How To Buy And Care For Your Gemstone Jewelry
Most women love buying and owning birthstone and gemstone jewelry. Here is what you must keep in mind when buying gemstone jewelry online.
Jewelry is usually made from materials like gold, silver, platinum, glass, and precious gems like a pearl, diamond, etc. It is either standard design or custom-made exclusive jewelry.
Then, there are various types of ornaments such as earrings, nose rings, neckwear, bangles, bracelets, ankle wear, rings, etc. Since wearing jewelry is a statement, it often makes sense to opt for exclusive jewelry.
Exclusive jewelry should be selected in such a manner that it accentuates your dress and personality. It could be feminine and also be bold, exotic, mysterious, and individualistic.
Exclusive jewelry should possess excellent craftsmanship and also be affordable. Moreover, exclusive jewelry could be either contemporary or represent a period or a culture.
Gold and silver are the most common material used to make jewelry. For centuries, jewelry lovers and designers had equally preferred the yellow lustre and the ease of working gold into several shapes.
Pure gold is too soft so it is usually mixed with silver or copper to increase the strength of the jewelry and make it more durable. Gold is measured in karats. 100% pure gold is termed as 24 carats, while 18 carat is 75% gold and 14 carat is 58% gold.
Platinum jewelry is also very expensive since it is about 35 times rarer than gold. However, platinum jewelry does not tarnish or fade.
Know Your Gemstones
It’s a good idea to have some knowledge of the precious and semi-precious stones and gemstones used in jewelry before you buy it.
A gemstone usually refers to a rock or mineral that is used in jewelry or as a collector’s item, usually after it has been polished, cut or faceted. Buying gemstone jewelry can be an absolute joy.
Imagine the thrill of being surrounded by a roomful of precious gems, with colors that dazzle and captivate. Some gemstones have decorated and adorned humankind’s earliest civilizations, while others are recent discoveries.
Gemstones are classified in several ways and different types of gemstones may be grouped according to chemical composition. For example, rubies are made of aluminium oxide and diamonds are made of carbon.
If they are raw crystals, they may be classified using the crystal system, which divides gemstones into cubic, trigonal, or monoclinic. They are also classified according to habit, which refers to the shape of the stones.
It’s also possible to group gemstones according to species — for example, the mineral species, beryl, would include such gemstones as emerald, aquamarine, bixbite, goshenite, heliodor, and morganite.
Amber is normally formed from a fossilized sticky resin that comes from ancient pine trees. Emerald is obtained from mineral deposits and is a green gemstone.
Jade is available in two types, Jadeite and Nephrite. It is one of the hardest gemstones and can be carved into various forms and sizes. Nephrite is normally green, while Jadeite is available in red, blue, green, and black.
Lapis Lazuli is normally blue, but could sometimes have green or violet tints. The blue colour comes from the sulphur present in the stone.
Onyx is mostly black. Pears are either from freshwater pearl oysters or cultured. Nearly 95% of pearls are cultured.
Emeralds are the most popular gemstones in the world and have been esteemed since ancient times. They are a dazzling green all over, alternately shiny and intense to the eye.
The highest-quality emeralds are more coveted than diamonds — a little known fact. They were named from the word “esmeralde” which is Old French for “green gemstone.”
Their rich history dates back to the times of great ancient civilizations like the Incas and Aztecs. Its roots are buried deep in the jungles of South America where the rarest of emeralds can still be found.
The ruby is the gemstone that best represents love and vitality, passion and intensity. The ruby has long been regarded as the first among gemstones, their bright red glow that conveys strength and warmth. These qualities made the ruby the most valuable gemstone for centuries — a royal favourite of emperors and kings.
Often compared to the blue sky in literature and history, sapphire has as many shades as the sky has hues. Legend has it that early man actually believed that the sky was made of one big block of sapphire and that the earth was simply a thorn on its side.
Among emotions, Sapphire is associated with noble feelings of harmony, friendship, loyalty and sympathy. And since blue is the favourite color of about half the world’s population, sapphire’s appeal and popularity worldwide is not surprising.
