Buying jewelry can be a fun experience. However, there are many factors to consider before buying a new piece of jewelry for yourself or someone you love. The type (bracelet, earrings, necklace, etc.) and style (classic or conservative) are certainly important considerations, along with other factors, like the other pieces the recipient may already own. We have put together a simple guideline with areas for you to consider, helping make purchasing jewelry the fun process it should be.

Consider the Type of Metal

The next thing you should consider is the type of metal the jewelry is made of. Will it be yellow gold, white gold or platinum? Will it be 14-Karat gold? Although white metals, such as white gold and platinum have become very popular lately, yellow gold still accounts for a substantial portion of gold jewelry sales. Being observant of the person's existing jewelry collection can help you determine the appropriate metal color. If a person is wearing a yellow gold necklace, they may not enjoy a white gold bracelet unless that person likes the contrast. Maybe buy a white gold bracelet for a birthday, white gold necklace for Christmas, and a white gold ring for Valentine's Day.


Yellow Gold
Gold alloyed with silver and copper. It is the most frequently used type of gold there is. It is malleable, ductile, and generally non-corrosive. It has a high melting point and is not susceptible to compression.

White Gold
Gold alloyed with a large percentage of silver, or a selection of other white metals. The percentage of gold naturally varies, according to the amount of other metal used. It is highly reflective and not subject to tarnish.

Platinum
Platinum, like gold, has a long and distinguished history. Its use began in antiquity and it has undergone a resurgence in popularity over the last 200 years. Platinum's initial uses were probably limited by its hardness and its very high melting point. The early forging and casting techniques made it quite a difficult metal to work with.

Will the Piece Have Gems?

If you are thinking about a piece of jewelry with stones, there is a simple rule of thumb-there is no stone more popular than a diamond. If you are not looking for a diamond piece, consider the classic gemstones, such as emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, which are the most popular. Exotic stones like tanzanite and tourmaline are extremely popular today. Another gem consideration is their birthstone. Every month has a gemstone associated with it. Even diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires have the months of April, May, July and September, respectively, associated with them. Also, consider the other gemstone jewelry that the person may have. If they have a ruby bracelet, perhaps a ruby ring would be appropriate.

Pearls

The birthstone of June, pearls are one of the classic gems that symbolize everything from virtue to chastity, purity and wisdom. They have even been reputed to have mystical healing powers. Roman women are believed to have slept with pearls to sweeten their dreams, as well as embroidering them into their clothing and upholstery. Pearls are the result of an incredible natural process that occurs within an oyster's shell. The process begins with some kind of irritant being introduced into the oyster's shell. In response to the invasion, the oyster coats the object with nacre, a smooth, crystalline substance that surrounds the object and forms layers to protect the oyster's inner tissue (called the mantle) from further irritation. The result of this process is the beautifully luminescent gem we know as a pearl.

Amethyst

The birthstone for February, amethyst is a very popular, attractive, affordable gemstone. Its name is derived from the Greek word amethystos, meaning 'not intoxicated'. Ancient cultures believed that amethyst could protect its owner against drunkenness. Amethyst is also mentioned in the Bible and was believed to bring peace of mind to the wearer. A beautiful purple color, amethyst is a member of the quartz family, which are transparent, coarse-grained silica minerals. It contains more iron than any other type of quartz, which experts believe is the cause of its violet color. The sparkling yellow gem citrine is also a member of the quartz family. Amethyst is mainly found in Brazil, Uruguay, Canada and the United States (North Carolina).

Aquamarine

The birthstone of March, aquamarine is a member of the beryl family (like emeralds), a relatively hard crystal mineral. Its color can range from light to dark blue and contain hints of green (Its name means "sea water" in Latin). It tends to be free from inclusions, making it more attractive and durable than some other stones. In its pure form, beryl is colorless, but the presence of impurities (like iron, chromium or manganese) can cause it to be various colors, including blue, pink, yellow, orange or red. Aquamarine usually has a high transparency and clarity, as well as very even color and great durability. Most aquamarine comes from Brazil, while Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia, Nigeria, Pakistan and the Ukraine are other major producers.

