The idea of beautiful jewelry can be as exquisite as the actual jewelry pieces themselves. Jewelry gives material form to memories and acts as a symbol of important relationships, such as engagements and marriages. Learning more about all kinds of jewelry can help you preserve your memories and having more rewarding buying and selling experiences.

Synthetic Gems

Find out more about the gems you look at. Ask about where they came from and to which category they belong. There are three different types: natural, synthetic and imitation. Imitation gems are made out of glass or plastic; natural and synthetic gems both consist of real gemstone. Synthetic gems are grown in a lab, natural gems are dug out of the Earth.

When you’re considering a diamond purchase, plan on shopping around and making comparisons. Look at the pieces up close before purchasing them, and be sure to compare them to others. Be careful of tricks that jewelers use to make a diamond look bigger or better.

Watch to see whether they usually wear necklaces or bracelets, or if they prefer dangly earrings to studs. This way, you know where you should start when buying a gift.

It’s great that you love costume jewelry, but make sure you evaluate the condition of any piece you plan to buy. If you do not maintain the piece, it will depreciate in value. Costume pieces kept in great condition will enhance your collection much more over time.

Take careful consideration when thinking of how you want to care for the jewelry you purchase. Every metal, setting, and stone has different requirements when it comes to care. What works well with one type of precious stone may actually harm another. If you are unfamiliar with the correct way to clean or maintain a piece, consult a jeweler.

When buying jewelry for a one-of-a-kind person, buy them something equally unique. Look for something that fits their personality. Pieces that match their personality will highlight your thoughtfulness and creativity, especially since you care for them enough to purchase jewelry for them.

You should try to find out whether a gemstone was treated prior to purchasing it. If it was treated, you should discover the way it was treated. Different treatments come with different requirements for cleaning and storage. You do not want to try to clean a treated gem with a solution that may strip the treatment and damage the gem in the process.

Be sure to always remove your jewelry before going for a swim. Chlorine is damaging to many types of metals that jewelry is made of. Salt water can damage them over time too. To safeguard your valuable jewelry, set it aside in a safe place before you go in for a swim.

Never rely on brand names to determine the true value of a piece of jewelry. Nobody will realize where this piece came from, and the seller may sell the piece at a higher price because of this brand. There are thousands of quality brands of jewelry available for purchase.

Of course, higher gold prices also increases the cost for new gold jewelry. You can have gold pieces at a lower price by buying gold that contains fewer karats. A piece of jewelry that is 75% gold is said to have 18 karats, which is high quality but still affordable; a good combination.

You can actually earn money off of your gold bracelets and necklaces without giving them up entirely. Consider removing excess portions of gold or silver that will not affect the overall piece. Genuine gold is valuable even in small pieces, so consider the option of removing links in chains or charms.

There are reasons that rubies are such a classic. True rubies are red, but rubies have a myriad of red shades that range from deep pinks to near maroon. They are very durable and can resist being hit and stand up to many chemicals. For a gemstone that is as beautiful as it is strong and storied, rubies cannot be beat.

Alexandrite is a pretty gemstone that is used in jewelry, but is rarely spoken of or advertised. Depending on your environment, the stone’s color switches between green and purple. You can find the stone featured in pendants, rings, earrings and a variety of other pieces.

It has become quite common to see people wearing both yellow gold and silver jewelry. To pull this off, you need to buy a jewelry piece that contains both metals at once. If you do not do this, the look will appear tacky and not stylish.

If you want to use childhood jewelery, but are concerned about looking childish or old-fashioned, layer items with bigger, contemporary pieces for a modern effect. When you wear many necklaces together as a cluster grouping, it is nice to add one personal item, like a cross or other pendant.

Taking your fine jewelry to a gemologist or certified appraiser before selling it can really be in your best interest. This gives you a baseline price against which you can evaluate offers from potential buyers.

Consider a illusion setting if you want to have the appearance of a huge rock! Illusion settings enhance your diamond by placing a small mirrored plate under your diamond. The diamond is mirrored when on your hand so that it appears larger and more sparkly. This type of special setting can be harder to repair, which is a potential drawback.

Pre-owned jewelry can be a wise way to save money on a quality piece. Jewelry that has been previously owned tends to be priced much lower than brand new pieces, while still retaining the same quality. This is a wonderful option for anyone looking to buy jewelry!

Each piece of jewelry bought, sold or owned will hold a little spot in your memories for the years ahead. All jewelery comes with some sort of human emotion attached.