become a long time.

Steer clear of ammonia, bleach or other strong chemical solvents when you need to clean these items. This can cause your stones to turn and dull in color, along with eating away any enamel on the pieces.

Take a good look at all the pieces that you like, and then make the comparison to any others on your favorites list. Be aware that jewelers use cheap tactics to make a diamond look bigger or better.

Keep your jewelry from getting tarnished to preserve its best as you can. Try not to wear jewelry away from water. Water can dull and rust some metals to lose their luster or to become tarnished or rusty.If you must take your jewelry somewhere wet, coat it thinly with clear nail polish.

Store your jewelry in a place that is not subjected to humidity extremes or open air. Keep them stored safely in a closed, dark area, like a jewelry box or drawstring bag. Humidity quickly tarnishes both precious and non-precious 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 can be very expensive and a great investment, but also a costly one; keep in mind the pieces you wish to add to your collection don’t show too much wear. A piece in good condition will increase in the future.

Wear the jewelry piece for a day so to be sure that you can get an idea of how comfortable it is and is comfortable. This can also help you know how the piece is durable enough to last.

Be sure that you understand the kind of gemstone that is in the jewelry that you are purchasing. Three different kinds of gems are available for purchase: imitation, synthetic and natural. While both natural and synthetic stones are still real, imitation is just glass or plastic made to look like the natural stone. Natural stones are mined, and synthetic stones are created in a laboratory.

Consider the stones when you buy jewelry. The right stone will enhance your skin tone and suit your personality. Neutral colors work better to match all your closet.

This method is especially helpful in the case of necklaces or earrings.

If you like to collect costume jewelry pieces, become very choosy about each piece’s condition. This type of jewelry can be extremely expensive and makes an incredible investment. However, this type of piece can have a lot of wear and tear, which wouldn’t be worth your money or time. Pieces that are in great shape will fetch you better prices down the road, should you choose to sell them.

If you are looking to sell jewelry online, make sure it is presented attractively. This is very important to remember because the jewelry when purchasing it.

A matched jewelry set is a no-fail gift for that special someone. You will find that a great deal of stores offer discounts when you buy an entire set. You could always break the pieces and give them to multiple recipients or on multiple occasions. This is a fabulous way to give something every holiday season without having to worry that someone will love.

Pay attention to the quality and type of gemstones in a piece when you’re looking at buying new jewelry. Certain stones will do a better job of complementing your skin tone and your personality than others. Think about how the stones will work with your style, and pick neutral colors that go with everything in your wardrobe. A piece that is hard to wear is not as useful as one that goes with everything.

Attach the hooks in accessible areas of your bedroom or closet, and hang groups of necklaces according to length or color. This can make your bedroom look more stylish and keeps chains from tangling at the same time.

When looking to purchase a considerably expensive jewelry piece, choose one that is sure to last for years. Although you’ll almost always get high quality when the item is expensive, there are other factors to consider. Something that you think is trendy right now might look ridiculous in a few years. Look for pieces that will stand the test of time and timeless.

Costume jewelry needs special care. A lot of the stones in costume jewelery are glued in and not set in. Don’t submerge costume jewelry in water or clean it with abrasives. To care for it best, wipe your jewelry with a damp, warm cloth and dry it with a different cloth. Doing so will keep your jewelry looking its best for life.

If you’re going to wear gaudy jewelry, wear bigger jewelery. Try wearing a simple or solid color to bring attention to jewelery.

Like we talked about earlier, jewelry is always a great gift for any woman you find yourself needing a special gift for. Use the tips here to take some of the mystery out of buying jewelry. Soon you will not have to rely on the counter person and you can confidently buy just the right piece for anyone.

To keep your jewelry looking clean, only put it on after your make-up is applied and set. The dust, oils and particles from makeup rub off on jewelry; putting on jewels first means they will get dingy and dull with a film of makeup over them. Especially keep this tip in mind for necklaces or earrings.