Topaz

Usually light brown when mined, topaz turns colorless or very pale blue when it is exposed to light or heat. Blue Topaz is the birthstone for December. Colored topaz, especially yellow, orange and pink, are more valuable. The world's largest producer of topaz is Brazil. However, other countries such as Germany, Russia, Mexico, the U.S., Pakistan and Sri Lanka also produce it. Since red is the rarest color for any gem, the red or very pink varieties of topaz are the most valuable. Yellow or orange topaz that has reddish or pink overtones is also known as imperial topaz, and commands much higher prices. Colorless topaz has also been used to simulate diamonds.

Citrine

The birthstone for November, citrine is prized for its yellow to brownish color and its resemblance to topaz, a much rarer gem. Like amethyst, citrine is a member of the quartz family, which are transparent, coarse-grained silica minerals--although it is more rare than amethyst. Its iron content gives citrine its golden orange color. Citrine is mainly found in Brazil, Uruguay, the Urals, Scotland and the United States (North Carolina).

Emerald

Because of its intense, striking green color, (its name comes from the Latin word for "green"), emerald is one of the most sought-after and prized of all gems. The birthstone of May, Emerald can come in different shades of green, from dark to 'leaf green' to light. A member of the beryl family, like aquamarine, emeralds are composed of a crystal structure, giving them exceptional color. However, the presence of inclusions makes them susceptible to shattering on sharp impact. Most emeralds are produced in Colombia, Brazil and Zambia. They are also found in South Africa, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Australia and Russia.

Garnet

Known as the stone of friendship and commitment, garnet is a very hard, durable, versatile gem. It is the birthstone of January, and was believed to represent faith, loyalty, truth and devotion. Garnets are usually thought of as red (they are named after the Latin word for "pomegranate", because of their color and seed-like shape), however, they occur in various shades of green, yellow, orange, brown, pink or purple.

Lolite

A bluish-violet color, Iolite was mainly considered a collector's stone before the 1980s because so little of it was sold. Today, Iolite is more readily available and is often used as a substitute for sapphire or tanzanite because of its rich blue coloring. The name Iolite comes from the Greek word for violet, ios. Lolite is sometimes called Cordierlite, after a French geologist. Some people have referred to Iolite as Water Sapphire, because it resembles sapphire face-up and looks clear or watery from the side. The color of Iolite actually appears different when viewed at three different angles--a characteristic known in gemology as trichroism. Lolite is found in Greenland and Norway, but today most Iolite comes from India, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Tanzania. Lolite is also mined in Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Namibia.

Opal

This colorful gem is the birthstone for October and is in reality a delicate combination of small, closely packed silica (sand) and water. The silica occurs in sphere shapes, which refracts the light that enters the stone and causes the "play-of-color" or shift in the spectrum of light reflected to our eyes. The range of colors in opals is determined by the size of the spheres. The majority of the fine-quality opal found today comes from Australia. It is also found in Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Honduras and the United States

Peridot

The birthstone for August, peridot is a popular, attractive, affordable gemstone. It comes in a variety of colors, with green being the most popular. According to legend, wearing Peridot protected the wearer from evil spirits. The main sources of peridot today are Arizona and Pakistan, although it has also been mined in the Red Sea, China, Brazil, Kenya and Norway.

Ruby

Since red is in fact the rarest naturally occurring color in gems, rubies are extremely valuable, and are known as the "king of gems". July's birthstone, ruby is actually the same exact mineral as sapphire--corundum. They share the same physical characteristics and the same chemical composition. In fact, before 1800, other stones were called rubies until it was discovered that ruby and sapphire were both corundum. Because of its blood-red color, ruby has also symbolized courage, bravery and love. Its name comes from the Latin word for red, rubeus. Ruby (as well as sapphire) is also the second hardest gem after diamond. They are very durable and strong, making them useful in many industrial applications (as is the case with diamonds). They are mined in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Kenya and Tanzania

Sapphires

The birthstone for September, sapphire is actually the same exact mineral as ruby--corundum. They share the same physical characteristics and the same chemical composition. Sapphires have long been connected to royalty: They were worn by kings and queens, as well as high-church officials. Its name comes from the Greek word for blue. However, they do come in other colors, such as pink, orange, yellow, green and purple. There are even colorless sapphires, which has become popular as a diamond substitute. Sapphires are found in Kashmir, Myanmar Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, India, Cambodia, Australia and the United States (Montana).

