Jewelry can be confusing, no matter if you have inherited the jewelry or received it as a gift. The number of resources available can make things confusing at first. This article is going to outline a few useful tidbits about jewelry to help you on your quest to be a more educated consumer.

Do not use harsh chemicals such as ammonia, bleach, turpentine or acetone to clean them. This can cause the stones to lose their luster in addition to eating away the enamel on any of the pieces.

Be cautious about your jewelry storage. Using boxes, hooks, holders, and compartments is very effective for ensuring the pieces stay separated. Jewelry should not be lumped together in a pile. This can hurt very fragile jewelry, and tangle necklaces or bracelets.

Sterling Silver

When shopping for genuine sterling silver jewelry, you need both a discerning eye and a small magnet. Imitations will be attracted to your magnet. This is an easy way to recognize quality. You can identify sterling silver by its markings, for example “sterling,” “ster,” or “.925.” If the item has no markings indicating its authenticity, then be wary.

When you are shopping, think about the color or type of gem you want to buy. Three different kinds of gems are available for purchase: imitation, synthetic and natural. Natural and synthetic gems are real stones, but imitation is just plastic colored to look like the real thing. They make synthetic stones in a lab, whereas natural stones come from the ground.

What color gold do they seem to favor – white or yellow? Do they normally wear a bracelet? What type of earrings do they prefer – drop and dangle or studs? Take a mental note of this important information. Doing this will provide a good basis for where you should begin so that you can purchase a special piece for that special someone.

Costume Jewelry

Costume jewelry needs to be handled carefully. Many of their settings are glued instead of set. Never immerse your costume jewelry or use harsh chemicals on it. The best care is to wipe with a warm damp cloth and then dry with another cloth. This keeps costume jewelry looking its best.

Gems are given chemical treatments in the process of cutting, polishing and setting. When you are thinking of buying, ask what treatment a stone was given. The kind of care your stone needs is dependent on what it was treated with. If your gem was treated you have to find out how to clean it properly.

If you have tangled necklaces, you can untangle them with ease. It is tempting to throw in the towel against knotted metal, but plastic wrap should be reached for instead. After you place the necklace on top of the wrap, cover it in baby oil. Do the untangling yourself with a pair of needles. Once it’s untangled, use dish soap to wash the necklace and pat it dry.

Jewelry is a very large topic, and there are a lot of things to know about it. With some research and dedication, you can be sure you are buying some quality pieces and take care of the the right way. The jewelry world is rewarding and exciting, so join in the hunt! These tips should give you a nice head-start in exploring this wide world.