You must know what you’re doing or do the research prior to shopping for jewelry in order to make a good purchase. Perhaps you are not sure where to begin.

Do not use any chemicals on your jewelery stones. These can erode both the color and the materials of your jewelry.

When storing your jewelry, be sure that you store it in a place with low humidity and free of open air. Trying putting them in a box with a tight-fitting lid or a bag that has a drawstring closure. All metals will tarnish if they are subjected to too much air and humidity. Precious metals, through some work and polish, can be restored to their original condition. Non-precious metals are coated, which means that polishing will allow copper metal to come through.

When you go shopping for sterling silver jewelry pieces, take with you a magnet and a monocle. Jewelry made with non-precious metals will be attracted to the magnet, revealing any fakes. If your silver is sterling, you will also notice a mark on the piece. This mark might state .925, sterling, or ster. Be wary of pieces that lack any silver hallmarks, as this is an indication that they’re not genuine sterling silver.

Before committing yourself to a piece, do research to determine which styles are hot and which are not. Price a variety of similar items before buying an expensive piece.

Make sure that you learn about the jeweler’s insurance policy prior to making any purchases. In the unfortunate, but possible event that your jewelry gets damaged, the jeweler will be able to replace or fix it for you. Some stores even insure jewelry against loss or theft.

Wearing the jewelry yourself can help you decide if it will be appropriate for your intended recipient. This can also help you see whether the piece is durable enough to last.

Ask your jeweler before you make a purchse about what kinds of treatments were used on the gemstones in the piece. Gemstone treatment can affect the type of care the piece needs. For example, you would not want to use a jewelry cleaner that is incompatible with a certain type of treatment. Doing so could result in irreversible damages to the color and surface of the stone.

Untangle knotted necklaces with delicate loops. It’s easy to get frustrated with tangled necklaces, but saran wrap can come to the rescue. Put the necklace on the plastic wrap and cover it with a little baby oil. Try using needles to start untangling it. Wash any oil residue from the necklace with dishwashing liquid, and gently pat it dry.

Buying jewelry sets can be less expensive than purchasing separate pieces of the same value. You will find that a great deal of stores offer discounts when you buy sets of jewelry. You can even divide the pieces and give them to multiple recipients or on multiple occasions. This is a fabulous way to always have a gift that someone will love.

Ensure that the clasps of your jewelry are sturdy and reliable. A flimsy clasp could result in lost jewelry. With a more expensive piece of jewelry, it is a good idea to insist on a safety clasp. There are those who add one or two extra clasps to their expensive jewelry items to be certain of their safety.

Use decorative robe hooks to prevent your necklaces from becoming tangled and knotted. Put these small hooks along a bedroom wall or even on a closet door to organize and hang your necklaces from. This little display looks appealing and keeps chains from tangling at the same time.

Feel Fabulous

Jewelry using crystal or onyx can be great statement pieces. Not only will you feel fabulous about your beautiful jewelry, but you’ll also feel fabulous about how much you saved.

Rubies have been a popular stone for a long time for good reason. Rubies come in different shades of red, though the most prized rubies are of the brightest reds. They can range from pinkish hues to the darkest, blood red colors. Rubies are also very strong, durable stones and resistant to chemicals as well. The fine qualities of the ruby makes it a great choice for jewelry.

A stone that people do not often think of is Alexandrite. Depending upon the lighting levels, the stone may appear alternately green or purple. You can find it often in rings, pendants and earrings.

Show your significant other how much you are in love by surprising them with jewelry. All women love jewelry, especially when it is an unexpected gift. When she opens up the box and sees what you bought her, her eyes will light up and you will get enjoyment from it.

If you have small pieces of jewelry from your childhood that you’d like to keep wearing, layer them with more mature pieces. A single necklace or a group of them worn together will look better with the addition of a pendant such as a cross or a heart. Whether or not they match the necklaces’ style, color, or material, such pendants are a great way to make jewelry reflect its owner’s personality.

Before selling a piece of jewelry, you should have it appraised by a gemologist or accredited appraiser. This gives you a baseline price against which you can evaluate offers from potential buyers.

Before you begin to shop for the perfect engagement ring, you should familiarize yourself with the going rate for diamonds. When you shop for diamonds, it can be an emotional experience. Avoid tossing your predetermined budget out the window when the enthusiasm and euphoria takes over.

As we have shown in this article, doing your homework can certainly have many benefits if you are buying and selling jewelry. Use the information you’ve learned in this article to make successful jewelry acquisitions.