Care Tips

TIPS FOR YOUR JEWELRY CARE

 

Handle With Care.

Jewelry can be the longest-lasting part of your wardrobe, provided you wear it responsibly. When in doubt, remember the golden rule: last to put on and first to take off.

Make sure you put on your jewelry last, after your clothing, hair, and makeup. This will ensure it stays out of range of hairspray, makeup, and other chemicals that might affect the semi-precious stones and metals. Your clothes also won’t accidentally hook and pull on any clasps or fittings.

Always remember to remove your jewelry before doing strenuous activity or messy tasks. The gym isn’t the place for your bracelet.

Tasks like gardening, washing the dishes, and other types of household cleaning should also be done sans jewelry. This ensures accidental impacts are kept to a minimum and your rings stay chemical free.

 

Clean and Polish

But before you go applying home remedies like toothpaste and ammonia it’s important to brush up on what will and won’t work for the different gems in your collection.

When in doubt, most commercially prepared jewelry cleaners are safe but extra care should be taken with particularly sensitive gems like pearl and amber.

Jewelry should never be scrubbed. Instead, use a soft brush to gently clean and buff. A toothpick is great for picking out accumulations of dirt or dust, but be gentle. Patience really is a virtue when it comes to jewelry cleaning.

Polishing jewelry can restore luster and shine to the most well-loved of pieces. Just remember that gentleness is key.

Jewelry should only be polished with a soft, lint-free cloth or chamois. Even tissue is liable to leave hairline scratches on the metal and stones which will dull even the hardest of gems over time.

 

Light and Heat

Even the most oft-worn jewelry should be stored safely when not adorning a hand, neck, or wrist. The worst thing you can do for your semi-precious stones is to toss them into a drawer or into a dish on your dresser.

To ensure your jewelry remains scratch and impact free it should be stored just as you bought it. Sterling silver plated item does best in an anti-tarnish bag or box. Rings should be stored separately, in either the padded slots of a jewelry box or the box they came in.

Temperature, dryness, and sunlight also play a part in proper jewelry storage. Sunlight can discolor or damage certain gems or your leather bracelet. Peals and opals draw moisture from the air so storage in a dry or climate-controlled area should be avoided.

Strong sunlight can wreak havoc on certain gems, so don’t go popping your rings on the window sill while you’re doing the dishes. Sunlight can damage opals in particular as the heat and light dry out the water in the stone, causing haziness or color change.

Radical temperature changes, particularly when cleaning, should be avoided at all costs. A swift change from cold to hot can make metals and some stones brittle and more liable to crack or break.

 

Leather Jewelry

Leather takes a certain amount of care to upkeep. Getting your leather bracelet soaking wet by wearing it in the shower or while swimming can strip the oils from the leather’s surface. If this happens, the leather can stiffen and even crack as it dries. Leather should preferably be stored away from light, at room temperature.

To take care your leather jewelry pat down the leather with a damp cloth. Avoid using a wet cloth or immersing the leather in water. Put a small dab of mild, moisturizing hand soap or leather cleaner on the cloth on both sides. Rinse and dampen the cloth with clean water and wipe the leather clean & dry.

 

Jewelry is bought to be worn and worn to be enjoyed!  With a little care and these tips, you’ll ensure your jewelry lives its best life for decades to come.