Jewelry has always been an important part of cultural expression. Today, it has become an industry and everything is done to create pieces that reflect the personality of the customer. Start with our tips, and find jewelry you will treasure and love to wear.

You never want to use bleach, ammonia, or any other cleaning solvents that are not designed specifically for cleaning jewelry. Using them may result in damage to your jewelry, may cause dulling of gemstones, and may erode enamel work.

Precious Metals

Never store your jewelry in open air or humidity. Store jewelry in a sealed box or drawstring pouch for the best protection. Precious, as well as non-precious metals, will tarnish if they are exposed to humidity and air over time. Precious metals can often be polished to remove most tarnish. Non-precious metals often have a single coat of metal. Therefore, polishing them can remove the coat and show the copper that is found underneath.

Your jewelry should be durable and long-lasting. It is important to invest in a quality piece of jewelry, so only work with respected and reputable jewelers. High-quality jewelry can be told by its superior craftsmanship and good manufacture. A credible jeweler should offer a complete history of the piece, including information about the creator and the source of the gemstones. Choosing a high-quality piece of jewelry is important, so that it will last forever.

Take the time to notice what kind of jewelry they already wear. For example, if they wear earrings, are they hoop or studs? Do they prefer white or yellow metals? This should give you a grasp of their tastes, and some ideas about what to buy for them.

Prevent your jewelry from tarnishing so that it keeps looking great. Remove your jewelry if you plan on spending time in or near water. Many types of jewelry become dulled or tarnished when they are exposed to water. If you must take your jewelry somewhere wet, prepare it by adding some clear nail polish on the surface.

You should try and wear the jewelery once to see if it will hang on you right. You will also have the knowledge that the piece is not going to fall apart the first time the receiver wears it.

For those creative, quirky people in your life, shop for handcrafted original pieces. A unique piece to match their personality shows thoughtfulness and creativity, which is exactly what you want to express to a person you care enough about to buy jewelry for.

Know what you want to do with jewelry prior to purchasing it. There is no need for a box of unused jewelry. Think of the outfits that you own, and use those to help you choose your jewelry.

If you’re selling jewelry on the Internet, make sure your depiction of the piece is detailed, clear and eye-catching. This is extra important because the customer can not handle jewelry with an online transaction. Make sure the background behind the jewelry in the photograph is bland and boring, so as not to distract the viewer’s attention away from the piece itself.

The diamond cut and clarity can make the stone more appealing than the size. Also, keep in mind the personality of the person you are giving the diamond to.

Comparison shopping for diamonds is critical. Every diamond is unique and has its own set of flaws. Once you see a diamond yourself, certain flaws will be less of a concern to you. In addition, different stores will price slightly different. The price is often dependent on the imperfections. You should always shop around to find the best possible diamond for a price that you can afford.

When you are shopping for gifts, why not consider a jewelry set? Most jewelers offer special deals on jewelry when it is bought in sets, rather than each piece individually. You can divide up the set into individual pieces and give them out one at a time. This is a fabulous way to always have a gift that someone will love.

Any piece of jewelry that wraps around and attaches, such as a necklace or a bracelet, absolutely must have a quality clasp. You risk losing an expensive or sentimental chain or gemstone pendant if the clasp is too loose. For particularly expensive or sentimental pieces of jewelry, it is recommended you have a safety clasp installed. There are those who add one or two extra clasps to their expensive jewelry items to be certain of their safety.

The tips above have hopefully cleared up some of the questions you have about jewelry. It should help you pick out just the right piece. Reading jewelry tips like those shared here can help you feel more confident in your selections.