Here we are in the middle of the festive season; this is the time to take out your glittering jewellery. But years of wear might dull that lustre of your ornaments. Oils, soaps, scums, even skin cells or bits of hair might get stuck between the precious stone setting. To avoid throwing your favourite pieces in the garbage after only a short while, proper care is the key.
Consider the following tips to ensuring a long and loving relationship with your jewellery.
- Clean your jewellery periodically to help preserve its shine and make it last.
- Avoid wearing jewellery while bathing to prevent layer of soap scum or oil forming on them.
- Remove all jewellery before going to sleep. Soft metals like gold bangles tend to go out of shape if pressed in any one position for long.
- To help retard tarnish on sterling silver, wrap the piece in jeweller’s tissue paper and place it inside a plastic zip lock bag and seal.
- An easy way to keep stones shining is to hold them close to your mouth, blow on them and then wipe them with a soft cloth
- Always apply your cologne, perfume or hair spray before putting on your stone set jewellery.
- Try and remove rings before washing your hands or applying moisturizer, cream etc.
- Don’t expose your gems to sudden extremes of temperature.
How to clean :
You will need a small bowl, detergent, soft toothpaste, a wooden toothpick, a soft cloth. Never clean your jewellery directly in the sink. It is better to soak ornament in a small bowl of detergent for a short while before cleaning with a soft brush.
- For delicate gems like pearl, opal or amber, wiping with a soft cloth is often the best way.
- Plain alcohol or even vodka works wonders by removing the greasy films on diamonds.
- For gold, using a soft wet cloth is your best bet. If you need to remove dirt and other unwanted substances in hard-to-reach places, you can also use a soft-bristled toothbrush with warm water and a gentle detergent.
- For Stealing silver, as many of you may know, silver is a natural metal that oxidizes the longer it maintains contact with air. Rub a simple polishing cloth over silver, every-so-often, will keep it nice and shiny. To remove dirt or sticky substances, use a soft wet cloth, dry thoroughly, then use the polishing cloth to slow the oxidation process.
