How To Purchase High Quality Jewelry

By Walter Smith


While jewelry shopping is a fun experience, it can be extremely stressful, if the piece you are seeking is expensive. Jewelry comes in various types of metals, that can range in price from inexpensive to extremely pricey. An uneducated customer might pay too much. Use this advice to make the most of your next jewelry purchase.

Always be aware of the type of stone you're buying when dealing with gems. Natural gems and imitation gems have been joined recently by synthetic gems, making three main categories. Natural gems and synthetic gems are real gemstones, whereas imitation is just an item of plastic with gemstone colors. Synthetic gems are grown in a lab, natural gems are dug out of the Earth.

Most jewelry is intended to last for a life time. Always purchase pieces from reputable jewelers in order to make sure you are getting quality pieces. A high-quality piece of jewelry should be well-made and show superior craftsmanship. The jeweler should be able to give you a history on the piece, like who crafted it and where the stones came from if there are any. You'll create an heirloom tomorrow if you choose high-quality jewelry today.

When you are shopping for jewelry in sterling silver, be sure to examine the piece closely, and take along a magnet for metal testing. You can tell if a piece of silver is sterling or not by using a magnet. Sterling will not react to the magnet, but non-precious metals will be attracted. In addition, sterling silver pieces are always stamped with silver hallmarks indicating such factors as the degree of purity, the manufacturer's symbol, and the date of manufacture. Some of the most common hallmarks are "925, "ster," "sterling," and "sterling silver." If the piece is not hallmarked in any way, be leery of its authenticity because oftentimes it is a sign of a fake.

Knowing what type of jewel you are buying when you purchase jewelry is very important. Gemstones come in three different varieties: natural, imitation and synthetic. Synthetic and natural are real stones, while the imitation ones are plastic that is colored. Natural stones are mined, and synthetic stones are created in a laboratory.

Your diamond shopping experience is missing something important if you are not comparison shopping. Make a close-range examination of stones you find appealing, and contrast them with other likely purchases. Some diamond sellers use misleading practices to try to increase the apparent quality of their merchandise, so you should be wary of these tactics.

If you are wanting to collect costume jewelry, you should ensure you are aware of its condition. Costume jewelry, while expensive, can be a great investment. However, if a piece shows wear it will lose value. Stick to pieces that are in good to excellent condition, as they are the best investments.

When shopping for jewelry, think about the stones in the pieces. Pick out stones that will reflect your personality and complement your skin tone. Choosing neutral colors can help them match anything you wear. Do not buy anything that you cannot wear.

You need to pay special attention when caring for costume jewelry. Many pieces of costume jewelry have the stones glued on, for example. Don't submerge costume jewelry in water or clean it with harsh chemicals. The best way to maintain your costume jewelry is to use a moist, warm cloth first, then dry it off with another cloth. This will assure that you costume jewelry will continue looking great.

Having read this, you should now know some tips to use when you are going to buy watches, necklaces, cuff links, etc. These helpful tips will save you both time and money.




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