Shopping for the perfect piece of jewelry can be difficult when you don’t have adequate information. Even if you don’t plan on buying the most intricate, fancy gems, it’s essential to know the basic jewelry-related terms. Also, some jewelry shops are better than others. This article contains all the information you’ll need to be a smart shopper.

Like with any important purchase, make sure that you are purchasing your jewelry from an experienced jeweler, one who has a solid reputation. You need one that you can trust and who can help you find what you need. They need to be friendly too, and not just another salesperson pushing what they think you should buy. It may even be wise to spend a little more in an established store, than to risk buying what seems to be the same item from someone spurious.

If you have a light ivory skin tone with darker hair, consider purchasing jewelry in silver, white gold or platinum. The silvery colors look elegant set against an ivory skin tone especially if you have brown or black hair. Make sure to choose darker gemstones such as green, black or deep blue.

Purchase meaningful jewelry for any occasion. Giving jewelry as a gift leaves a long lasting impression on the intended recipient. However, you can always add a personal touch by having the jewelry piece engraved with a personal message or add a charm of great importance. Personalized jewelry given as a gift always makes a loving gesture.

When you are going in with a mindset to buy quality jewelry it is of utmost importance that you are going to a reputable dealer of jewelry. Otherwise, you may in fact be duped and pay a lot for something that is not worth much. Make sure that the sales representatives can show they quality of the item.

The first step to a bridal outfit is the dress, and then everything else, including your jewelry, should be selected afterward. Your jewelry should not only match your dress, but highlight and color that is found in it. If you have sequins that shine opalescent pink, then highlight that with a rose topaz earring, for example.

If you own hemp jewelry, never wear it in the shower or while swimming. Exposure to water will greatly reduce the lifespan of your hemp pieces. Always remove your jewelry prior to water related activities, and avoid wearing it on very humid days as well. This will keep your special pieces looking great for a long time.

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.

To keep pearl jewelry looking like new, store it separately from other jewelry. While many gemstones are hard, pearls are quite soft and can be scratched easily. Try keeping your pearls in their own container with a soft lining. If you really want your pearls with the rest of your jewelry, try placing them in a soft bag first.

Metal allergies can make wearing any type of jewelry, most especially wrist watches, itchy and painful. A simple way to alleviate the itch that some non-precious metals (common in many watch cases) can cause, change your watch band to one made of leather or cloth and then apply a coat of clear nail polish to the back of your watch. The nail polish, while not permanent, can easily be reapplied when needed and protects your skin from being in direct contact with the metal case of the watch. If the buckle of that new watch band is metal, don’t forget to give it a coating of nail polish as well. Even that tiny bit of metal can cause some serious discomfort to those with sensitivities.

To remove tarnish from your silver jewelry without harsh chemicals, line the inside of a pot with aluminum foil, and add four cups of water and an eighth of a cup each of baking soda, salt and dish soap. Gently place all of your pieces into the liquid, counting them as you go. Bring the mixture up to a simmer for a couple of minutes, then turn off the burner and allow it to soak. Pour everything gently through a colander, then place the pieces on a towel to dry, counting them as you go.

Many types of metals will quickly tarnish when exposed to air for prolonged periods of time. One of the easiest ways to avoid this is by placing them in an air-tight location. A great and simple solution is purchasing small zipper plastic bags and then carefully sealing your jewelry inside them.

Be sure to ask the person you are dealing with at the jewelry store if the gem you are trying to purchase has been treated in any way. A lot of times they are treated to make them look better and last longer, but that decreases the value of the gem.

A great tip that can help you maintain your jewelry is to take your ring off when you go to the gym to lift weights. Lifting weights with your ring on can do a lot of damage to your ring. You’ll constantly scrape it against the weights which will badly scratch it.

A great jewelry tip is to disguise your jewelry when you wear it to work. A lot of places won’t allow their employees to wear jewelry and they’ll reprimand you if they see you wearing any. By wearing jewelry that’s flesh toned, it’ll be harder for them to see you’re wearing any jewelry.

Jewelry shopping is actually a piece of cake when you know what you’re doing. After researching exactly what kind of jewels you want and where you can purchase them, it’s easy to end up a satisfied customer. By using the tips from this article, you’ll soon be the proud owner of beautiful jewelry.