Preserving Jewelry

tips for extending the life of your jewelry

© by Baya Gatter; all rights reserved

No matter how many pieces of jewelry you own, you can keep each piece in pristine condition with good care, maintenance, and a little TLC.

Let's begin with daily wear. Are you aware that soaps, shampoos, powders and lotions can build up a residue on your jewelry and leave a filmy build-up under and around a setting?

Silver and rose gold ring by Eternal Fine Jewels

This reduces the brilliance of a diamond or the brightness or intensity of a colored gemstone. This can also give metals a dull appearance.

Most people enjoy outdoor activities - however, these can also cause havoc for your jewelry. As an example, if you are an avid gardener, and like most people, you want to feel the soil and avoid wearing gardening gloves, you risk losing your rings as they could slip off your fingers. Also, dirt could become embedded within the setting and the stones could possibly get chipped. A bracelet or chain could get caught in something and be damaged or lost.

If you go to the gym, spa, or even have the facilities at home - do not wear your jewelry in a hot tub, sauna, or chlorinated pools. These elements can damage gems by wearing away at the polished finish and creating a dull surface. They can also discolor some gemstones.

Jewelry with stones set in claws and/or prongs should be regularly checked, as they can wear down with time and get broken - which will result with a stone breaking or falling out of the mount. A jeweler can re-tip the prongs. Sometimes in our daily routines and activities whether at work or home, a ring can be knocked or hit against something which can damage the claw without our realizing it.

I can tell you first hand that it happened to me. Two of the claws in my engagement ring were bent sideways, when my hand accidentally hit a wall. I could hear a distinct rattling sound because the diamond was loose in the setting.

Link chains and bracelets, especially with larger links, can wear thin over the years, especially if worn everyday. The interconnecting links rub against each other from movement thereby thinning them out.

The earrings that you just purchased or received as a gift should have the closure cleaned with an alcohol swab to kill any bacteria. You don't whether someone tried on those earrings before you, or how they were handled.

When putting on earrings, especially studs, most people press their index finger against the stone while pushing in the butterfly back. It is wise to put a tissue between the surface of the stone and your finger as you apply the closure to the back of the earring, since the oils on your finger would leave an impression on the stone's surface and take away from its brilliance, sparkle and shine.

If you have post and butterfly earrings, the butterfly should not glide on too easily, but rather should be pushed on the post. If it glides too easily, it can also slip off easily and cause you to lose your earrings.

Rings should have the bottom of the shanks checked, especially if they are worn every day. Shanks can thin out and snap off your finger.

When removing your chains, try to place the chain flat on a surface to avoid knots or kinks. Beaded necklaces should also be stored flat since the silk strand can stretch over time and cause them to come apart.

Since cameos are prone to cracking and discoloration from age, dryness or elements, they must be carefully cared for and stored. You can dust a cameo with a soft brush, then rinse it with warm water and pat dry.

A diamond's sparkle can diminish from personal care products, household chemicals and powders. Also, the skin's natural oils and sweat can diminish the brilliance. Using a gentle dish washing soap with a soft brush and warm water, you can clean the surface and settings and then rinse. Or if you wish, you can also use a commercial jewelry cleaner.

If you use sprays (such as perfume, hairspray, deodorant), wait for a few minutes before putting on your jewelry. Otherwise, if you applied perfume and then put on your pearl necklace before the perfume was completely dry, the iridescence, luster and color of the pearl could be altered, making it dull and lifeless overtime.

It's a good idea to have your pearl strand restrung every few years, and to have knots between each pearl on the strand. That prevents the pearls from scratching each other or being scattered all over if the strand breaks. You can clean pearls by placing them in mild soapy water and then letting them dry on a towel. If you wear your pearls frequently, wipe them with a soft damp cloth to avoid any kind of chemical build-up.

Opal jewelry shouldn't be exposed to extreme heat. Also keep opals away from direct sun and extremely cold weather, as the opals may crack when subjected to these conditions. Opals contain water within them and if you live in a dry climate, it is best to store your opal jewelry in a plastic bag with a damp piece of fabric or cotton ball, to prevent your opals from dehydrating and cracking. Because opals are porous, they shouldn't be cleaned chemical jewelry cleaners. Instead, use a gentle dish washing liquid, mild water and a soft toothbrush.

Opal ring by Eternal Fine Jewels

Coral is another very porous gem and should not come in contact with any chemicals. It is also very soft and should be carefully stored so it doesn't get scratched or chipped. Coral jewelry should be cleaned with a moist, soft cloth.

Turquoise is also porous and fragile, and should be kept away from heat and chemicals. Since turquoise stones scratch easily, store them separately in a jewelry pouch and clean with lukewarm water and a soft brush.

Amber is an extremely soft gem that scratches easily. Because of its porosity, be sure to apply perfume or hairspray before putting on amber jewelry; otherwise it will be coated with a dull film. Wipe amber jewelry with a soft cotton or flannel cloth and store it separately.

Gold jewelry should be removed before using any kind of household chemicals, since they can create abrasions on the metal. Gold's biggest enemy is chlorine, so it's best to keep it out of chlorinated pools and hot tubs, and avoid wearing it while using cleaning products that have chlorine in them. Clean your jewelry with warm water and a gentle brush.

Silver jewelry is best cleaned with a soft cloth or a fine piece of felt. If silver is very dirty, try silver cleaner. Silver will discolor from chlorine. When you wear your silver jewelry it will tarnish from exposure to light, air and from physical activity (sweat). Remove it at the end of the day and clean thoroughly. Since it is a soft metal, it will scratch easily and should be stored in a soft cloth bag.

Try to store your individual pieces of jewelry in small plastic zip-close bags to prevent your pieces from scratching against each other.

At-home care for your jewels requires minimal time and is so simple. Jewelry that you wear every day should be cleaned on a weekly basis.

Check your jewelry damage, wear and tear, or lose stones annually.

Jewelry can retain its brand new appearance as along as it's well cared for. Basic care and cleaning will help your jewelry keep its original beauty, brilliance, shine that last a lifetime.

Author Baya Gatter says, "At our Eternal Fine Jewels Ruby Lane shop, we offer a fine collection of vintage, antique, and artisan jewelry with unique designs - pieces as unique as your signature.

"At The Jewel Shop on Etsy, we offer more contemporary jewels that are handmade and set with vibrant gemstones. Both stores offer beautiful pieces at remarkable prices."

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