Buying jewelry can be a very good experience and especially if what you buy is something that you can hold onto and pass down from generation to generation. You have to be sure to find pieces that suit you, but also those that are worth what you intend to pay for them.

If you see a ring that claims to be diamond and has a sterling silver setting, be very wary. Diamonds are only professionally set in white gold, yellow gold or platinum. Very rarely and mostly never will you see a diamond ring set in sterling silver. There are a few infrequent cases with a few low grade diamond chips set in silver, but usually this will not happen. If you see a jewelry store with this practice, they are usually selling zirconia and claiming them as diamonds.

When cleaning your fine jewelry, always follow the recommended cleaning directions for the gemstones used in the piece instead of the metals. Many jewelry cleaners designed to remove tarnish from metals can also dull or even destroy many soft precious gemstones. Use a cleaner safe for all gemstones and avoid harsh chemicals.

Use a toothbrush and small bit of toothpaste to clean your precious gems. This works really well on diamonds. The toothpaste is a non-abrasive scrubber and the toothbrush is small enough to get into those little nooks and crannies. This method is safe to use as often as you like.

Do not purchase any jewelry online, unless it is from a dealer you know and trust. There are many scammers online who promise you an expensive and real piece of jewelry, when in reality, it is fake. If you are unsure if you can trust a dealer, you can check out his or her credentials online.

Even though some of the pieces may be attractive, you should stay away from gold filled jewelry. No matter what the seller may say, gold filled jewelry can turn your skin green and the colors can fade away. The best thing to do if you do not know if it is gold filled is to just not buy it.

When making jewelry, beeswax is a wonderful product to use for taming frizzy twine. Just rub a little on to the twine and you’ll have a smooth look in no time. Your beads will go on easier and your piece will have a more elegant, professionally made look.

Clean your jewelry with warm water and mild soap, rinse it out, and then dry thoroughly. It also helps to polish the piece of jewelry with a soft cloth. Excess water remaining on jewelry in storage can tarnish precious metals, sometimes beyond repair. A soft cloth can also help to restore luster and shine to your jewelry while removing excess water from the piece.

In order to save money on the purchase of jewelry you should consider looking at local antique shops. Many people sell their antique jewelry to the shops when they are in need of money or if they have inherited it and just don’t want it. There is no reason to pay the high markups that come with jewelry.

When making any type of jewelry purchase, first consider the amount in which you are looking to spend and then formulate the high and low end of your budgets. Once you go to a jewelry store, do not feel pressured to go over your budget regardless of how good the deal the jeweler is presenting to you. If it seems too good to be true, chances are it is.

Make sure that the gold on the piece of jewelry you are buying is real. Many jewelers try to sell fake gold as real gold, and you do not want to pay good money for fake gold. To tell if it is real, use a magnet. Real gold does not stick to a magnet, so if it does stick, then it is fake.

If you want to give jewelry to someone as a gift, be very careful. Giving jewelry is a very meaningful gesture: make sure you are giving something that says exactly what you meant. Types of jewelry, colors of stones and price tags have a meaning. Ask for advice if necessary.

Onyx items, or those made of crystal, make quite the impact when worn in a jewelry piece. You don’t have to waste money to get great results.

If you are low on cash but still want to make some jewelry, you can make paper beads! These are bright and colorful and also, very fun to make for yourself or if you have children. All you need is some old magazines that you may have laying around!

Make sure that you remove your jewelry when doing things that could damage it, such as cleaning the house, swimming in a pool or hot tub, even just putting on lotion. Normal cleaners and harsh chemicals can do damage to the finish of your precious metals and loosen the stones.

For a clever way to store your necklaces and bracelets, remove the head of an old rake and spray paint it any color you wish (or use clear spray paint to keep the rustic look). Hang the rake on the wall securely, with the tines pointing outward, and hang your baubles from the tines to keep them neat and untangled.

A pave setting can be a unique choice when selecting a diamond ring. A pave setting is actually a bunch of tiny diamonds set together, rather than one single large diamond. The diamonds are placed in tiny holes, with their surface almost at the same height as your setting. It can be difficult to distinguish a pave setting for a single setting with the naked eye, but the cost is significantly less.

If you follow all of the handy advice that was given to you in this article you should have no problem when it comes to procuring jewelry. Do not over think things though, because that can lead to mistakes being made. Just remember what you learned and apply it to your sale.