The best way to make sure that you’re getting the most for your money when buying jewelry is to get a good background in the business itself. This will help to make sure that you do not end up paying top dollar for something of little value. Follow the advice in this article and you should be well prepared.

Sterling silver jewelry makes a great investment. Pieces of jewelry made from sterling silver last for a lifetime and provide endless elegance. Sterling does tarnish, but can be quickly shined up using a polishing cloth. However, pieces of sterling silver jewelry that have specialty coating can last ages without tarnishing.

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.

If you have metal allergies, make sure to purchase nickel free jewelry. Nickel is a common alloy that is mixed in with precious metals such as sterling silver to make them more pliable. Silver itself is very liquid in its original state and therefore not substantial enough to be properly molded into jewelry. Oftentimes, another alloy such as nickel is added. Make sure you check what you are purchasing to make sure it is nickel free.

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.

Take off your rings when you’re in the shower. It can be often tempting to keep your wedding band or promise ring on all the time, but the chemicals in soap, body wash and shampoo can have negative effects on your ring. Another great reason is because rings can often slide off and disappear down the drain. Keep your ring everlasting and safe by removing it before stepping into the shower.

A great source for unique and inexpensive jewelry pieces are local thrift shops. Local thrift stores can be a treasure trove for antique and truly unusual pieces. Often, these establishments do not have the staff, training or time, that is necessary to check for hallmarks or gold and silver content. A few dollar’s investment can often yield, not only some really unique pieces of jewelry, but also some pieces that may be, quite valuable.

Shopping for birthstone jewelry may seem simple, but some months have more than one stone. June, October, November, and December all have multiple birthstones. If you’re shopping for yourself and you’re from a multiple stone month, decide which one you like best. If shopping for a gift, don’t be afraid to ask the recipient!

When buying jewelry as a gift – keep in mind the person that you are buying it for – and make sure that it is appropriate. Save the super-expensive jewelry for loved ones. Giving pricey baubles to people who are not that close to you can give them the wrong idea, or make them feel uncomfortable. Let the relationship that you share with others dictate they type of jewelry that you give them.

Any time that you are working on cleaning your house or any other place, you should first remove any pieces of jewelry that you are wearing. Not only is there a strong possibility of loss, but the cleaning chemicals can be very strong on your fine jewelry. Avoid these problems by first removing any jewelry.

Always keep all of your jewelry organized in a way that makes sense to you. There are many great options for jewelry boxes and drawer organizers to help you keep your fine pieces in order. This way you know exactly where everything is when you need to wear your nicest pieces to impress!

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.

When it comes to taking care of your jewelry be sure that you are using only mild cleaning solutions when cleaning it. This will ensure that you are not compromising the structural integrity of your jewelry as well as not causing further surface damage such as discoloration. When in doubt, look for jewelry safe cleaning products when shopping.

If you do not have enough money to buy jewelry, you can easily create your own. Earrings and necklaces are very easy to do: you can buy lovely beads for very cheap, or even make your own. Practice until you get it right, and people will not be able to tell the difference.

While sapphires are classically blue, they actually come in a myriad of shades- every shade besides red, in fact (red sapphires are known as rubies). They are characterized by their durability and strength, and are great candidates for jewelry because they can withstand just about everything, and can suit every wardrobe.

Carnelian is a beautiful semiprecious stone very popular for use in jewelry. The fiery orange, yellow and red swirls are often spectacularly carved into ornate shapes that catch the light in dangling pieces like pendants or dangling earrings, but can also be found in such pieces as rings and bracelets.

In conclusion, you want to make sure that you are not being cheated when you are purchasing jewelry. The advice that we have provided in this article will give you a great background on the industry itself so that you can learn to spot tricks or manipulations that dishonest sellers may use.