Have you ever been on your way out the door when you catch a glimpse of your reflection and have the feeling that something is off? Even though your clothes look put together and you like your hair or makeup, something else is necessary. Jewelry could be the missing piece. Sometimes, one simple piece of jewelry will make your outfit look complete.

Try cleaning your jewelry collection with a polishing cloth. This is an easy way to get shine without chemicals and solvents. To clean your jewelry, obtain a soft two-sided cloth and gently rub in a circular motion. Use the side of the cloth that is designed for polishing to remove fingerprints, dust and other surface imperfections, and then use the opposite side to buff the jewelry and make it gleam.

Keep your jewelry in a relatively air-tight container, and minimize its exposure to humidity. It’s best to store it in a closed box, like a jewelry box, or a drawstring bag. Humidity and air tends to cause precious and non-precious metals to tarnish. Silver polishes work well to remove tarnish, but certain metals, such as bronze, may not polish well. The polish may remove the surface coating and then the metal underneath, such as copper, becomes visible.

Prevent your jewelry from tarnishing so that it keeps looking great. Avoid wearing your jewelry near water. Many pieces can become rusty, tarnished or dull when they are exposed to water. Clear nail polish can be used to protect your jewelry if you apply a very thin coat of it on your pieces.

Wear the jewelry piece for a day so that you can get an idea of how comfortable it is and if it hangs right. In this way, you will be able to tell if the item will withstand normal wear.

Costume Jewelry

Special care is required for costume jewelry. Often, stones will be glued into their settings, which makes them more prone to falling out than regular jewelry. You want to avoid using strong chemicals or immersion baths on your costume jewelry. To properly care for it you need to use a cloth dampened with warm water. After wiping make sure to use another cloth to thoroughly dry it. You will be able to maintain its nice appearance with this method.

Consider unique pieces of jewelry for unique individuals. Finding something that shows you put thought and effort into the gift is more important the the gift itself, so whether or not what you choose exactly what they wanted, they are sure to be pleased.

By wearing a brooch, your belt will be accented and look more interesting. Place the brooch close to your hip or in the middle of your waist.

A diamond with brilliant clarity and a perfect cut can be more attractive, not to mention more valuable, than a stone that is larger but flawed. It’s also important to consider the personality of whomever is to receive the diamond.

Buying jewelry sets can be less expensive than purchasing separate pieces of the same value. It is usually quite easy to find a jewelry set at a reasonable price, especially during the holidays. Give away one piece at a time to different people throughout the years. This is an excellent way to give something every holiday season without having to worry that you will forget.

As you can see, jewelry can complement your look and add pizzazz to any outfit. Jewelry can make you look more attractive, professional or simply original. No matter what the occasion, the right jewelry is always appropriate and flattering.