5 Tips Every Jewellery Wearer Should Follow

Jewellery: such a personal choice for everyone who wears it and a variety of budgets per piece. But that’s not to say there aren’t certain things every jewellery owner and prospective jewellery purchasers should know about.  Here are five top tips that every local independent jeweller thinks their customers should know:

 1.    Store your jewellery correctly

There are many ways to store your jewellery, and there’s no definitive right or wrong; from small boxes, compartments in larger jewellery boxes, jewellery stands and hooks, there are many ways to look after your precious pieces.  Avoid piling everything into one box; not only can this harm fragile pieces made of softer metals, which include silver and gold, it’s also incredibly frustrating having to detangle your fine chains every time you want to wear one. Similarly, you shouldn’t leave jewellery in direct sunlight, as gemstones can discolour. Remember that your local jewellery shop will stock storage solutions as part of their giftware range, and it’s always worth taking the advice of your local jeweller as to how they would store certain pieces.

2.    Know your Sterling Silver

Silver jewellery is everywhere at the moment, but you should know what you’re buying if you’re in the market for sterling silver. A simple tip is to take a magnet with you when buying silver, as precious metals, such as sterling silver, will not be attracted to the magnet. Remember that true sterling silver will also have a mark to indicate its quality, such as “.925”.  Your local independent jeweller will always be able to steer you in the right direction of sterling silver.

3.    Try before you buy

Any local jeweller will tell you that jewellery should be an investment. If buying for yourself, your local jeweller will encourage you to try before you buy. Ask if you can try on necklaces to see if they hang correctly, for example, or think about the colours of certain stones against your skin tone. If you’re buying for someone else, think about their style – do they prefer studs, or dangly earrings, for example?  If you get it right, the piece really will last a lifetime.

4.    Do your diamond research

Diamonds are bought with a lifetime’s wear in mind. You should therefore always make sure that you only buy diamonds from a reputable dealer, such as your local jewellery shop. The seller should be able to tell you the history of the stone and the piece, such as who created it and where the stones came from.  Make sure that you do some price comparison research before committing, and take a look at the stones up close; less scrupulous dealers may use tricks, such as lighting, to enhance the look of sub-par stones.

5.    Keep jewellery looking like new

We’re all guilty of a bit of neglect of our jewellery, but with a little tender loving care, your pieces can always look as good as the day you bought them.  For example, replace the rhodium plating on white gold regularly, take any pieces with loose stones to your local jewellery shop for resetting, and get pearls restrung annually. You’ll be surprised at how much longer this can keep your jewellery looking fresh and new, and what’s more, all of these services will be available from your local independent jeweller.