Human beings have been adorning themselves with bright and shiny objects for almost as long as civilization has existed. Jewelry can be simple adornment or it can signify any number of things. Jewelry can denote your position in society, a protection against evil, or membership to a society or clan. It can take the form of expensive gemstones, or be as simple as leather and bone.
When buying jewelry, make sure that you don’t just rely on really prestigious name brands. This can generally lead to you paying 80% more than that of another popular jewelry retailer. Most of the non-prestigious jewelry retailers, also offer very nice holiday and yearly discounts, so it’s an overall better deal to shop with them.
Stay away from cheap glass jewelry. Borosilicate and lampwork glass jewelry are a new rage. Many styles of this type of jewelry are popping up in malls all over the country. However the products labeled as high quality lampwork glass are nothing more than cheap imported glass goods. Such glass products are usually not kiln annealed which means that there is a high chance that the product can shatter, cutting your skin while you’re wearing it. Purchase glass jewelry from local artisans or reliable vendors that you know are selling quality products. If it’s too cheap, you know it is too good to be true. Good glass costs anywhere from the low forty dollar range up into the hundreds.
When buying jewelry for your wife, make it a surprise! Never second guess yourself about choosing the “right” item as your wife will be more than happy just to receive a gift! Choose what you love and it’s likely she’ll love it, too. Jewelry is something that is gorgeous, so it’s easy to fall in love with!
If your pierced ears are sensitive to metal posts, try painting them with clear nail polish. Sensitive ears can be itchy, painful and red. By applying a thin coating of clear nail polish, the metal is covered and no longer presents a problem. You may wear your favorite earrings in comfort!
While it’s easy to point the finger at the metals in your jewelry causing your skin irritation, it could be as simple as the jewelry needing a good cleaning. Since bacteria and dirt can build up on your jewelry causing irritation, a warm water and gentle soap cleaning is recommended to rid the irritants and hopefully the bad reaction as well.
When making any type of jewelry purchase, first consider the amount in which you are looking to spend and then formulate the high and low end of your budgets. Once you go to a jewelry store, do not feel pressured to go over your budget regardless of how good the deal the jeweler is presenting to you. If it seems too good to be true, chances are it is.
Find some robe hooks and use those to keep all of your necklaces from getting tangled. The small hooks can be hung just about anywhere and will allow you to neatly organize and display your necklaces. This organizational tip can help you from getting a tangled mess of necklaces in your jewelry box.
If you are not used to buying jewelry, you should probably go visit a few jewelry stores first. This will give you an idea of prices, and you can ask sellers for advice. Once you know more, you can start browsing online and be able to recognize quality jewelry right away.
If you have trouble with your engagement ring causing your finger to break out, it may be because there is nickel in the stone’s setting. Protect your skin from this less-expensive metal by coating the inside of the setting with clear fingernail polish. Allow it to dry completely before wearing. You will need to touch it up from time-to-time.
Gold jewelry can be effectively cleaned with one teaspoon of ammonia, one teaspoon of dish soap, and one cup of water. The dish soap will act as a de-greaser, while the ammonia has an oxidation quality. You can use this as your regular cleaner for gold jewelry, but never use it on precious stones.
Practice with cheaper copper or steel wire if you’re new to jewelry making. Sterling silver wire is very expensive and messing it up will cost you money, save this for when you become more experienced.
Labradorite makes a popular and easy to care for alternative to multicolored stones like opal. It has a similar play of color, although the primary color that reflects off of labradorite is blue, rather than all colors of the rainbow. However, you don’t have to keep it moist to prevent it from cracking.
Store your jewelry carefully. Avoid jewelry boxes that just mash everything together. Each piece should be placed carefully on its own, since pieces touching one another could get scratched or etched. Keep sterling silver jewelry wrapped in special cloth that prevents tarnishing and always make sure they are put away dry, never wet.
Jewelry that is made with milky, iridescent, and elegant opals, requires a light touch when it comes to cleaning. Do not expose the stones to hot water, steam, or ultrasonic cleaners, as extreme heat can easily damage the surface of the stone. Instead, rings, necklaces, and bracelets that feature opals, should be cleaned with a soft cloth after a brief soak in cool water.
Remove your jewelry! Now is the time to break the bad habit of sleeping in your jewelry! Jewels and stones can become dislodged by thrashing and turning over, and then become lost in the sheets and bedding. Delicate gold and silver chains are also more easily snapped or broken during the nightly, tossing and turning!
Crowns, tiaras, necklaces, rings, and any other variety, it is all just jewelry and has been a part of human civilization for as long as can be remembered. While the styles and processes for making it have changed and some of the purposes changed, there is always the consistent purpose to jewelry, to adorn and beautify the human form.
