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.
You can check the overall quality of any piece in a variety of ways. You can examine the clasp to see how secure it is. The clasp should not be difficult to open. Chains need to be free of kinks and bends in the metal. When you are looking at new jewelry, it should be shiny, not tarnished. Used or vintage pieces are often tarnished. This is not a reason to avoid them or presume they are inferior pieces.
Jewelry counters are often the first thing you see when you walk into a department store. There's a good reason for this. This is where a lot of people buy pieces, and many aren't aware of the substantial markup. Independent jewelry stores don't usually mark their pieces up to the same extent. For this reason, these stores have fewer sales and don't offer deep discounts.
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.
You can check the overall quality of any piece in a variety of ways. You can examine the clasp to see how secure it is. The clasp should not be difficult to open. Chains need to be free of kinks and bends in the metal. When you are looking at new jewelry, it should be shiny, not tarnished. Used or vintage pieces are often tarnished. This is not a reason to avoid them or presume they are inferior pieces.
Jewelry counters are often the first thing you see when you walk into a department store. There's a good reason for this. This is where a lot of people buy pieces, and many aren't aware of the substantial markup. Independent jewelry stores don't usually mark their pieces up to the same extent. For this reason, these stores have fewer sales and don't offer deep discounts.
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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