A great way to dress up a simple outfit is with a piece of metallic jewelry. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a dramatic piece that everyone notices. You can find necklaces and bracelets at outlets and big box stores that will work but are not fine jewelry. When you decide to invest in quality jewelry, like sterling silver 925 however, you want to make sure you are getting something authentic.
If you have not bought a lot of sterling, you might not know there is an easy way to identify the real thing. When you are looking at a piece advertised as sterling silver, you need to find the hallmark. This will be the numbers 92.5, 925, or . 925 stamped into the metal. The numbers indicate the silver content in the piece. The rest of the material will be another element like copper.
When you are in the market for a quality metallic piece of jewelry, you should avoid anything that is described as plated. Plating is a coating of metal over the piece. The actual piece could be made out of any kind of less expensive metal such as nickel or copper. After you have worn the jewelry for a while, it will tarnish, and the coating will wear away.
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, but you have to be smart about what you purchase, especially if you are looking at expensive metallic pieces. You have to depend on the photos and descriptions, which can be deceptive. The seller should be willing to discuss the pieces you are interested in and have a reasonable return policy.
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 you have not bought a lot of sterling, you might not know there is an easy way to identify the real thing. When you are looking at a piece advertised as sterling silver, you need to find the hallmark. This will be the numbers 92.5, 925, or . 925 stamped into the metal. The numbers indicate the silver content in the piece. The rest of the material will be another element like copper.
When you are in the market for a quality metallic piece of jewelry, you should avoid anything that is described as plated. Plating is a coating of metal over the piece. The actual piece could be made out of any kind of less expensive metal such as nickel or copper. After you have worn the jewelry for a while, it will tarnish, and the coating will wear away.
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, but you have to be smart about what you purchase, especially if you are looking at expensive metallic pieces. You have to depend on the photos and descriptions, which can be deceptive. The seller should be willing to discuss the pieces you are interested in and have a reasonable return policy.
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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