Jewelry Care
Although fine jewelry is made from some of the world's most durable substances,
gemstones and precious metals, it does need some care. Following a few easy
guidelines will make sure that your jewelry pieces last for generations still
looking like the day you bought them.
First of all: keep them clean! Lotions, powders, soaps, and natural skin oils
can build up on jewelry, cutting down on the brilliance of the gems. Rings in
particular tend to collect dust and soap behind the stone, particularly if you
wear them all the time. To clean transparent crystalline gemstones, simply soak
them in water with a touch of gentle soap or ammonia. If necessary, use a soft
toothbrush to scrub behind the stone. After brushing, simply rinse with
lukewarm water and allow them to dry. Grease can be removed from plain karat
gold jewelry by dipping it into ordinary rubbing alcohol. Rubbing with a soft
chamois cloth is an effective way to keep gold jewelry shining.
Store your jewelry in a clean, dry place: a fabric-lined jewelry case or box
with compartments and dividers is ideal. If you prefer to use an ordinary box,
wrap each piece individually in soft tissue paper. Don't jumble your jewelry
pieces in a drawer or jewelry case. Store each piece of gemstone jewelry
separately so that harder stones don't scratch softer ones. Almost every
gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. Gems can scratch the
finish on your gold, silver or platinum if you throw your jewelry in a heap in
a drawer or jewelry box.
Avoid immersing your jewelry in chemicals like chlorine. It's a good idea to
remove jewelry before entering a chlorinated pool or hot tub or putting your
hands into water with bleach. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can
permanently damage or discolor your gold jewelry.
There are many types of small machines on the market that will clean jewelry in
a matter of minutes using high-frequency sound. These ultrasonic cleaners can
be a convenient way to quickly clean your jewelry at home. However, ultrasonic
cleaners can damage some jewelry, particularly pieces set with pearls or
colored gemstones.
Even the hardest gemstones can be vulnerable to breakage if they have inclusions
that weaken the crystal structure. Exercise common sense: remove your jewelry
during strenuous work or exercise. Diamonds are the hardest substance on earth
but they can shatter in two with a single well-placed blow. Rubies and
sapphires are the toughest gems but even they can chip if hit sharply. Take
particular care if you have a ring set with a gem variety with a hardness less
than 7 or an included stone. Treat each piece of fine jewelry you own with
respect and you will enjoy it forever.
Apply cosmetics, hair sprays and perfume before putting on any pearl jewelry.
When you remove the pearl jewelry, wipe it carefully with a soft cloth to
remove any traces of these substances.
You can also wash your pearl jewelry with mild soap and water. Do not clean
cultured pearls with any chemicals, abrasives or solvents. These substances can
damage your pearls.
Do not toss your cultured pearl jewelry carelessly into a purse, bag or jewel
box. A pearl's surface is soft and can be scratched by hard metal edges or by
the harder gemstones of other jewelry pieces. Place cultured pearls in a
chamois bag or wrap them in tissue when putting them away.
Clean your sterling silver jewelry with a mild soap and water solution, allowing
the water to bead up, and then patting dry with a soft cloth. For more stubborn
dirt, use a jewelry cleaner designed for silver use. (If you do use silver
cleaner, make sure you keep it away from any gems set in the silver.) Store
silver in a cool, dry place, preferably in a tarnish-preventive bag or wrapped
in a soft piece of felt or cloth. Store pieces individually so that they don't
knock together and scratch. Do not rub silver with anything other than a
polishing cloth or a fine piece of felt. Tissue paper or paper towels can cause
scratches because of the fibers in these products. Make sure your silver is not
exposed to air and light during storage: this can cause silver to tarnish. And
don't wear sterling silver in chlorinated water or when working with household
chemicals.
Opals require special care. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner, never use ammonia,
and avoid heat and strong light, which can dry out the water in opals. Opal
rings should not be worn during strenuous work or exercise: they will chip if
hit with a sharp blow. Organic gems like coral and amber should only be wiped
clean with a moist cloth. Due to their organic nature, these gems are both soft
and porous. Be careful about chemicals in hairspray, cosmetics, or perfume:
they can, over time, damage organic gems. Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli,
turquoise, and malachite, require special care. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner
and never use ammonia or any chemical solution. These gem materials should just
be wiped clean gently with a moist cloth. These gemstones can be porous and may
absorb chemicals, even soap, and they may build up inside the stone and
discolor it.
