The Secret to Caring for Your Jewelry: Maintenance Tips You Need to Know
The Secret to Caring for Your Jewelry: Maintenance Tips You Need to Know
Blog Article
Just like your favorite belongings, jewelry is an asset that needs to be taken care of, be it a family heirloom or a new trendy piece brought at the best rates and excellent quality. Improper care can lead to irreversible deterioration of the piece’s value, making it utterly disheartening to witness one’s prized possession suffer an irreplaceable loss. Incredibly, the sparkling ring you bought only a few months ago, has already started to lose its luster and looking more like a piece that has never been worn. But don't sweat, for simple maintenance habits can keep the piece as appealing as it was the purchased day.
1. Regular Cleaning: Keep It Sparkling
In jewelry care, the first and of utmost importance is cleaning your jewelry on a regular basis. Skin, lotions and dirt from the environment have a big impact on the shininess of certain metals and designs and collects oil and grime over time. This dulls the shine on every piece of jewelry making them look unattractive. We recommend a soft cloth, a toothbrush with soft bristles, or warm water with a tad of dish soap mixed with a soft, non-abrasive jewelry cleaner for effective cleaning. With gemstones, we recommend using gentle chemicals that keep the stone’s surface protected.
For particularly delicate pieces, it’s a good idea to have them professionally cleaned once or twice a year, depending on how often you wear them. For specialized braces, necklaces, and rings embedded with gemstones or diamonds, a jewelry specialist should be able to clean it without accidents happening.
2. Appropriate Storage: Protection From Damage When Not Worn
The method of wearing jewelry is equally as important as storing them. Proper storage of jewelry helps in preventing it from scratches, tarnishing, and tangled chains. Soft pouches or boxes are highly recommended to avoid jewelry scratches from each other. Proper organization and polishing helps prevent tarnishing from the contact of air while moisture serves as an additional factor. The silver jewelry that tarnishes in contact of air along with moisture is usually recommended to be put in airtight bags or boxes. For people who love to wear their silver jewelry regularly, it is strongly advised to remove them before showering or swimming to retain their shine.
3. Jewelry Removal Timing Awareness
Jewelry pieces are not suitable for wearing during countless activities. Here are a few of them: Exercising or Sweating: Silver ornaments are particularly susceptible to tarnishing when in contact with moisture and sweat. During workouts it is appropriate to remove rings, bracelets, and watches.
Cleaning or Using Harsh Chemicals: Jewelry may scratch or discolor for various reasons which includes the use of cleaning products, lotions or even perfume. One has to ensure that all pieces of jewelry are removed while applying beauty products or cleaning using harsh chemicals.
Sleeping or Showering: Moisture and oil forms underneath the surfaces of the skin when we sleep and shower. When paired with a ring or earrings, oil can accumulate and become trapped. To prevent buildup, ensure to take these off during sleep and prior to doing the laundry.
4. Prevent Scratches: Handle with Care
As an abstract concept, a scratch is the antithesis to any valuable possession. Jewelry is no exception to this rule. The presence of even the smallest abrasions on your prized pieces can reduce its overall appearance exponentially. To minimize scratch markings and maintain the luster of your jewelry, it’s best to store pieces separately from each other. Rings, for instance, are best kept separately from bracelets, as the potential for friction is increased when both pieces are stored together.
We should also remember to pay attention to more sensitive gemstones. While sapphires and rubies, as well as diamonds are much more scratch resistant, softer stones such as opals and pearls are much more sensitive. In wearing jewelry that incorporates softer stones, one must exercise due diligence.
5. Regular Assessments and Their Importance
In the case of jewelry, regular checking makes sure that any possible damage is mitigated. It is important to look for stones that are loose or clasps that seem to show sign of weakness; as this will ensure the lasting durability of the piece. If you notice that a stone setting shows the potential of loss, it is prudent to get it mended. Pieces that showcase visible signs of damage or wear and tear should be taken to a reputable jewelers workshop immediately and mending should be carried out without wasting any time.
Same goes for bracelets and rings since they are often exposed to a lot of outer damage. If the piece looks worn down, restoring or replating it is recommended in order to extend the life of the piece while maintaining the quality. Minor mends can help jewelry look new and prevent more severe issues from rising in the future.
Concluding Remarks
Remember that jewelry, like other forms of adornment, is an emotional and financial investment. Taking the necessary measures to care for the pieces from where they are kept to how they are cleaned is essential in retaining the brilliance that enticed you at first sight. If you are seeking to augment your collection with affordable quality pieces, consider Rustic and Gold that offers stylish yet tough pieces. Your pieces can continue to shine for decades as long as the right measures are put in place, preserving their beauty and importance in your life.