Great Jewelry Should Be Worn And Enjoyed

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Great Jewelry Should Be Worn And Enjoyed
You could have tons of fun shopping for jewelry, but stressful if you want to buy expensive jewelry. Depending on the material a piece of jewelry is made of, the price varies greatly for each piece. Buyers who have not educated themselves about jewelry might end up paying too much money for which they get. Read on for some tips on becoming a jewelry shopping pro.

When you are shopping for jewelry in sterling silver, be sure to examine the piece closely, and take along a magnet for metal testing. If an item of jewelry is attracted by a magnet, it is not sterling silver! Only non-precious metals can be drawn to a magnet. In addition, sterling silver pieces are always stamped with silver hallmarks indicating such factors as the degree of purity, the manufacturer's symbol, and the date of manufacture. Some of the most common hallmarks are "925, "ster," "sterling," and "sterling silver." If the piece is not hallmarked in any way, be leery of its authenticity because oftentimes it is a sign of a fake.

Your jewelry should endure an entire lifetime. Get jewelry from a jeweler with a good reputation to be sure that it's of high-quality. If a piece of jewelry is of high quality, it should be made well and exhibit top-flight craftsmanship. The jeweler must be able to provide a medical history of the piece. This will tell you who made the piece, and where the components came from. This way, you can ensure you are paying a fair price. Making sure that it is high-quality will ensure that it lasts forever.

When you are shopping for jewelry in sterling silver, be sure to examine the piece closely, and take along a magnet for metal testing. To spot scams, see if the magnet attracts the piece. If it does, then shout "FAKE!" at the top of your lungs and move to the next store. Another way to determine if a metal is sterling silver is to check for a hallmark stamp, for example .sterling, .ster, or .925. If you don't see such a mark, you might want to reconsider the purchase. This is usually an indicator that the piece is fake.

If you are wanting to collect costume jewelry, you should ensure you are aware of its condition. Well-done costume jewelry is often worth the price, but if it's worn out or visibly damaged, it won't be worth the effort it takes to restore it. A piece that is free of any defects or wear not only looks better, but is also a better investment.

Find out what the ideal methods are for maintaining each piece of jewelry you own. Different metals, stones, and settings have different needs to ensure proper maintenance. Along the same lines, enhancing different stones and settings requires you to take different steps. Go ahead and ask a professional jeweler to find out exactly how you should be caring for your jewels.

Hopefully you can take these suggestions and then use it to make your next jewelry purchase a memorable one. By implementing these suggestions, your next trip to the jewelers should save time and money.