Tanzania

Discovered only 30 years ago near Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa by accident, tanzanite has fast become a popular gemstone. It was later renamed after Tanzania (the country in which it was found) by Henry Platt, director of Tiffany & Co. Its nature gives it the ability to transmit various colors of light, depending on the angle it is viewed at. It can look deep blue one moment, purple another. A variety of the mineral zoisite, Tanzanite can also display flashes of red, yellow, orange, green or brown.

Tourmaline

The birthstone for October (along with Opal), Tourmaline comes in the widest variety of colors of any gemstone. Besides being available in a spectrum of colors, tourmaline can be multicolored in one piece. Until the 18th century, red and green tourmaline was actually considered a type of ruby or emerald. A curious characteristic of this beautiful stone is that it becomes electrically charged when heated, enabling it to attract small, non-metallic objects. There are several popular types of tourmaline, including green, pink, red, blue, yellow, orange, brown, black, colorless, parti-colored and cat's eye. Tourmaline can be found in several countries around the world, including Brazil, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Madagascar, East Africa, Sri Lanka, the Soviet Union and the United States (Maine and California).

Jewelry - Care & Cleaning

We realize that it is virtually impossible to shield your jewelry from the daily hustle and bustle of life. After all, you are supposed to enjoy wearing your jewelry, not worry about it. However, by following these guidelines, you can keep your jewelry beautiful simply by limiting its exposure to certain conditions.

These simple guidelines, along with some common sense, should help keep your jewelry looking great for years:

· -Do not wear your jewelry while doing rough work. Even though a most jewelry is durable, a hard blow can chip a stone.
· -Bring your jewelry to a qualified jeweler if you notice a loose stone setting, stones moving or any other noticeable damage to your jewelry. It is a good idea to have a jeweler check the setting in your diamond ring (while you watch) once a year.
· -Always remove your jewelry before bathing and grooming. Think of your jewelry as the final touch and put it on right before you get on with your day. Hairspray, gel, body lotion, moisturizer, perfume, mousse, make-up, shaving cream and soap are chemicals that can leave a residue on jewelry, creating a dull film that is very difficult to remove.
· -Keep it dry. Using water to clean and rinse some of your jewelry is permissible; however, make sure it is dried thoroughly when you are done. Certain jewelry, such as pearl and gemstone jewelry, should never be soaked in water or worn when bathing. Always make sure your jewelry items are thoroughly dry before placing them in an enclosed area, or your jewelry will get water spots.
· -When you are not wearing your jewelry, be sure to store it in a fabric-lined case or in a box with dividers or separate compartments--jewelry pieces can scratch each other.

Cleaning Your Jewelry

Your jewelry can get smudged, soiled and dusty over a short period. Lotions, powders, soaps--even the natural oils from your skin--can create a film on gemstones, reducing their brilliance. In addition, chemicals in the air can oxidize or discolor the mountings. Keeping your jewelry clean will maximize its beauty. Here are three ways JewelsWarehouse.com suggests you clean your jewelry:

Detergent Bath:
Prepare a small bowl of warm suds using any mild household liquid detergent. Brush the jewelry with a soft brush until you have created a lather around it. With the jewelry on a plastic or metal strainer, rinse off with warm water (be sure not to clean your jewelry over the drain!) Pat your jewelry dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Cold Water Soak:
Make a solution of four parts cold-water and 1 part very mild dishwashing detergent. Soak the pieces for several minutes. Lift out and tap gently around all sides of the mounting with a soft brush. Rinse the pieces in the solution once more and drain on tissue paper.

Quick-Dip Method:
Buy one of the brand name liquid jewelry cleaners, choosing the one that is best for the kind of stones and metals in your jewelry. Read the label carefully and follow the instructions. Do not touch your clean diamonds with your fingers, as the oils from your hands will leave a film on the stone.

NOTE: Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and warnings before using these machines. The above methods are not appropriate for pearls, opals, lapis, corals and many other gems. A very quick dip in plain lukewarm water is suggested for these fragile pieces.

If you have any further questions about purchasing jewelry, our Customer Service Representatives look forward to helping you. You can email us at sales@jewelswarehouse.com or call 1-877-444-JEWELS.