12 Stats About Adinkra Jewelry to Make You Look Smart Around the Water Cooler

[Shofner Schneiderman]

Do you ever feel like your outfit just isn't complete? Even though your clothes look put together and you like your hair or makeup, something else is necessary. The one thing that is missing is your jewelry. Jewelry completes any outfit, taking it from blah to fabulous.

For example, you should never use bleach, turpentine, or ammonia on your jewelry. Natural acids won't erode the enamel on your copper jewelry the way harsh chemicals can.

Know the distinctions between kinds of gems before you make a jewelry purchase. A stone may be natural, synthetic or imitation. Imitation gems are made out of glass or plastic; natural and synthetic gems both consist of real gemstone. Synthetic gems come from a lab and natural ones are found in the ground.

Know the distinctions between kinds of gems before you make a jewelry purchase. Gems can be natural, imitation or synthetic. Both synthetic and natural gems are real; however, imitation is simply plastic. Natural stones are mined, and synthetic stones are created in a laboratory.

Keep your jewelry free of tarnish to make it look its best. Never wear your jewelry when you are going to be near water. Metals will often tarnish or rust when in contact with water. For added protection for your jewelry, try adding a thin coating of clear nail polish.

If you own costume jewelry, it is important to properly care for it. If you do not maintain the piece, it will depreciate in value. A good piece will give you many years of happiness and even gain value over time.

Costume jewelry needs special care. That's because a lot of the costume settings are not set-in; they have usually been glued. Take care not to use chemicals or lots of water in an attempt to clean your costume jewelry. Simply wipe it with a damp warm cloth, followed by a soft, dry cloth. This will keep your costume jewelry clean and shiny.

Wait until after your makeup is complete and set before putting on jewelry. Dust from your makeup can end up on your jewelry, and this can make it look dull. This is extra important when you are cleaning necklaces or earrings.

Consider unique pieces of jewelry for unique individuals. Purchasing a unique piece that matches his or her personality demonstrates how thoughtful and creative you are. This is what you should be expressing to someone you love enough to purchase jewelry for.

Any piece of jewelry that wraps around and attaches, such as a necklace or a bracelet, absolutely must have a quality clasp. Weak clasps can cause the loss of expensive pendants, chains and stones. A safety clasp should always be used on expensive jewelry. For very expensive items, some consumers choose to increase security with an additional clasp or two.

That includes dry or steam saunas. Many types of jewelry will suffer damage if they are exposed to extreme heat and humidity.

Before you purchase a diamond ring, necklace or bracelet, shop around and compare your options. All diamonds are unique and will have different types of imperfections. Once you see some of the flaws in person, they may become less important. In addition, each jeweler evaluates the flaws as a basis for setting different prices. Make sure you browse different shops to locate the best diamond for the price range you have in mind.

It can be very hard to tell a natural ruby or sapphire from a synthetic one. The chemical and physical composition of natural and artificial stones can be identical, but the man-made ones are Tuareg Jewelry manufactured for a small percentage of the price of a natural flawless gem. Always have a gemologist look at a piece if it is advertised as natural sapphire to see if the piece has natural inclusions or not.

If you choose a big, elaborately detailed piece of jewelry, pair it with simple clothing. Let the jewelry take center stage by dressing in a solid color.

So buying jewelry isn't really that hard. A well-chosen gift of jewelry is perfect for nearly any occasion or holiday. Ideally, you can learn from the advice you've just picked up and be a little smarter when you make your next jewelry-related decision.