Many people are passionate about buying jewelry to add to their own wardrobe or those of loved ones. Given the wide variety of jewelry available, and the specifics in wearing and caring for it appropriately, it helps to know a few things. The following paragraphs will help you get a handle on the complex world of jewelry!
If you are shopping unmarked sterling silver jewelry, then by all means bring a magnet. Magnets attract non-precious metals, and you can use this fact to detect fakes. You can identify sterling silver by its markings, for example “sterling,” “ster,” or “.925.” If the item has no markings indicating its authenticity, then be wary.
Know which kind of stone you are buying with your jewelry. Jewels come in natural, synthetic and imitation forms. Both synthetic and natural gems are real; however, imitation is simply plastic. A natural stone is mined from the earth, …
