| The use of jewelry has differed in varied ciltures. Jewelry has been used as body accessories and amulets. It has been the object of jealosy, the cause of countless murders, burglaries and ruthless betrayal. It has been passed down from one generation to another as a family relic.
India is considered to be the country where the first jewelry appeared. Nowadays exotic handmade jewelry has become a flourishing business.
If you have made up your mind to buy jewelry, visit a highly reputable jewelry store. Here are some tips on how to purchase jewelry.
1. When you pick out metal jewelry, consider markings. Varied pieces of jewelry are marked differently. For example, if a piece of jewelry is marked as sterling silver, it indicates that it contains leastways 92,5% of pure silver. If it is labeled with "925", it means that it is made of pure silver. The markings "Plat" and "Pt" stand for Platinum - a metal that is a lot more expensive and precious than gold.
2. If you would like to buy a gemstone, ask a shop assistant whether it is natural or artificial. Jewels produced in laboratories look very much alike with natural ones. Gemstones are weighed in carat. 1 carat equals to 200 milligrams.
3. Make sure that you have got a receipt with the weight and size of a jewel indicated.
Now after you have got a piece of jewelry, it is time to learn how to keep and store it in the proper way to avoid any damage.
1. Keep jewelry separately, as rubbing up against each other may damage jewelry. Store your jewelry in a jewelry box. Or use an organiser box or ice cube trays which are a lot cheaper. Ziploc plastic bags with anti-tarnish strips inside are appropriate to keep jewelry in. Keep in mind that earrings should be stored together.
2. Another way to store jewelry is by hanging them up. Do it with necklaces and necklets.
3. Beaded jewelry should lay flat.
4. Keep jewelry far away from heat. Room temperature is ideal for storing gems. Direct sunrays can also damage jewelry. If your house is situated in a very dry climatic region, store opals beside a small container of water, as they require humidity.
5. It is recommended to wipe down jewelry with a wet cotton cloth each time after use.
Stick to the above stated tips on buying and storing jewels and enjoy wearing them. |