Caring For Your Gemstones
Gemstones are one of the most precious substances known to mankind and they can cost a fortune. As strong and durable as they may be, they can be scratched, dirtied and even broken if mishandled. One scratch or impurity can ruin their value.
It is good to remove your gemstone rings before attempting any strenuous exercise and you must always remove your gemstone jewelry before you take a bath or head for a sauna.
Gemstones can be sensitive to moisture and any exposure to it might lead to the jewelry pieces losing their sparkle and newness. Any amount of water on the jewelry acts as a trap for dust particles and other residual matter.
Cleaning gemstones requires some basic knowledge. There are generally two kinds of gemstones; transparent and opaque.
Transparent gemstones will make dust visible even if it gathers behind the stone on the ring or any form of jewelry that holds them. These are mostly single-crystal stones and washing them with will not affect them too much.
You can use a water-soaked cloth to clean the dust gathered behind the stone or even use a brush to clean the dust if you like.
However, opaque gemstones of organic gemstones, like pearl and coral, should not come in contact with water as they are usually porous and will allow the water or chemical to flow inside the gemstone.
Once water gets inside, it can either build up inside, make the stone lose its color, or even cause it to crack. Hence, opaque gemstones should be kept away from direct contact with any sort of chemical in sprays, cosmetics, and even kept away from water.
However, you can keep your pearls clean and shiny if you wear them often. There is a scientific reason for this. The oil from your skin will help their lustre and keep them soft.
There are advanced methods using certain technology to help clean gemstones. Expert jewelers and dealers are well-versed with all these methods and know-how to clean each specific kind of gemstone.
Therefore it is advisable not to do the cleaning yourself, but rather have it done by an expert. If you can afford to buy a gemstone, why not spend a little more money keeping them safe and clean, right?
It’s a good practice to handle and store your gemstone jewelry with care. Keep your jewelry in an enclosed storage space that is dry and cool. Any sustained exposure to heat will cause irrevocable damage to your jewelry.
Jewelry of various types should be kept in separate jewelry boxes designed especially for each item. Gemstones are hard materials and can crack each other or the metal they are embedded in.
You should also know how to avoid getting your jewelry dirty. Oils from our skin and beauty products like lotions can tarnish your jewelry. So, it’s a good idea to get it cleaned by an expert.
Why You Should Buy Gemstone Jewelry Online
Today, everything from wedding bands, engagement rings, diamond anniversary bands, watches and more can be purchased online from the comfort of your own home.
Buying gemstone jewelry online is a great alternative to crowded, schedule restricted jewelry shops and also saves you precious time, effort, and money.
Another advantage is that there are literally millions of pieces of gemstone jewelry available on the web — far more than anyone store could ever stock.
Online gemstone jewelry shops offer a wide range of products, from and gemstone anniversary rings and pearl rings to gemstone jewelry earrings and bracelets.
Of course, the best feature of online stores is that the prices are usually much lower than brick and mortar shops since they don’t have to invest in costly showrooms and have much lower overhead.
This savings is passed on to you, and you benefit by getting the same gemstone jewelry at reduced prices. Moreover, many online jewelry stores offer free shipping and money back returns so you can buy with confidence.
Online jewelry shopping is a booming industry as more and more people feel comfortable with making large-value purchases online. Buying jewelry online just makes sense for so many reasons, it just can’t be beaten.
You can easily find the most amazing pieces of jewelry in these gemstone jewelry stores that feature exclusive, unique handmade jewelry crafted by women jewelry designers and crafters in India.
So the next time you are planning on surprising your loved ones with a piece of birthstone or gemstone jewelry remember to first check online stores for the best prices and offers.
In doing so, you’ve assured yourself of a satisfactory shopping experience and have saved yourself the trouble of waiting in line at a big store.
Once you’ve experienced the simplicity and effectiveness of online transactions, especially on luxury products like semi-precious stone jewellery, you may never want to go back to brick and mortar shopping again.
