Jewelry is a fabulous way to add some shimmer to both everyday looks and ensembles for special occasions. With advice ranging from how to choose and wear jewelry, to how to clean and store it, these tips can help you to build and maintain your own collection of sparkling jewels.

Create wire jewelry. There are so many resources available to help you get started. You can buy the supplies almost anywhere, charms, beads, dangles, special clasps plus much more. It does take quite a bit of practice, but it can be a fun hobby or even a career if you perfect it.

Many people see jewelry labeled as sterling silver plated and oftentimes think they’ve hit the jackpot when they purchase it at a very low price. In this case unfortunately, you do get what you pay for. This type of jewelry only contains a very thin coating of sterling silver on top of a cheap metal which can usually be identified as copper. The jewelry will eventually tarnish and cause the copper to show through underneath with enough wear.

If you need help purchasing that special piece of jewelry for someone you care about, you should ask someone close to your special person. For instance, maybe a close friend or relative would be willing to help you pick out that special piece of jewelry. They are certainly very familiar with the individuals taste and preference and could help you select the perfect piece.

Don’t purchase used earrings without disinfecting the posts or ear hooks. Other people have been wearing them, especially true for vintage pieces, and there are plenty of germs lying around. Take some lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide, squeeze some onto a cotton swab and run it over the ear pieces of the earrings. This will kill the germs, making it safe to wear the earrings.

When wearing or buying jewelry, it is important to not go with anything large and flashy. I say this in literal terms, not as in „the diamond was so large.“ This is because any jewelry like earrings or necklaces that are too large become gaudy and unattractive. It is best to stick to pieces that fit you and look right.

If you want to buy one of the ladies in your life a piece of jewelry, but don’t know her size, just sneak something out of her jewelry box that she already wears. That way you can have that item sized and get her the perfect jewelry in the perfect size – she’ll be totally amazed!

When learning a new jewelry-making technique, use cheaper materials. For instance, if you are learning wire techniques, pick up some aluminum or copper wire from a local craft store, instead of using your sterling silver wire. This will help you get the valuable practice you need to master the technique, while sparing your pocketbook. If you mess up on your top-quality materials, they may become unusable.

When determining the type of jewelry you should purchase for your significant other, you should always remember that quality does count. Even though you should always aim to make your purchase an affordable one, you do not want to sacrifice quality. When you have a set price, shop around for a good deal.

This pertains to saunas that are steam or dry. Excessive moisture and heat can be damaging to jewelry.

If you are considering the purchase of jewelry for a loved one you should first determine if they prefer silver, gold or platinum. Just about everyone has preferences when it comes to their jewelry and if you get them gold when they really like silver they may never wear it. That means that you will have wasted a lot of money on a gift that they do not like.

If you are considering a fine piece of real gold jewelry, you should be prepared to pay a high price. You can save a bit of money on a gold piece by getting lower karats. 18 karat pieces are made up of at least 75% pure gold. This is considered to be the best combination of price and quality.

Guys, if you want to save money while buying jewelry, make sure you never bring your wife or girlfriend with you while shopping. It’s not that she’ll ask for something expensive; it’s that you’ll be eager to impress her rather than taking your chances with surprising her. Go for the surprise every time.

Avoid storing multiple bracelets and/or multiple necklaces together, especially if they’re thin. They can easily tangle and outright tear while you’re trying to get them untangled. If you’re storing them in the same box, pick up some small bags to keep them in separately. A little time to separate could save you some big money.

Pay attention to the construction of a piece of jewelry. The more claws that hold a stone in place, the better. Clasps need to be easy to open, but not flimsy. If a clasp is very thin, it could come loose or break quite easily, causing you to lose your jewelry.

When you are shopping for jewelry with gemstones, be aware that „synthetic“ and „created“ are not synonyms when it comes to gems. A „created“ gem is one formed of the same materials as a natural stone, though they are produced in a laboratory instead of the ground. „Synthetic“ stones are to be avoided, as they are mere imitations made from cheap materials.

If you have made the investment into a nice piece of jewelry, you want to keep it looking great for a lifetime. Regular cleaning and maintenance will need to be done. Many times the jeweler that you purchased the item from will perform a standard cleaning at no cost to you.

Jewelry is a great way to complement your individual sense of style, and with the helpful tips and ideas included in this article, you can choose the earrings, necklaces, bracelets and other pieces that make your look shine, and keep them shimmering and shining for many years to come.