Even the best quality jewelry requires special care to maintain its appearance. Whether you own costume pieces or fine jewelry, knowing how to care for your treasures is essential. From proper storage to careful cleaning, taking good care of your jewelry can help you get the most out of your collection.
Although costume jewelry and fine jewelry are made from different materials and have different values, many of the same rules apply to caring for both types. Below we show you 8 tips that you can follow to take maximum care of your jewelry.
1. Know when to remove jewelry
No matter what materials are involved, jewelry is delicate. Jewelry should always be removed when working with your hands or performing activities that involve chemicals or abrasives. Remove jewelry before doing any of the following activities:
- Swimming in chlorinated water
- Clean the house
- Work in the garden
- Play sports, especially contact sports
2. Wear jewelry last
It's tempting to put on jewelry when getting dressed in the morning or getting ready for a night out. However, it is best to wait until you are fully prepared before putting on your jewelry. Whether you're wearing diamonds or gemstones, the chemicals in makeup, hair products, and perfume can damage your pieces. It's best to think of jewelry as the finishing touch to your look.
3. Do not use lotion with jewelry
Although occasional exposure to hand and body lotion won't harm most fine jewelry, it can destroy the finish on costume pieces. Also, the buildup of lotion products can lead to more frequent cleaning of your valuable items. It is better to put lotion on your hands or body after taking off your jewelry at night.
4. Store your pieces separately
No matter how careful you are when wearing your jewelry, it can also suffer damage during storage. Often this is due to pieces bumping into each other or becoming tangled. The most vulnerable materials are pearls, wood, plastic, precious metals, and some precious stones. The best way to solve this problem is to store the items so that they cannot touch each other.
5. Travel with a jeweler
While regular storage is important, travel storage is even more essential. Throwing your jewelry in a vanity bag or a suitcase can cause a lot of damage. You can protect your pieces by using specially designed travel jewelry cases or jewelry rolls that will keep your special items safe and tangle-free.
6. Know your parts before you clean them
Before you attempt to clean any of your jewelry items, it is essential that you know about the materials used in the construction of your treasures. There are very different procedures for cleaning diamond or zirconium rings and pearl jewelry, for example. Some types of jewelry should never be submerged in water, while special soft polishes can restore the shine to silver necklaces.
7. Make a jewelry care kit
It's helpful to have all your jewelry care supplies in one place so you can clean and repair your items without having to search for the necessary tools and materials. You can create a simple jewelry care kit using a small plastic container. Place the following items inside:
- Silver polish for silver items
- Commercial jewelry cleaners for diamonds, precious metals, and some gemstones
- Soft bristle brush to get into crevices
- Soft chamois cloth for polishing and drying
- Rubbing alcohol for gems and hard metals
- Cotton swabs for polishing hard-to-reach spots
- Tweezers to remove lint or reset jewelery stones
8. Let your jewelry dry well
If you clean your jewelry, it may seem sufficient to dry it with a chamois and then put it away. However, small amounts of moisture left behind after cleaning can destroy your collection. Wait at least one hour after cleaning any piece before returning it to its jewelry box or case. This will give the moisture enough time to fully evaporate.
Maintain value and beauty
Caring for your jewelry is an important part of maintaining its value and beauty. From diamond engagement rings to costume jewelry, everything looks better and lasts longer when you know how to care for it. Use your judgment and take your time, and you'll keep your jewelry wardrobe looking like new.