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4 Tips to Take Care of Your Jewelry

Written by Posted On Saturday, 20 January 2018 01:51

Jewelry ought to last a lifetime, or a few years at the very least. Just like any other thing though, jewelry pieces can get damaged very easily if they are not cared for properly.

There are ways to care for your jewelry and ensure they last for as long as possible though, and here are a few of them that you should practice:

Remove It When in Rough Environments

Most fine jewelry are designed to be worn every day, but that is based on a presumption that they will be worn in reasonably safe environments. Depending on the kind of metal or gemstone that your jewelry is made from, wearing it during labor intensive activities like construction work or even working out at the gym might damage them.

An awareness of the kind of materials your jewelry is made from will help you here. For instance, gemstones like sapphires and emeralds are significantly weaker than diamonds, and gold is a notoriously soft metal.

On the whole, it’s better to err on the side of caution and simply take off valuable jewelry whenever you think there’s a risk of damage to them.

Get It Cleaned Professionally

Though you can buy jewelry cleaner over the counter in many hardware stores, the degree of sophistication is much less than what you would get if you were to hire a professional to clean it for you.

It doesn’t have to be too often, so you shouldn’t let costs deter you. If you have a piece you wear on a daily basis such as an engagement ring, you should get it cleaned twice a year. On the other hand, if it’s something you wear less regularly, an annual cleaning should do quite fine.

Be Sure You’re Using the Correct Jewelry Cleaner

If you make the decision to clean your jewelry at home, it’s important that you understand what kinds of chemicals are appropriate for different materials. If you make the mistake of using the wrong chemical for any particular piece, you might damage its natural luster beyond repair.

Before you even begin using chemicals, one thing you can try is to soak the pieces you want to clean in a bowl of water with a dishwashing soap and then scrub with a soft toothbrush. If it’s pearl jewelry, use a soft makeup brush instead.

Take the time to read up on the particular metals and gems in the jewelry you want to clean, and if you are not sure what the materials are, take them to a professional jeweler.

Store Them Properly

The first thing to note here is that contact between jewelry pieces should be lowered to the barest possible minimum. Apart from the fact that harder stones and metals can damage others, the jewelry may tangle and abrade each other or even form very frustrating tangles.

Also, use anti-tarnish bags for any sterling silver pieces and make sure that pieces that contain certain gemstones such as pearls and opals are not stored in airtight cases because they need air in order not to lose their luster.

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Martina Angel is a writer and real estate agent. She is especially interested in the purchase, ownership, management, rental and sale of real estate for profit. She also volunteers for local water conservation charities in her free time.

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