How to Choose the Perfect Piece of Jewelry
The feeling you get when wearing exquisite jewelry is second to none for most women and men. After all a great piece of fine jewelry does not have the same time scale on it as a fashionable piece of clothing or those new trendy pair of shoes. But choosing the right jewelry can be a very time consuming process, especially if you’re trying to find a special necklace or ring for that special someone you care about. Buying jewelry doesn’t have to be a difficult process though; If you focus on some key guidelines when making a choice you’ll be able to find that perfect item of jewelry in no time at all.
Whether you’re looking for earrings, bangles, rings, or a gorgeous necklace it is crucial that you choose the right metal. When buying jewelry the first thing to establish is what kind of budget you are dealing with. For instance, platinum is possibly the most expensive type of precious metal you can buy and 9 carat gold will be much more affordable than 18 carat gold if you’re looking to purchase a nice piece of gold jewelry.
Additionally, you will always need to take into consideration the personal taste and skin type of that special person you are buying the jewelry for. Not everyone likes the common yellow gold, while for some yellow gold is all they consider when picking out gold jewelry for themselves and others. Always make sure you know what type of metal you’re buying, and if you are not sure about properties of a specific precious metal, ask a jeweler who knows all the details.
The right gold jewelry can make an exceptional finishing touch to perfect an outfit, but make sure you are not going overboard with it. Pure gold is yellow and can sometimes look overpowering if worn in large quantities. Sometimes opt for more delicate yellow gold hoops over something large and flashy. If you are looking for a larger piece of gold jewelry, try to find a white or rose gold which tends to be more subtle in tone and often appeals to people who are not so quick to wear flashier yellow gold items.
Conversely, if that special someone you are buying jewelry for prefers to stay away from gold altogether, you can go with an alternative precious metal like silver, platinum or even tungsten, which is now widely used in many types of jewelry including earrings and necklaces. Platinum is a precious metal that is becoming increasingly popular as a metal used for jewelry, with Hollywood starlets like Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Hudson sporting platinum jewelry at this year’s Academy Awards.
Tungsten is also a rising star among the top jewelry designers of the world, especially when it comes to men’s jewelry. Tungsten rings are a fast gaining currency with fashion-conscious men who are eager to set this new trend, so if you’re looking for jewelry for that special man in your life, then tungsten is likely one of the best ways to go. In fact, tungsten jewelry has received the support of actors Kiefer Sutherland and Gary Sinise, while watch manufacturers like TAG Heuer and Baume et Mercier have been using tungsten in their designer watches for many years.
Another lesson that is essential to remember during any jewelry buying spree is to check the hallmark of the jewelry you have decided to purchase. Specifically when you are purchasing gold jewelry, ensure that you check and fully understand the hallmark of the piece in question. The hallmark of jewelry is a quality control mark that is placed on gold, silver and platinum which guarantees that the metal a consumer is about to buy is up to the legal standards.
Moreover the hallmark symbols on jewelry allow you to identify quickly the carat of the jewelry you are about to buy, as well as its purity levels. Once you have approved the standards of the precious metal you have chosen, and the style of the piece of jewelry, there is only one thing left for you to do and that is make your purchase!