When you spend a lot of money on jewellery, you will want to keep it for the long-term. This means looking after it in the best way that you can. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t care for their jewellery properly so it becomes scuffed, discoloured and damaged over time. So you don’t end up becoming one of these people, we are going to focus on a few ways in which you can better care for your favourite jewellery and keep it looking great for life. Little and often is a good mantra to follow, and many of the techniques that we will discuss here only take a matter of minutes or even seconds.
Sparkling Silver
A mild liquid detergent solution is the best way to care for your silver jewellery when you are at home. Mild is the optimum world as you don’t want to choose anything which includes a bleaching agent, abrasives or ammonia. A warm solution made up of water and detergent is what you should be aiming for. When you are soaking it, don’t keep it there for too long or it can end up oxidising over time – a minute should be long enough. Rinse it clean afterwards. Any stubborn dirt and dust can be removed with a soft brush. Finally, dry the item(s) with a soft cloth.
Glittering Gold
When you are putting on your outfit, put on your gold jewellery last after you have already applied any cosmetics or other chemical substances. After you have worn your jewellery, you should wipe it down with a soft cloth each and every time. Store the pieces separately in a box or pouch to avoid them getting scratched. As for cleaning, you can use a similar approach to the one listed above for silver jewellery.
Dazzling Diamonds
Keep any diamond jewellery – whether an engagement ring or lab diamond earrings – that you own away from chlorine or other chemicals which are likely to damage it. Like gold, you should keep it separately from your other items of jewellery to avoid it getting scratched as much as possible. Soak the diamond in an ammonia-based household cleaner and try brushing it with a soft, clean toothbrush to remove any dirt which has accumulated. Be careful when doing this – diamonds may be strong but they are not indestructible!
Charming Coloured Stones
A common trait of jewellery owners is that they forget to wipe the items down after wearing. This is particularly important if you have pieces which feature coloured gemstones. After you have worn these pieces, clean them with a soft and slightly damp cloth or tissue. This is only a small task but you should notice a big difference. Clean the pieces in a similar way to the methods already listed above.
As you can see from the tips, tricks and techniques listed above, taking care of your different items of jewellery doesn’t have to be overly challenging, but it is an important task to ensure that it continues looking at its best. In general, you need to avoid getting your jewellery in contact with any chemicals which could be harmful to it. You should take steps to clean the items on a regular basis, using a gentle solution and a soft brush that is not going to scratch them. When you are not wearing your jewellery, make sure that you store it carefully so it doesn’t incur any damage.
