CLEANING YOUR JEWELRY
Chemicals found in everyday substances like hairspray, lotions, perfumes, or other cosmetics can permanently damage the nacre of your dazzling pearl , and can corrode the alloys in that shiny setting. Understanding how to care and maintain your jewelry can make a world of difference in maintaining its beauty and keeping its finest quality sparkling for years to come.
Do not use toothpaste as its abrasives can damage softer gems and metals. The simplest and safest way to clean any kind of jewelry is to wash it with warm sudsy water. Prepare a small bowl of sudsy water, using any mild liquid detergent and ammonia. Soak the piece a few minutes, and then brush it gently with soft makeup brush or soft toothbrush while holding it under running water.
Make sure the drain is closed. Some people prefer to place jewelry in wire strainer before holding it under running water. When the piece is clean and sparkling, pat it dry with a soft lint-free cloth or paper towel.
Pearls are porous so they absorb liquids and should not be immersed in liquids, especially those with color that may stain the pearls. The natural oils from your skin will enhance the beauty of pearls and is a good reason to wear them often.
AVOID EXTREME TEMPERATURES
Light and heat can affect a colored gemstone’s durability and color. Just as the sun’s harmful rays can damage our skin, over time and in excess, it can also fade and weaken some gemstones, such as amethyst, kunzite, topaz, and pink conch-shell cameos. Pearls and other delicate materials, like ivory, will bleach under extreme exposure to light. Other gems, especially amber, can darken over time when exposed to too much light.
Excessive heat and sudden temperature changes may also fracture the gem. Heat can easily remove the natural moisture some gems need to keep their beauty. Opals and cultured Pearls, which are organic in composition, may be damaged by very dry conditions Pearls can dry out, crack and discolor. Opals will turn white or brown, develop tiny cracks, and might lose their play-of-color. Gemstones such as Emerald, which typically have inclusions in them, can be damaged by sudden changes in temperature which could cause internal fractures to expand rapidly, sometimes even resulting in a broken gemstone. Therefore, do not wear fine jewelry when doing housework or gardening.
Exposure to chemicals can damage and discolor precious metals – gold, silver, and platinum – and may harm some colored gems. Fine jewelry should be removed before diving into a chlorinated swimming pool, or before using household cleaners. Many of these cleaners contain ammonia, and are only safe for diamonds and the more durable colored gems. Chlorine bleach, another common household solvent, can pit gold alloys.
STORING YOUR JEWELRY
Proper jewelry storage is often overlooked. Jewelry should never be tossed into a drawer or on top of a dresser-that’s a recipe for scratches and fractured gems. Do keep gemstone-studded jewelry, pearls, and gold and silver pieces separated from each other to prevent scratching. Store fine jewelry pieces in soft pouches, soft cloth wraps or plastic "zip-lock" bags to help protect them.
Do not overcrowd your jewelry box. Crowding can result in misplaced or lost jewelry if a small piece falls unnoticed from the case. Occasionally, forcing too much jewelry into the box may even bend a fragile piece or chip a delicate stone.
Most jewelry pieces come in a box or pouch from the store, which is a perfect place to keep them. Sterling silver, for example, should be kept in an anti-tarnish bag or cloth. Storing chains and necklaces separately will prevent tangling which often results in damage. In addition to jewelry boxes, any soft lined compartmentalized tray, individually wrapping items in tissue paper or using jewelry pouches or rolls will protect your jewelry.
Jewelry boxes that feature individually padded slots for rings, and posts for hanging necklaces and bracelets, are also ideal. Like pearls, opals draw moisture from the air. Storing your opal ring or pearl earrings in a dry area, such as a safety deposit box, can actually do more harm than good. When traveling with jewelry, protect the pieces from scratches or other impact damage by padding the jewelry.
All jewelry made from platinum, gold or silver tarnishes over time from the process of oxidation. A film or thin layer of discoloration develops on the exterior of these metals. When a metal such as copper oxidizes it turns green. When yellow gold, white gold or platinum jewelry tarnishes it does not totally change color like copper, instead it becomes very dull and changes color ever so slightly. Silver dulls and turns black usually requiring continuous cleaning unless it is plated with a finish to retard the oxidation process.
INSPECT YOUR JEWELRY BEFORE PUTTING IT ON
Always inspect your jewelry before putting on. Many necklaces are lost because of clasps that have broken or simply worn out with age. Necklace or pendant especially, that is a couple of years old. Always inspect the clasp and the loops that connect the clasp to the chain to see if they are wearing thin. Gold is a relatively soft metal and wears out in areas that are subjected to a lot of friction over time, watch out for the links on your bracelet that are getting very thin. Check all of the links carefully and pay special attention by the clasp because these links tend wear out sooner than the others in a bracelet or chain.
The good news is, at Baubles n Bijoux Jewelry, I can rebuild old loops and links on your jewelry that have worn thin and make them like new again!
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