e-Article Tips

Jewelry is a fabulous way to add some shimmer to both everyday looks and ensembles for special occasions. With advice ranging from how to choose and wear jewelry, to how to clean and store it, these tips can help you to build and maintain your own collection of sparkling jewels.

Antique and vintage jewelry need to be protected from extremes in heat and cold and from excessive humidity. If you don't plan on wearing your jewelry on a regular basis, it is a good idea to buy a small fireproof safe to store your jewelry in. These safes can be purchased for less than $50 and provide you a great storage solution.

In order to keep your jewelry at its best, remove your jewelry before doing house cleaning, going swimming, performing personal care such as using lotion and bathing, or before exposing yourself to extreme heat or cold. The metal in your jewelry can tarnish or even crack if it is exposed to harsh chemicals such as chlorine, or if it is rapidly heated and cooled.

When buying turquoise jewelry, make sure you're getting the real thing. Some of the things you can check for are that the color is uniform throughout and that the stone tends more toward opaque than clear. Also, the presence of veins or splotches, ranging from white to black, are a good indication of a real turquoise rather than a fake one. Most important, buy from a reputable dealer and ask for written authentication of the value. Unfortunately, with all the enhancements done to fake turquoise stones, sometimes it's hard to tell the real thing from an imitation.

Do not purchase any jewelry from retailers in China. This country is notorious for selling fake gemstone and metal jewelry. Oftentimes, the jewelry advertised as sterling silver with real turquoise is just a piece of metal sprayed in silver and the turquoise is a fake piece of plastic. Such vendors may accept returns, but the hassle of shipping it back at your own cost, is usually not worth it. Be aware of scams like this.

Consider buying a small barrel tumbler. If you wear a lot of jewelry or just want to keep the pieces you own in good condition, you probably clean it on a fairly regular basis. You might want to get a small barrel tumbler for polishing. They are inexpensive and do a thorough job.

When shopping for jewelry as a gift for a special occasion like a graduation, anniversary, or birthday, make your offering more personal and memorable by adding an inscription somewhere on the piece. Opt for a favorite verse of Scripture, monogrammed initials, or even a highly personal message or words of encouragement.

The best item to clean jewelry is a clean cotton cloth. Make sure that each time you gently wipe down your pieces of jewelry that the cloth you are using has been cleaned and that you have evaluated the cloth for any scratch particles that may have been left over before you clean your items.

If you want to purchase a piece of jewelry that is sentimental and not necessarily ornate, opt for a solid sterling silver, white gold, or platinum band without stones. Have a name, date, or personal message engraved on the inside of the ring, pendant, or bracelet to add an inspiring, personalized touch.

Jewelry is a great way to complement your individual sense of style, and with the helpful tips and ideas included in this article, you can choose the earrings, necklaces, bracelets and other pieces that make your look shine, and keep them shimmering and shining for many years to come.