So, you’ve spotted that some of your favorite pieces of jewelry have lost their original shine and sparkle. This might make you feel a bit confused: after all, you thought you were storing and handling all of them in the right way.
Building a stunning jewelry collection is a great idea, but you also need to know how to clean jewelry and proper Jewelry Care. In this article, we are going to teach you four clever, easy, but super-important jewelry care tips. You’ll soon realize that, if you know how to care for jewelry in the right way, your precious collection will last a lot longer (and look a lot more gorgeous).
1. The Golden Rule about Silver
As gorgeous and sparkly as it is when first bought, silver jewelry can soon tarnish and blacken over time. This is a very natural occurrence, and it is caused by the exposure of silver to oxygen and sulfur in the air.
The best way to prevent tarnishing is to wear your silver jewelry as often as possible. You’ll also want to be very careful with how and where you store it when you are not wearing it.
Keep all silver jewelry in separate, airtight bags or small containers, and in dry environments. If your silver jewelry needs a bit of a polish, you can do so with a cleaning solution and using a soft cleaning cloth.
When you buy a cleaning solution, make sure it’s either silver-specific or suitable for all types of jewelry. For example, see what’s included in this jewelry cleaning kit.
Don’t have any special cleaning solutions at home? No worries: a few drops of mild washing detergent in lukewarm water will help you to remove any minor stains.
Dealing with more stubborn tarnishing? Create a mixture of white wine vinegar and water, and gently brush your silver jewelry with a toothbrush, leaving it to air dry.
2. Make Diamonds Last Forever
Diamonds are one of the hardest stones that you can find, but they still do require a lot of TLC, as they are prone to scratching and can even break. Besides this, the oils found in your skin, as well as dust particles and general grime can dull the appearance of your diamonds.
So, how can you take good care of these precious stones? First of all, you’re going to want to store your diamonds away from other metals and stones. Keep each diamond in a separate container or small plastic or cotton bag.
Then, you’re also going to need to handle and wear your diamond with special care. Make regular cleaning a priority: this will only take you a few minutes, and won’t even require any special cleaning solution or equipment.
Pour a few drops of washing detergent into a bowl of warm water, and soak your diamond jewelry for a few minutes before brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Remove your diamonds whenever you are going to be near or in water, and when you are applying any creams or lotions. This will help to minimize exposure to liquids and oils and preserve the beautiful brilliance of your gems.
3. All That Glitters Is Gold
Golden jewelry is as popular as it is subject to damage and loss of shine. If that’s the case for your gold pieces, then you’ll need to know how to take care of them so that they can retain their original brilliance. When cleaning gold jewelry that features precious gems or stones, you’ll need to be extra careful.
For example, a gold ring with diamonds will need to be cleaned followed two specific processes, one for the metal and one for the stone. If you’re only cleaning a gold item, then you can’t go wrong with a gold-specific cleaning solution.
Again, if you don’t have one at home and need to clean your gold jewelry quickly, you can achieve good results with some mild detergent and warm (not hot) water. Simply soak the jewelry in the soapy water mix for about ten minutes, clean it with a soft, unused toothbrush, and leave it to air dry.
Unlike diamond, gold is a very soft metal, and this makes it prone to scratching more easily than others. So, whenever you are handling or cleaning your gold jewelry, remember to do so in the gentlest possible way.
4. Pearls of Wisdom
Are you the proud (and lucky) owner of a set of real freshwater pearls? Then, you’ll know just how vital it is to look after them if you want them to keep delivering that timeless charm and simple elegance that they are famous for. Always handle your pearls with care and try to clean them frequently — we recommend doing so every fifth wear or so.
Pearls are very delicate and can scratch all too often, so remember to be super careful when handling and cleaning them. To clean, wet a soft cloth using lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free detergent, and clean your pearls gently. Finish by wiping off any leftover soap with a fresh, soft cloth.
Follow Our Jewelry Care Tips for a Sparkling Collection
Whether you are looking for the best ways to care for gold, silver, pearls, or precious stones, our jewelry care tips will help you to keep your collection beautiful and shiny.
Remember to always store your jewelry in the safest way, handle it with care, and clean it often to preserve its beauty.
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