Jewellery is special. Each time you put on a favourite piece, it changes the way you feel.
Along with being personal, jewellery is elemental. This means it will deteriorate over time. But there are things you can do to preserve your collection.
Check out these easy tips for caring for and cleaning your jewellery.
Beware of Light, Heat & Moisture
Protecting your jewellery from the elements is one of the best ways to extend its life. Too much exposure to sunlight, hot temperatures or moisture can damage your pieces in different ways
The Sun - Sunlight has a negative impact on the colour and durability of certain types of metals and gemstones. It can cause fading, discolouration and tarnishing. Silver is especially vulnerable to tarnishing. Gold is more resilient, but excessive exposure to sunlight will eventually cause damage.
Heat - Hot temperatures may warp precious metals. Make sure you don’t keep your jewellery in a hot car or in your beach bag during a summer holiday.
Humidity - Moisture is also an enemy. Humidity can accelerate the oxidation process and cause certain metals to tarnish. So avoid keeping your jewellery in the bathroom and always remove it before taking a shower or going swimming.
Keeping Gemstones Clean
Your gemstones are unique, so you’ll need to treat them with care. It’s important to give them a good cleaning from time to time.
The good news is, the process is pretty straightforward.
- Fill a bowl with warm water and a small amount of gentle dish soap.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals or ultrasonic cleaners.
- Use a soft cloth or brush to give them a delicate scrub.
- Dry them thoroughly using a soft cloth.
Warning! Avoid using water if you’re cleaning soft, porous gemstones. The moisture may discolour or damage them. Instead, simply buff them with a soft cloth or brush.
Maintaining the Shimmer in Your Silver
Eventually, your silver will tarnish and need to be cleaned to give it new life. The process is pretty easy - it just takes a little time.
Invest in a silver cleaning solution or a silver polishing cloth that contains anti-tarnish agents. There are plenty of affordable options on the market. A once-over with these products should be enough for lightly tarnished silver.
For silver with heavy tarnish buildup, let it soak in warm water with a small amount of dish soap for around ten or fifteen minutes. Then give it a once over with a soft cloth and dry thoroughly.
Jazzing Up Your Gold
Gold jewellery tends to show fingerprints, dirt and grime more than silver. Keeping that buildup to a minimum helps your gold pieces look their best and last longer.
It’s important to keep in mind that gold can scratch easily. Make sure you only use soft cloth or brushes while cleaning.
Using a gold cleaning solution is one approach to cleaning your piece. However, if it contains a gemstone, you’ll need to avoid exposing it to the solution.
Like silver, a bath with warm water and gentle dish soap also works well for gold. If you’re dealing with a piece of fine jewellery and are nervous about causing damage, taking it to a professional is your best bet.
No-No Chemicals
Many common, everyday products contain chemicals that could damage your jewellery. Here are some to watch out for:
- Chlorine
- Bleach found in household cleaners
- Ammonia
- Hairspray
- Perfume
- Laundry detergent
- Solvents
- Deep cleaners
These chemicals could damage gemstones and discolour or tarnish precious metals. Make sure you remove your jewellery before doing household chores or going swimming.
Find Your Next Piece
For the turquoise lover.... The Electric Tides Collection
Keep things minimal....The Shimmer Collection