During daily wear, our jewelry often breaks down, e.g. it loses its shine, becomes dull or the claws fall off …
Taking care of jewelry can be challenging, especially if it is made of different materials. Whether it’s diamonds, pearls, or precious metals, care must be taken when cleaning, handling, and storing jewelry.
With proper care, you can ensure that your jewelry stays in tip-top shape, whether you purchased it yourself or stocked it for resale.
Here are 5 tips to take care of your jewelry:
1. Keep your jewelry clean and dry
This may seem like an obvious piece of advice, but we may ignore it from time to time and toss our jewelry into a drawer or nightstand.
Exposure to moisture in the air increases the likelihood of your jewelry losing its luster.
Use jewelry boxes with compartments or pouches for each item. You can use soft pouches or small plastic bags if you don’t have a jewelry box, Consider using anti-tarnish strips or cloths to prevent tarnishing, especially for silver jewelry.
2. Keep it out of the gym and spa
As a general rule, when you go to the gym or spa, you shouldn’t take your jewelry with you.
At the gym, the vibrations from the exercises and the operation of certain equipment can scratch or bend your jewelry, which can damage it. Sweating can also cause metals to lose their shine or corrode over time.
Spas are more chlorinated, which can cause discoloration and structural damage to jewelry.
That’s why it’s best to leave your jewelry at home when you’re out working out or at the spa. Of course, you can also keep a cloth jewelry pouch in your carry-on bag to have a safe place to store your jewelry.
3. Avoid contact with lotion, perfume, or any damaging chemicals
All cosmetics, hairsprays, perfumes, and lotions contain chemicals that often react adversely with jewelry and affect its appearance.
Precious metals, colored gemstones, and pearls are very sensitive to chemicals. Precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum are particularly susceptible to discoloration from some daily care products. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- The surfaces of pearls and porous gemstones can be permanently damaged by certain cosmetics or chemicals, so be careful when using makeup while wearing this type of jewelry.
- If you are going to spray perfume, be sure to spray it before you put on your jewelry, not after.
- After spraying any sprays, make sure your skin is completely dry before wearing your jewelry.
- If your precious metals come into contact with any chemicals, wash off any residue immediately with a soft cloth.
4. Store your jewelry properly when you’re not wearing it
Jewelry care is more than just keeping your jewelry clean. Proper storage prevents loss of luster, discoloration, and damage.
How to properly store jewelry for yourself
- Keep padded boxes or cloth bags for new jewelry.
- Look for ways to store jewelry that will keep it separate to avoid tangling or damage. For example, use a padded ring box with separate slots.
- When traveling, use a padded box or cloth bag to store jewelry separately from other items to avoid scratches or other impact damage.
- For long-term storage, seal them in a vacuum storage bag to prevent moisture and air from entering.
- Excessive exposure to sunlight can darken the color of gemstones.
- Keep your jewelry away from wood, as wood (especially unfinished or untreated wood) can release acids and other chemicals that can corrode or discolor certain metals and gemstones.
- Store gold and silver jewelry separately. This not only prevents your gold jewelry from being scratched but also prevents certain metals from reacting with each other and losing their luster or discoloration.
How to store jewelry inventory for your business
- Ensure that all jewelry is clean and dry before storing. Choose appropriate containers, such as divider trays, tarnish-proof bags, ziplock bags, and jewelry boxes.
- Sort jewelry by material (gold, silver, pearls, costume jewelry, etc.) and label shelves or containers clearly, not only to prevent jewelry from damaging each other but also for easy identification.
- Avoid storing jewelry near vents, windows in direct sunlight, or heat sources such as radiators.
- Keep the humidity in the storage area at a moderate level. If humidity is a concern, consider using silica gel packets in storage containers to absorb moisture. Consider using a moisture absorber if necessary.
- Regularly inspect stored jewelry for any signs of damage or deterioration and make any necessary repairs or adjustments.
- If valuable jewelry is stored, consider additional security measures, such as locked cabinets or safes or security cameras, to prevent theft or unauthorized access.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your jewelry storage is well organized, protected from damage, and readily accessible when needed.
5. Use mid cleaners for regular cleanings
When it comes to jewelry care, cleaning is the most important step. Over time, dirt, grease, and dust can accumulate on jewelry and make it lose its luster. Regular cleaning of your jewelry maintains its luster and beauty.
One of the best jewelry cleaning methods is to use warm water, mild detergent, and a soft brush. However, ultrasonic jewelry cleaning is also becoming popular for jewelry lovers looking for a more thorough method of cleaning their jewelry.
To care for your jewelry, keep the following in mind:
- Be careful to use soft cloths or brushes when cleaning, especially for soft stones that scratch easily, such as pearls.
- Avoid using any cleaning products that are not specifically designed for jewelry. Many cleaners may contain harsh chemicals that can damage gemstones or metals.
- Use different tools for different materials when cleaning.
Check out cleaning tips for your jewelry
Cleaning Gold Jewelry
Gold jewelry, especially gold necklaces, can easily lose its luster from exposure to air, moisture, and skin oils. You can clean gold jewelry using a cleaning solution with a few drops of mild detergent or baby shampoo.
Soak your jewelry in the cleaning solution for 15-20 minutes, then gently scrub it with a soft cloth, soft-bristled toothbrush, or small clean makeup brush.
Don’t forget to rinse your jewelry thoroughly under running water to remove any soap residue and pat dry with a soft cloth. Avoid using paper towels as they can scratch the surface of gold jewelry.
Remember: gold is a soft metal. Be gentle during brushing and drying.
Cleaning Sterling Silver Jewelry
If you have silver rings, bracelets, and necklaces that you don’t wear often, you may notice a layer of discoloration the next time you wear them. Over time, when silver is exposed to air, a chemical reaction occurs that darkens the silver.
All you need to do is learn how to clean your silver jewelry at home to remove these tarnishes, and you’ll be on your way to making that jewelry sparkle.
- In a small bowl, pour a few drops of mild detergent into warm water and stir to create a foam. Soak your silver jewelry in the solution for about five minutes.
- Use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub away any tarnish from the crevices of the jewelry.
- Rinse each piece of jewelry in a bowl of clean, warm water. (If rinsing over the sink, use a drain collector to prevent the jewelry from falling down the drain.)
- Dry each piece of jewelry with a soft cloth. Do not use paper towels as they can scratch the surface of silver jewelry.
Remember: Avoid using toothpaste, the chemicals in toothpaste are too caustic and may cause more damage if used to clean silver jewelry, especially with a brush.
Cleaning jewelry with Zircon or diamonds
The best, easiest, and safest method is to rinse with warm water and detergent. Place jewelry in a bowl for 20 to 40 minutes, then remove and scrub with a soft toothbrush. Finally, shake or blow the jewelry to remove excess liquid and gently wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth or chamois.
Remember: Take extra care when cleaning jewelry with gemstones or diamonds. Scrubbing hard may dislodge stones, especially small ones.
In Conclusion
Regular maintenance of your jewelry will keep it beautiful and sparkling and ensure its longevity.
By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your jewelry stays radiant for years to come. Remember, your jewelry is an investment in your style, so give it the care and attention it deserves!
