Jewelry is often an investment and, for many people, has a great sentimental value attached to the pieces. Therefore, it is important to take care of your jewelry to make sure they look their best for years to come. Whether you are trying to clean a diamond engagement ring, a cherished pearl necklace or a gold bracelet, follow our guide and take care of your jewelry with confidence.
Even the best quality jewelry requires special care to keep it looking great. Whether you own mostly costume pieces or have an extensive fine jewelry wardrobe, knowing how to care for your treasures is essential.
From proper storage to gentle cleaning, taking good care of your jewelry can help you get the most out of your collection.
For those that wear jewelries regularly, keeping them clean and looking good requires regular effort. Here are some general guidelines that may help:
Put Your Jewelry on Last
It’s tempting to put your jewelry on as you get dressed in the morning or prepare for a night out. However, it’s better to wait until you’re completely ready before donning your jewels. Whether you’re wearing diamonds or rhinestones, the chemicals from make-up, hair products, and perfume can damage your pieces. It’s best to think of jewelry as the finishing touch for your look.
Don’t Wear Lotion With Jewelry
Although occasional exposure to hand and body lotion won’t damage most fine jewelry, it can destroy the finish on costume pieces. In addition, build-up of lotion products can lead to more frequent cleaning of your valuable items. It’s best to put lotion on your hands or body after you’ve taken your jewelry off at night.
Store Your Pieces Separately
No matter how careful you are when wearing your jewelry, it can also sustain damage during storage. Often, this comes from pieces knocking together or getting tangled. Particularly vulnerable materials include pearls, wood, plastic, precious metals, and some gemstones. The best way to solve this problem is to store your items so they can’t touch one another.
Remove Your Jewelry Before Bathing:
Remove all jewelry before showering or cleaning. Soap can cause a film to form, making it appear dull and dingy. By preventing the formation of this film, you immediately reduce the occasions of servicing.
Clean Your Jewelry With Care
Cleaning your own jewelry regularly can keep it looking good but be careful. You can either purchase commercial cleaners from a jeweler or make a cleaning a solution yourself. Rubbing alcohol can work wonders, but bleach can literally destroy jewelry so avoid it at all costs.
Inspect Your Jewelry Regularly
Just like anything else, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When having your jewelry professionally cleaned, it’s a good idea to have each item checked and inspected for any possible problems. Addressing signs of damage, or loose gemstones will prevent any further damage or loss and keep all of your pieces in excellent shape for years.
Use Jewelry Polishing Cloths for Best Results
Polish silver or gold with a jewelry polishing cloth for best results. You can use a svelte or an old diaper, but the professional cloths are the best. Use of tissue or paper towels can cause scratches because of fibers in these products.
Use Warm Water to Clean Jewelry
Using warm water is the best bet when cleaning your own jewelry. How water can cause reaction with the cleaning fluids resulting in discoloration and Sterling Silver is especially susceptible to this problem. Should this occur, this problem can be remedied by buffing and the application of a tarnish remover.
Avoid Cleaning Damaged Jewelry
Never clean any jewelry that is damaged, cracked or broken, since the additional handling is likely to exacerbate or worsen the problem. If you find that a piece of jewelry is damaged, it should be set aside for repair as soon as possible.
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