Since ancient times, both men and women have adorned themselves with jewelry. Jewelry is more than just pretty accessories to wear with your clothes. In addition to fashion purposes, people also wear jewelry for cultural, religious or medicinal reasons. The following article provides you with information on the different types of jewelry and why it’s so popular with people of all ages.
Native American jewelry has a rich history in American culture. The colorful beads and designs tell stories of generations past. Jewelry was an important part of most Native Americans heritage, with beautiful pieces dating back thousands of years. These same styles and designs are still popular and in high-demand today.
Don’t purchase used earrings without disinfecting the posts or ear hooks. Other people have been wearing them, especially true for vintage pieces, and there are plenty of germs lying around. Take some lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide, squeeze some onto a cotton swab and run it over the ear pieces of the earrings. This will kill the germs, making it safe to wear the earrings.
When you’re choosing a piece of jewelry to wear, think about what you like on other people, and what they like on you. Think about particular pieces that you’ve received compliments on, especially from strangers. It also helps to think about what you’ve complimented on others. If you find yourself telling others how much you like certain pieces, remember what those are when you’re out shopping for jewelry for yourself.
To keep your jewelry looking its best, make sure to remove it when handling harsh chemicals, such as when you clean your house, or when using beauty products. The chemicals in household cleaners and beauty products can be very hard on your jewelry, stripping them of their luster and leaving them dull and lifeless.
When making jewelry and you want to turn a bead into a linked piece, take an eye pin and thread it through the bead’s hole. Let the bead slide to the bottom of the eye pin. Directly above the bead, use your pliers to bend the eye pin approximately 45 degrees. Using wire cutters, trim this to about half an inch in length. Using small round pliers, grasp the tip of the wire and start looping it around the pliers tip. Don’t give up if your eye pin loop is not directly round – practice makes perfect!
When you are buying jewelry as a gift for someone else, be sure to figure out what their preferences are. Many people only like gold or silver, not both. Look at the recipients wardrobe choices and current jewelry to find what jewelry type they would be most likely to enjoy and actually wear.
To get a stubborn knot out of a necklace chain, sprinkle the knot with cornstarch or baby powder. The powder slips into each nook and cranny, lubricating the metal and making it much easier to untie the knot with your fingers. If the knot is particularly difficult, you may need to use a sewing needle to help.
You should check your rings periodically for loose stones or bent prongs. It is best to catch these issues early and have the ring repaired by a professional jeweler than to lose a precious stone. Most jewelers can re-tip worn prongs to ensure your stone stays secure.
One of the biggest dangers to jewelry is loss. When you are not careful with the pieces of fine jewelry that you have, it can be quite easy to lose it. By paying attention, especially to very small pieces and stones you will ensure that you have your jewelry throughout your life.
Sizing rings is a very important process in the purchase of rings, especially when purchasing engagement or wedding ring sets. An improperly sized ring can cause damage to the ring itself. If it is too large, the owner runs the risk of losing the ring. Make sure the sizing is correct, even if the ring is a surprise. It is better to be safe than sorry!
Try to have the wedding band and engagement ring soldered at least a week before the wedding. This way your bride will not be stuck at the alter fussing around trying to fit the rings together. Getting this process done before the wedding will also make the pictures look great because you will have already had the rings polished as well.
From fashionistas to newlyweds to the Pope, jewelry is worn by many different people for many different reasons. The above tips are a great guide for helping you decide which type of jewelry is right for you. As simple as it may seem, purchasing and caring for jewelry can be a confusing process, not to mention, figuring out how to wear it in a way that best reflects your personality and needs. Put these tips to use the next time you slip on a bracelet or start your search for the perfect ring.
