Jewelry Care
Basic Jewelry Care
Jewelry is one of our most personal and treasured possessions.
Understanding how to care for and safeguard your prized jewellery can go a long way toward preserving its beauty and keeping your treasures gleaming for future generations. Careful cleaning and caring for your jewelry means you will enjoy its beauty forever.
USE LIGHT AND HEAT WITH CAUTIOUSNESS.
Light and heat can impact the longevity and colour of a coloured gemstone, just like how the sun can damage our skin.
AVOID CHEMICALS WITH YOUR JEWELRY.
USE ULTRASONIC CLEANERS CAREFULLY.
Excessive heat and rapid temperature changes can also cause gems to fracture.
Heat can quickly deplete the natural moisture that these jewels require to maintain their lustre.
For example, pearls can dry up, break, and discolour with time.
Opals can turn white or brown with time, develop microscopic cracks, and lose their colour play.
AVOID CHEMICALS WITH YOUR JEWELRY.
Chemical exposure can degrade or discolour precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum, as well as some coloured gems.
Even commonplace items like hairspray, lotion, perfume, and other cosmetics can contain chemicals that irreversibly harm the surface of your pearls and other porous or delicate jewels.
USE ULTRASONIC CLEANERS CAREFULLY.
While a professional ultrasonic cleaner may be purchased for $150 or less, you should be aware that not all gems and jewellery can be cleaned properly in it.
The following items should not be cleaned with ultrasonic cleaners:
- Surface-reaching cracks in gemstones that have been filled with an oil, resin, or a glass-like material
- Pearls, coral, ivory, and amber are examples of organic gem materials.
- Gems that have been coated in a non-permanent material such as plastic or wax
- Some gemstones that have been heat-treated. Whether treated or not, gems that are susceptible to heat and temperature changes. Some of these gems include tanzanite, feldspar (sunstone and moonstone), fluorite, iolite, kunzite, lapis lazuli, malachite, opal, topaz, turquoise, zircon and others.
Furthermore, the machine's vibrations can sometimes shake loose diamonds or chip gems that are set with their girdles contacting. This form of cleaning is best left to jewellery specialists who are familiar with various gem materials and know when and how to appropriately use an ultrasonic cleaner.
Safest and easiest cleaning methods
- Warm water, light dish soap (no detergents), and a soft brush can clean most coloured stones. A dental cleaning appliance with pulsed water and a soft, lint-free cloth can also be utilised. Because you risk losing loose stones or perhaps an entire piece of jewellery if you rinse straight in the sink, make sure to rinse your jewellery in a glass of water to remove cleaning chemicals.
- Soft gems, such as pearls, on the other hand, can easily scratch. Use a new, clean makeup brush and warm, soapy water to softly clean them. Lay a strand of pearls on a towel to dry. The wet silk thread can stretch − and attract dirt − so don’t touch your strand until it is completely dry. Pearls worn often should be restrung once a year.
- Pearl jewelry should be cleaned using an unused makeup brush and warm, soapy water.
- Vintage jewelry should be handled delicately and can be cleaned with just water and a soft, lint-free cloth.
Store your jewelry somewhere secure
Jewelry safekeeping is frequently forgotten.
Jewelry should never be thrown into a drawer or placed on top of a dresser, since this will result in scratches and damages.
The majority of jewellery comes in a box or pouch from the retailer, which is a great way to store it.
For example, sterling silver should be stored in an anti-tarnish bag or cloth. Jewelry boxes with individually padded rings slots and posts for hanging necklaces and bracelets are also great. Because opals and pearls absorb moisture from the air, storing them in a dry environment, such as a safe deposit box, can sometimes cause more harm than benefit. Protect your jewellery from scratches and other impact damage by padding it in a separate box or case when travelling.
At regular intervals, several jewellery stores offer a complimentary check-up or expert cleaning. Every six months, jewellery should be inspected and cleaned.