We do love our sparklies, don’t we? They represent gifts from a sweetie, or maybe they’ve been passed down in our family. Perhaps you gifted yourself! Wherever your jewelry came from, it’s a good idea to take proper care of it because we want it to last forever! Let’s find out how we can care for our jewelry to keep it sparkling for generations to come.
Proper Storage
Don’t just lump all the jewelry into one drawer, letting it get tangled and dusty. As if you would! Store each piece in its own soft pouch for protection. Those stones seem hard, but they can scratch other stones, especially diamonds, sapphires, and rubies. Pearls are delicate; they are easily scratched or dented. If you don’t have a pouch, use a small cotton-lined box or a drawer compartment.
Protect From Light and Heat
Prolonged exposure to sunlight and heat can fade colored gemstones and affect their durability. Pearls are delicate and can bleach out if left in the hot sun. Be careful about temperature changes as well, it’s possible to dry out gems and especially pearls under heat, and some gems may lose their color or even crack. Keep jewelry in a box designed for the purpose of keeping jewelry in a closet where the temperature is relatively constant.
Clean Regularly
Usually, warm water and a soft brush or cloth will do the job. Do not ever clean jewelry with bleach or harsh cleaners. If you need some kind of cleansing agent, just a drop of very mild soap, such as baby soap, will work. When in doubt, consult a professional for advice. Rinse in a bowl of warm water just in case any of the stones loosen and fall out. Better to retrieve it at the bottom of the bowl than in your drain.
Check Periodically
Stones can become loose in their settings; strings can weaken and break. By regularly inspecting your pieces, you can keep them in good condition, and you won’t risk losing a stone. Pearls are strung on silk and knotted between each one to keep them from scattering if the silk should break. If the pearls seem loose, they should be re-strung by a professional. Pearls that are worn often should be restrung once a year.
Check Fasteners
Continual use can wear out even the nicest of fasteners. If the fastener seems loose or appears off in some way, take the piece to a professional to have it repaired or replaced. It’s a small price to pay to save your diamond necklace.
Don’t Wear Jewelry to Bed
Before you crawl between the sheets, take off all your jewelry. Some metals, such as gold which is soft, can be scratched over time just by contact with your sheets, even though they feel very soft to you.
Don’t Wear Jewelry in the Pool
Chlorine is very bad for gold and silver. It attacks the alloys in the metals, and the settings could loosen, causing stones to fall out. This is not the kind of hide and seek anyone wants to play.
Caring for Vintage Jewelry
Over time, precious metals can wear away, putting that solitaire diamond ring in jeopardy. Have your jeweler check the prongs regularly; they can be fortified. Consider insuring your antique or estate jewelry for peace of mind. If antique jewelry is damaged beyond repair, reset the stones in a new design.
Caring for jewelry properly will extend its life, and you’ll never be without your favorite pieces. Every piece of jewelry has a story behind it, and proper care ensures that story will live forever.
