Jewelry is surely one thing a girl cannot do without. Every fashionista knows that the right mix of jewels can top off an outfit and really bring it to life. However, many women feel they don’t know where to start when it comes to choosing accessories to finish off a look. In these cases, a woman’s jewelry box can become an intimidating enemy. If you’re one of those women, read on because this article will give you tips and tricks to ensure you always pick the right jewelry, and combination of jewels, to go with any outfit.

Costume jewelry is worth considering if you’re going to work and don’t wish to wear any jewelry that has a high value attached to it. Costume pieces of jewelry don’t contain any precious metals or gemstones, which makes them highly affordable and widely available. This type of jewelry does tend to tarnish over time and cannot be shined with a polishing cloth.

Don’t spend a lot of money purchasing cheap costume jewelry. Costume jewelry does sell in more designs and cost significantly less than fine jewelry. Yet, over the course of a few months or years, costume jewelry loses its color which causes the cheap metal to show through underneath. Invest in one or two pieces of fine jewelry that are sure to last a lifetime.

You don’t have to settle with the traditional clear diamonds. Diamonds are available in practically every color in the rainbow. They come in blue, pink, red, yellow, brown, black, purple and many more colors. You can find pieces where colored diamonds are the focal point or you can find pieces where they act like accents.

When buying diamonds, do not fall for the selling ploy of deceptive jewelry lighting. Many of these have quartz or halogen bulbs. The kinds of lights they emit can really make stones appear much brighter. This is because they shine it purposelessly behind them to give them a false glow in an attempt to attract customers.

Sites like Etsy have a wide selection of handmade jewelry. You can find many unique, one of a kind pieces, but be careful. Some sellers may use pendants or other findings that can be widely purchased in bulk or from craft stores. Read reviews or search for similar items to make sure you’re getting the best value.

When looking to invest in fine jewelry, understand the different price ranges different metals and gemstones fall into. For example, understanding that opal is very expensive, you can already figure out if you see someone selling it for under twenty dollars, it is a fake. Knowing that sterling silver is a lot cheaper than white gold, but quite similar in appearance, can help narrow down your price when looking to invest in a nice pair of earrings.

Don’t discard your antique broach from Grandma, re-purpose it. If you put a chain through it, the broach instantly becomes a fashionable necklace. Vintage jewelry is extremely popular these days and finding a way to make it wearable makes it fashionable. Re-using is also a popular concept in our „green“ society. That broach can serve you well with just a slight alteration to its use.

Clean your jewelry for next to nothing. One of the simplest and cheapest ways to keep your diamonds sparking and your silvers shining is to use antacid tablet. Drop them in water with your jewels on top and let it do its work for a few minutes. Take out, and enjoy the splendor of cleanliness.

To avoid a tacky amount of jewelry keep to the rule of two. Two great pieces at a time is the most you should attempt in one outfit. Choose a bracelet and a necklace, a necklace and a ring, or ring and a bracelet. Keep it simple for maximum effect.

You should surprise a woman with jewelry without it being a holiday. Many women love getting jewelry as a present but getting a present just because their guy wants them to have it is 1000 times better. It will show them that you care about them and want to show them that you love them everyday and not just on holidays.

Make sure that you understand the language and jargon the jewelers speak. When you go looking at jewelry they will throw out information about the grade of the stones. It is important that you know what they are talking about and it will save both you and the jeweler time if you understand at least a little bit about the language that they use.

When buying jewelry, look for stones that actually flatter your eyes of complexion. Avoid red stones if you have very pale skin, and avoid paler stones if you have dark skin. A stone with a color similar to your eyes will do wonders for you. Find something that you can easily wear with your outfits too.

When shopping for a ring, necklace, or bracelet, consult all available sources before making a purchase for your wife or girlfriend. Do not hesitate to consult her mother, sister, or best friend. They may be able to provide more detailed insight into her preferences regarding metal, gems, and details.

When making jewelery such as a bracelet, remember that beads can be expensive. A good way to find cheaper beads is to go to a thrift store and buy jewelery that is on sale and deconstruct it and use it in your design. If you do not use all of the beads don’t worry, maybe you will later!

When shopping for jewelry, keep in mind the „cost per use“ factor. If you will only wear those gorgeous, dangly diamond earrings a handful of times, calculate how much money you are paying for each time you wear them. Pieces that you wear daily – like your wedding ring – are worth spending more money on, because your cost per use will be lower, and they will see more wear and tear.

As this article shows, there are myriads of ways to accessorize an outfit with jewelry. So girls, keep these tricks in mind when you are putting together every outfit, and you are sure to end up on the top of everyone’s best dressed list. Thanks to these recommendations you will never be afraid of your jewelry box again.