With gold prices at sky-high value right now, many people are buying gold as an investment. If you are purchasing gold jewelery from a private sale, there is a possibility that you might just end up investing in “fools” gold. This article will give you some tips pertaining to buying jewelry and how to save yourself from getting duped.

Do research on your fine stones, especially if you engage in regular activities that may chip or completely cause them to break into pieces. Not all stones are created equal. Some quartz, peridot, amethyst, to name a few, are among the most fragile stones and will require very gentle wear, care and storage.

Save some of your most fragile jewelry for special occasions only. Some fragile stones like opal and peridot should only be worn for special events and then carefully stored until the next occasion. This may seem irritating since you want to be able to wear your best pieces, but it can prolong their life if you avoid exposing them to harm too often.

Try not put any of your jewelry on before applying your makeup. By putting your pieces on before doing this, you risk getting them covered in things like powders and deposits from your makeup. This then collects around gem settings and on metal causing them to turn and look cheap and old.

Make sure you know what to look for when buying platinum jewelry. Platinum needs to be at least 95% pure in order for it to be considered real platinum. If it’s lower it is platinum alloy. Also, be aware that platinum can develop a patina, which many people feel gives jewelry a nice antique look. This jewelry also does not wear away and is hypoallergenic.

Buying used jewelry can be a great way to expand your options without spending a lot of money. Look for estate sales or yard sales. Depending on where you live, prices may be lower than antique stores (which use the name “antique” to charge a bit more). Browsing in person can be a fun way to find things you might not have thought to go looking for.

One “old fashioned” piece of jewelry that you might want to reconsider wearing, is a watch. Younger people are used to using their cell phones or other electronics to tell time, but in certain situations, it may be more appropriate or more professional to wear a nice watch. You don’t want to be constantly checking your watch at a job interview or a formal event, but wearing one sends a certain message.

Don’t discard your antique broach from Grandma, re-purpose it. If you put a chain through it, the broach instantly becomes a fashionable necklace. Vintage jewelry is extremely popular these days and finding a way to make it wearable makes it fashionable. Re-using is also a popular concept in our “green” society. That broach can serve you well with just a slight alteration to its use.

If you are truly in love with a piece of costume jewelry, even if it is in less than good condition, it is okay to spend the money on it. A piece that you will treasure is more of an investment than the monetary cost of an item, so splurging can be allowed.

Soak diamonds for twenty minutes in a solution made of four parts water and one part ammonia for a sparkling shine. Scrub them with a soft dampened toothbrush allows cleaning of hard to reach places, such as under the gem or around the prongs. Dry it with a soft cloth to keep it shining and looking new.

When buying gold, be sure that your receipt is clearly marked with the karat weight, as well as the manufacturer. These are things you need to know in case you later want to appraise or sell the piece, or perhaps have it re-sized. The information included is also necessary for any returns processes you may have to go through.

When selling jewelry online, you must be sure you brand yourself. You want to create a unique identity to differentiate yourself from your competitors in order to keep the consumers coming to you. One way you can do this is by incorporating a unique feature into the piece, packaging, or presentation.

Look for creative ways to add value to your handmade jewelry. Instead of using a cardboard earring holder, you can offer earrings that are mounted on a handmade birthday or Mother’s Day card, or a necklace that is packaged in a vintage seed packet. Finding ways to encourage gifting of your wares, can make all the difference in the world for your cash flow.

When it comes to taking care of your jewelry be sure that it is safe while in storage. This is important because depending on how it is stored, you may find that it becomes scratched or tarnished. To avoid this, prevent your jewelry items from coming in to contact with each other and also make sure that the container it is in is soft and dry.

Telling the difference between natural rubies and sapphires and synthetic ones is not an easy task. The ones grown in a lab are exactly the same and cost way less. Always make sure to have a reputable gemologist examine any piece of jewelry that claims it is natural sapphire to check for natural inclusions.

Labradorite makes a popular and easy to care for alternative to multicolored stones like opal. It has a similar play of color, although the primary color that reflects off of labradorite is blue, rather than all colors of the rainbow. However, you don’t have to keep it moist to prevent it from cracking.

As stated in the beginning of this article, many people are investing in gold jewelery today in response to the value being so high. If you do not know much about gold jewelery, you may just end up get duped into buying “fools” gold. Apply the tips from this article, to help pick out authentic, high quality, gold jewelery pieces.