Jewelry Care

Jewelry care is all about having your jewelry looking its best.  There are a few basics to bear in mind to ensure that your precious jewelry is in as perfect condition as the day you saw it.

Avoid wearing jewelry when doing heavy work, gardening, household cleaning, swimming etc.  The dirt and grime can leave residues which get deposited on the jewelry and diminish some luster and shine.  Then, there are cleaning agents which contain chemicals that may discolor or damage gemstones.  These chemicals can also have a discoloring effect on precious metals.  Also, during heavy work your jewelry may rub against abrasive materials and be scratched.

Avoid extreme temperature changes.  For example: If you are wearing an emerald ring in cold climate and you then decide to fly to a hot desert, or a sauna, your emerald may very well crack.

Heat can make some gemstones lose their moisture, which is essential to maintain its beauty.  Even prolonged exposure can make some gems fade over time.  We all know the effect of sun on our skin.  Similarly, certain gems may weaken with exposure to the sun.

Cleaning your jewelry is really simple.  The best way to clean your jewelry is by soaking it in warm water with a mild liquid detergent or soap.  After letting your jewelry soak for three or four minutes rinse it off under running water.  Pat dry.  Plug the basin before you begin, though.

Storage of jewelry is very important in maintaining its beauty.  Store diamonds and other gemstones separately.  Always use individual boxes to store individual pieces.  Gold and platinum are soft materials, and that diamonds are one of the hardest substances known.  If you store your jewelry together your diamonds, rubies, and sapphires will scratch your precious metals, as well as chip other, softer gems, such as emeralds.  The best place to store your precious jewelry is in a box with many separate compartments.  Most jewelry boxes are lined with soft, un-abrasive materials, which will not scratch your jewelry.

Diamond Jewelry Care

One should avoid wearing diamond jewelry when doing any kind of intensive physical work.  A hard blow can cause breakage or chipping to a diamond.

One should periodically get diamond jewelry examined by professionals.  With time, the setting tends to become loose.

One could also use ultra sonic cleaners to clean diamonds.  Ultra sonic cleaners are safe for most diamonds.

One should inspect jewelry before wearing.  And, if one spots any kind of damage such as loose prong, broken prong or missing stone, it should be immediately brought to professional attention.

Chlorine bleach can cause pits in gold alloys.  People who swim a lot should keep this in mind as pitting can weaken the metal and can also cause loosening of the gem.

Gemstone Jewelry Care

All gemstone jewelry should be stored separately as harder gemstones can scratch the softer ones.  Almost all gems are harder than the metal that they are set in. Gems can scratch the surface of gold, silver and platinum.

The best and the easiest way to clean your gemstone jewelry are with lukewarm water, mild soap and soft toothbrush.  Jewelry should be periodically examined by a professional, so that if there are any loose settings, they can be taken care of.

Pearl Jewelry Care

Pearls are very soft gems and can easily be scratched.  The recommended cleaning for pearls by GIA is to use a fresh makeup brush and warm soapy water.

Lay the pearls on a towel to dry.

Avoid perfumes when wearing pearl jewelry.

Never use Ultra sonic cleaners with pearls.  Never use detergent, baking soda, bleaches or ammonia based cleaner to clean pearl jewelry.

Pearl jewelry such as necklaces or bracelets should be restrung periodically.