| Jewelry has been used for various aims in different ciltures. Jewelry has served as body decorations and amulets. It has been the object of jealosy, the cause of numerous assassinations, ruthless betrayal and quarrels. It has been inherited from grandparents.
India is considered to be the country where the first jewelry appeared. At present exotic handmade jewelry has turned into a thriving business.
If you have made up your mind to buy jewelry, visit a reliable jewelry store. Below are some recommendations on how to purchase jewelry.
1. When opting for metal jewelry, consider markings. Various pieces of jewelry are marked differently. For instance, if a piece of jewelry is marked as sterling silver, it means that the product contains at least 92,5% of pure silver. If it is tagged with "925", it indicates that it is made of pure silver. The markings "Pt" or "Plat" stand for Platinum - a metal which is still more precious and expensive than gold.
2. If you would like to purchase a precious stone, ask a sales person whether it is natural or man-made. Jewels produced in labs look very similar to natural ones. The principal unit of weight for gemstones is carat. 200 milligrams make 1 carat.
3. Ensure that you have a receipt with the weight and size of a gemstone indicated.
Now when you have got a piece of jewelry, it is high time to learn how to keep and store it in the appropriate way to avoid any damage.
1. Keep jewels separately, since rubbing against each other can damage jewelry. Store your jewelry in a jewelry box. Or use an organiser box or ice cube trays which are far cheaper. Ziploc plastic bags with anti-tarnish strips inside are ideal to store jewels in. Remember that earrings should be stored together.
2. Necklaces and necklets are strongly recommended to hang up.
3. Threads of beads should lay flat.
4. Store jewelry away from heat. Room temperature is ideal for storing jewels. Direct sunrays may also damage jewelry. If your house is situated in a very dry climatic area, store opals beside a small container of water, since they require humidity.
5. It is advisable to wipe down jewelry with a wet cotton cloth each time after usage.
Observe the above mentioned recommendations on purchasing and storing gems and enjoy wearing them. |
