Caring for Your Jewelry

You’ve just gotten that beautiful wedding set and excited about showing it off to the world, or maybe you found that bracelet that your grandmother left you a few years back…or even better, you managed to get a great deal on some ‘hidden treasure’ at a yard sale that wound up being 14k gold. Just having fine jewelry is one thing, but there are some easy tips to remember to help care for those pieces and keep them looking great.

You have to take them off sometime…

Sad to say, but yes, you will have to take those pieces off sometime. When you’re not showing off how great your jewelry looks on you, it’s best to keep them stored in a clean, dry place. A fabric-lined jewelry box is a good investment, or as an alternative, in a box with compartments or dividers though it’s a good idea to wrap the pieces individually in soft tissue paper. Don’t jumble your jewelry pieces in a drawer or jewelry case.
Pieces can scratch each other.

Diamonds are forever! Why worry?

Diamonds are the hardest natural material known as you can see for yourself, and because of their unique properties like this, diamond jewelry is very popular. Some pieces, such as
diamond engagement and wedding rings, are often worn 24 hours a day. As durable as they are, diamonds still require proper care and maintenance. They can get smudged, soild, dirty and dusty…whatever your hands are getting into, that diamond ring is getting into it, too. The soap you use to wash your hands and the lotion you use to keep them soft can leave a film on diamonds, causing them to loose their brightness. Clean diamonds glow because the maximum amount of light can enter the stone and return in a fiery brilliance. It takes just a little care to keep them that way. Cleaning them in a mixture of mild dish detergent and lukewarm water with a soft toothbrush will help remove some of the filmy buildup, just be sure to rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

Do not wear diamond jewelry, especially rings, when doing rough work. Even though diamond is one of the hardest materials in nature, it can still be chipped by a sharp, sudden blow…and the setting the diamond is in can be bent which may result in a lost diamond and a very-empty engagement ring.

From Carats to Karats

Gold jewelry comes in many different styles and colors, but the care and cleaning procedure remains the same. It’s best to take off your gold jewelry before showering or cleaning…soap can cause a film to form on your gold, making it appear dull and dingy. By preventing the formation of this film, you immediately reduce the occasions your pieces will need to be cleaned. Also, be careful of chlorine, which is found in a lot of cleaners. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can permanently damage or discolor your gold jewelry. Do not wear gold jewelry while using chlorine bleach or while in a pool.

You can do a light polish on your gold when it doesn’t have that same shine that it used to. The simplest way to do this is with a jewelry cleaning solution and a soft-bristled brush (again, a soft toothbrush works great). After brushing, rinse with lukewarm water and allow to dry. It is also recommended that your jewelry be taken in and professionally cleaned every three to four months or when there is a heavy buildup of grease or heavy tarnishing…or whenever you don’t feel like cleaning it yourself. Come see us and we’ll help you out.

Silver: Not just for second-place anymore!

Sterling silver, like other precious metals, can oxidize with time, but properly maintained silver jewelry improves with age and develops a lush patina. Treat your silver well, care for it properly and it will reward you with a long life and a lustrous look. Like gold, clean your 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 or heavier tarnishing, bring your silver in for us to professionally clean.

I think you may have something loose up there…

Bringing your jewelry in to us to have it professionally cleaned is a good idea not just for maintaining the sparkling appearance of those pieces, but also gives our trained staff a chance to look over them for any possible dents, scratches or more importantly, loose gem and diamond settings. Any of these small problems are much easier to repair and probably much less costly when caught early…something you will definitely remember when you’re looking for that diamond that just fell out of your bracelet.

So come in to either of our locations, and talk to one of our associates about cleaning your jewerly. You’ll be happier, and you’ll look better for it!