If you love jewelry, you are probably always on the lookout for a great piece. Necklaces, bracelets, and rings don't have to be expensive to appear striking and impressive. If you go into a discount store and purchase a piece of jewelry for a few dollars, you shouldn't expect it to be fine jewelry. When you pay a significant amount for a genuine sterling silver 925 piece however, you have a right to expect it to be real.
If the piece you are looking at is stamped with a . 925, 92.5, or 925 hallmark, that is a good indication that you have real sterling silver. This is only true however, if it is an American piece. The stamp indicates the presence of ninety-two and a half percent silver. The remaining percentage is some other metal, usually copper, to strengthen the piece.
If you regularly shop for jewelry, you have probably noticed pieces described as plated. They are not expensive, nor should they be. Plated jewelry is simply coated with good metal that covers less expensive elements like copper or nickel. After it has been worn, the coating will tarnish and start to wear off. This is not something you can repair.
There are other ways to test the general quality of a piece of jewelry. The clasp should be secure and easy to open and close. If you lay the chain down on a hard surface and stretch it out, it should lay flat. Bends and kinks in the metal are an indication that the piece is not well made. New jewelry should look shiny instead of tarnished. Vintage pieces may be tarnished, but that simply means they need to be cleaned.
Most experts suggest buyers avoid departments sales, or at least be aware that they often substantially mark up their merchandise. This may be why they are able to offer frequent and deep discounts on the items they sell. Independent jewelers don't mark up their jewelry as much, but they also don't offer much in the way of sales.
If you like vintage jewelry thrift and second hand stores, flea markets and antique shops are great places to find it. You may have to sift through the assortments, but you can sometimes find pieces that are quite striking and unusual for much less than you would pay for brand new jewelry. When you notice someone wearing something interesting, ask how they came by it.
You can find anything online if you look long enough. You need to be careful if you decide to buy expensive jewelry from a seller you don't know though. Since you can't physically examine it, you have to depend on the seller's word. The description and return policy will tell you a lot.
Jewelry can be a lot of fun to shop for and wear. Spending a lot of money on trendy pieces may not be wise though. Once they go out of fashion, you probably won't wear them again. Classic metallic jewelry, if it is the real thing, is a much different story.
If the piece you are looking at is stamped with a . 925, 92.5, or 925 hallmark, that is a good indication that you have real sterling silver. This is only true however, if it is an American piece. The stamp indicates the presence of ninety-two and a half percent silver. The remaining percentage is some other metal, usually copper, to strengthen the piece.
If you regularly shop for jewelry, you have probably noticed pieces described as plated. They are not expensive, nor should they be. Plated jewelry is simply coated with good metal that covers less expensive elements like copper or nickel. After it has been worn, the coating will tarnish and start to wear off. This is not something you can repair.
There are other ways to test the general quality of a piece of jewelry. The clasp should be secure and easy to open and close. If you lay the chain down on a hard surface and stretch it out, it should lay flat. Bends and kinks in the metal are an indication that the piece is not well made. New jewelry should look shiny instead of tarnished. Vintage pieces may be tarnished, but that simply means they need to be cleaned.
Most experts suggest buyers avoid departments sales, or at least be aware that they often substantially mark up their merchandise. This may be why they are able to offer frequent and deep discounts on the items they sell. Independent jewelers don't mark up their jewelry as much, but they also don't offer much in the way of sales.
If you like vintage jewelry thrift and second hand stores, flea markets and antique shops are great places to find it. You may have to sift through the assortments, but you can sometimes find pieces that are quite striking and unusual for much less than you would pay for brand new jewelry. When you notice someone wearing something interesting, ask how they came by it.
You can find anything online if you look long enough. You need to be careful if you decide to buy expensive jewelry from a seller you don't know though. Since you can't physically examine it, you have to depend on the seller's word. The description and return policy will tell you a lot.
Jewelry can be a lot of fun to shop for and wear. Spending a lot of money on trendy pieces may not be wise though. Once they go out of fashion, you probably won't wear them again. Classic metallic jewelry, if it is the real thing, is a much different story.
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