Would you like to buy handcrafted silver jewelry online? Here are 5 important notes.

Summary: Whether you’re looking for pieces to add to your collection or are shopping for gifts, there are excellent online sources for handmade earrings, pendants, rings, barrettes, and necklaces.

 Genuine handcrafted silver jewelry is as beautiful as  it is unique. Whether you’re looking for pieces to add to your collection or are shopping for gifts, there are excellent online sources for handmade earrings, pendants, rings, barrettes, and necklaces. For a wonderful buying experience, follow these five tips.

1. Find the reputable source, but try to not confuse commercially manufactured jewelry with handcrafted silver jewelry. The latter is made by artisans that take pride in their great work, its very helpful to find a company that is in business for decades, and they are been selling their products online for at least five or six years.

2. Take advantage of customization. When jewelry is handmade, there is a chance to be customized in any number of ways, from for example the lengths of chains to the types of gemstones used in pendants or in the rings. You do not need to settle for “almost good enough.” Instead, you can get the piece you have always dreamed of, in exactly the right wanted size.

3. Measure very carefully. Because customized pieces generally are not always returnable, it’s important to make sure that the handcrafted silver jewelry you order will fit with your need. It only takes a few minutes to get a good measurement, so don not miss it, and doing so will ensure that the necklace or ring you want to order will be exactly what you want and what you need. For rings, ask a friend to take a piece of string, put it around the knuckle or largest part of your finger, and mark the string. To determine the size, hold the string against a tape measure and compare your measurement to the website’s sizing chart. If you’re in between sizes, it’s best to go with the larger size. You can also use string to measure for bracelet, necklace, or even anklet lengths.

4. Do your gemstone research. The best online jewelry sites have a wealth of information on gemstones. Before you order, read up on the gemstones you are considering. It’s important to know, for example, that aquamarine can be cleaned with dishwashing detergent, but that ultrasonic and steam cleaning may damage hardly the stone. Similarly, you may know that pearls are delicate and can easily absorb liquids, but you might not know that turquoise is also porous and can easily become stained.

If you’re going to order jewelry with gemstones, it is also crucial to know whether the stones are natural or if their colors have been enhanced. Reputable artisans will freely share this information. Don’t be alarmed, however, if the stones have been heated or irradiated to intensify or even change their colors. Naturally colored rubies, sapphires, and topaz, for example, are extraordinarily rare; it is an accepted practice within the jewelry industry to enhance gemstone colors.

5. Invest in the real thing. Silver jewelry is gorgeous, but only if it is a real silver. Make sure that the online source you select always uses either sterling silver (.925 or 92.5 percent silver) or fine silver (99.9 percent pure silver). When you invest in handcrafted silver jewelry, you are not only buying a piece you will treasure, but one that is likely to become an heirloom for future generations.