Costume and precious gem jewelry is an investment that must be protected from adverse wear and tear. To keep your jewelry sparkling, you should take care to maintain it properly. Sometimes, that means that you will have to avoid certain activities that might damage your settings. Other times, it might mean you clean it with a solution appropriate for the type of jewelry being cleansed. Jewelry that is not cleaned at times can become dingy and lose its luster. To keep your jewelry in tip-top shape, just follow a few simple rules of thumbs: Careful wearing, periodic cleaning, and safe storage.
Periodic Cleaning
Diamond jewelry can benefit from an ultrasound cleanse, but other types of jewelry can make do with a jewelry cleanser. Do not use soap and water on your fine jewels as it leaves scum on the surface of the jewel. Silver jewelry should be cleaned with silver cleaner to remove tarnish, and copper jewelry cleaned with copper cleaner. Buff with a soft rag that is free of lint.
Careful Wearing
Men, in particular, need to avoid wearing rings and fine jewelry watches when they decide to participate in a sporting event. Needless damage can result that can best be avoided by not wearing the jewelry at times when it is most vulnerable. Women should avoid wearing jewelry when they go to the pool, as chlorine can damage some costume jewelry and metal settings. Even if you wear your fine jewelry only when you go out for a night on the town, it will be exposed to makeup, pollution, sweat, and dirt along the way. Remove your jewelry each night and routinely inspect them for damage.
Safe Storage
Jewelry can also be damaged when it is not stored separately from other pieces of jewelry. You can use a jewelry bag for different necklaces or a porcelain hand to separate rings on each finger. Jewelry boxes with velvet alcoves are perfect for separating and storing jewelry. As long as they are not bumping up against each other, you reduce the potential for damage and keep them looking their best.
Great tips. I try to go have my jewelry cleaned at least every 6 months. The jewelry store where we purchased most of my items does the cleaning for free. They also check all the prongs and make sure they haven’t become loose.
Good tips, I use toothpaste, lol and mine look pretty nice but unsure if its good. I have jewelry cleaner for my silver that always seems to work well but I think slowly it is becoming duller
What a helpful post! I always worry about how to take care of jewelry!