Jewelry Care and You – Jewelry Care Tips To Know and Practice
Jewelry Care
It’s been a busy month here on the Stewart Kuper Jewelers blog. We are back in education mode this August and in keeping with that we decided to revisit an older blog topic, the tips for the care of jewelry! That was an older post and really focused on one of the biggest ways to keep your jewelry clean: taking off your jewelry before most activities. But is that all you need know about jewelry care? Of course not! Here are some more in-depth tips and know-how to keep your treasured pieces sparkling.
Top Jewelry Care Tips
Avoid Chemicals
Chemicals can cause precious metals of all types – silver, gold, or platinum – to discolor or be damaged. Certain gems can even be damaged by them. These chemicals aren’t just the harsh ones living in a laboratory somewhere, they can be found in everyday items! Lotions, perfumes, hairsprays, and other cosmetics can damage the surface of porous gems. Chlorine in pools or household cleaners that have ammonia can also damage fine gems or old vintage pieces, or damage and pit gold alloys.
Light and Heat
Heat and light damage many things. Delicate materials like pearls or ivory will bleach with too much light, meanwhile amber and other gems can go darker. Luckily, light and heat needs two other things to harm your jewelry: excess light and time. So long as your items are stored safely, light and heat shouldn’t be a factor.
Jewelry Washing 101
Brass
Brass tends to darken with wear. If you don’t like that darker color there’s a bit you can do to help! First, avoid getting brass jewelry wet as that does it no favors. Using a brass cleaner will help bring the shine back. If you don’t have or can’t find a commercial cleaner, you can try a soft toothbrush and paste to polish.
Silver
Silver can tarnish quickly when it is exposed to sulfur or oxygen. Luckily for us, one of the best ways to prevent that is by wearing your silver jewelry often! That’s because the naturally occurring oils in skin helps prevent the tarnish. Has the tarnish already taken a hold? Try a polishing cloth.
Gold & Diamonds
To wash gold and diamonds you’ll need just a couple of simple household items.
- Grab a bowl and mix a small amount of mild dish detergent with warm water.
- Place the jewelry into the bowl, allowing them to sit for a few minutes.
- Take a tooth brush with soft bristles, such as a baby toothbrush, and brush gently.
- Rinse it.
- Dry with a soft polishing cloth for enhanced shine.
Gold is a soft metal and any rough handling, or hard surfaces being used in cleaning can cause damage.
Is your jewelry just too tarnished? Looking for something new to dazzle your lovers eye? In that case you should contact us and schedule your appointment to find the perfect piece for you.
