Care of Fine Jewelry
Make a habit of removing jewelry when bathing or showering (This
is a good time to carry out its daily cleaning.) Soap film will coat the jewelry lessening its sparkle and making more
frequent cleaning necessary. Always remove jewelry before putting on hair spray, makeup or perfume, and wash your hands to remove residue after applying
makeup before touching your jewelry.
When putting rings on or off, hold the ring by the shank (metal portion that encircles the finger). Touching gemstones will cause an oily buildup on their surfaces. This reduces
their brilliance and sparkle.
To restore rings’ fire and scintillation, hold the ring
close to your mouth, blow on it with your breath – you’ll see the stone
fog up – and wipe it off with a soft, lint-free cloth such as a handkerchief. It is amazing to see how much better jewelry can look by removing the oily film from the surface!
Make certain sink drains are closed before removing rings! Many people place rings by the side of the sink when doing dishes or washing hands. And never remove rings to wash hands when you
are away from home (unless you hold them in your teeth!); too many have
been forgotten and lost! Never wrap your jewelry in facial tissue, which might
later be tossed into the trash!
Gardening, cleaning and other rough chores are hard on fine jewelry. Remove it and place in a safe place like your jewelry box, before engaging in such activities. Abrasives scratch your jewelry – gemstones and soft precious metal. Chlorine and other chemicals can cause discoloration of metals used in
settings and dull the polish on many stones, making it necessary to have the
stone repolished. Chlorine can also cause pitting
and discoloration to settings as well as make gold brittle. Ammonia will remove the polish on softer porous gems such as
malachite, turquoise and coral.
When cooking or enjoying an evening by the fireplace keep your jewelry away from the heat. Extreme heat exposure will damage a great many gems.
Avoid gemstone and jewelry loss by taking it to your favorite jeweler every 12 to 18 months have your jeweler check each piece to make sure the
setting is secure, and have prongs or shanks reinforced as necessary. If you can feel or hear gems moving in the setting, it is a warning that the
prongs or bezel need tightening. And don't forget to check catches and clasps to make sure
they are secure and working properly.
Fine Jewelry Storage
Avoid exposing fine jewelry to extreme temperature changes. This is especially true with opals.
Store your jewelry in a dry place. Avoid extremes of temperature and humidity.
Keep all jewelry separated from each
other to prevent scratching. Avoid tarnishing gold by stroing silver jewelry separately. Do not store pearls or opals for long periods of
time in a safe deposit box. They will dry out and possibly discolor in such an environment. Keep fine jewelry in soft
pouches or wrapped in soft cloth to help protect it. Don’t over fill a jewelry box. This can result in jewelry loss or damage.
Diamonds can scratch other gemstones very easily, and can also scratch each
other. To prevent scratching, diamond jewelry should be placed in a
case that has separate compartments, or pieces should be
individually wrapped in soft link and odor free material.
Only 2 ½ to 4 on the Mohs hardness scale, all kinds of pearls are very soft. Household and other dust
contains quartz particles, these are much harder and can scratch pearls easily. Storing pearls in a separate pouch, preferably one lined with a soft
fabric such as satin, will help preserve the beauty of pearl’s surface nacre (luster). Likewise metal edges or prongs, or hard stones can abrade a pearl. Never toss
into a purse or travel case. And avoid contact with ammonia, inks, hair spray,
perfumes, cosmetics, and especially vinegar or lemon juice, which will immediately begin
eating the pearl’s surface. These substances will spot the pearls, and some of
the substances might affect the string, making it prone to break.
Restring pearls is necessary if they are worn frequently!Once a year is the norm. Fine pearls should always be strung with knots separating each pearl to prevent them from rubbing against each other (which
can damage the nacre), or from scattering and getting lost if the strand
breaks. Treat every organic gem, such as coral, amber or ivory as you would pearls.
Cleaning Jewelry
Perhaps the simplest and easiest way to clean any kind of jewelry is to use warm water with any kind of mild liquid detergent. Soak the piece a few minutes and then brush gently with a soft brush, keeping the piece immersed in the sudsy water.
Rinse completely under running water (Close the drain first! And place the jewelry in a plastic, non abrasive strainer before putting it under the running
water.) and then pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth or paper towel.
For fine gold jewelry without gemstones, rub with a soft chamois cloth
to restore much of the luster. Tarnish can be removed with a solution of soap
and water to which a few teaspoons of ammonia has been added. Using a soft
toothbrush, clean the jewelry with this solution, rinsing with warm water and drying
with a soft cloth. Dip in plain rubbing alcohol to remove grease before proceeding to wash.
Never clean organic or soft gems like pearls, turquoise and opals or gems with fractures like emeralds in an ultrasonic cleaner. They can crack soft gems or abrade organic gems,
and remove oil treatments from emeralds, making inclusions more visible and
weaken the apparent color.
Traveling with Jewelry
If you take jewelry with you when traveling, don’t pack it in luggage (such as
an overnight or makeup case) to be given to the bell captain at a hotel, ship’s
porters, etc. Never leave it in your room. Wherever possible, obtain a safety
deposit box in which to store your jewelry when not wearing it, even for part
of a day. Also store the jewelry you leave behind at home in a safety deposit
box.
Never remove your jewelry and wrap it in a facial tissue – many pieces have
been thrown away accidentally this way. Keep a small pouch handy in your purse.
Purchase a "body pouch" that can be concealed under clothing for when
you must carry a valuable piece. Never go sightseeing with valuables in a purse
or pocket.
For customs purposes, it can be useful to take a photocopy of your jewelry
appraisal with you. Or, have a photo of the jewelry dated and notarized prior
to departure and keep it in your passport. JNB Jewelry & Gem Appraisal can take descriptive photographs for you, if desired, for a nominal fee.
Enjoy!
An intimate expression of your personality and a sentimental
reminder of important occasions, your jewelry is meant to be enjoyed. This means it should be worn. Properly cared for, it will last many lifetimes.
Keep your favorite pieces in mind when you change your wardrobe!
Wear your jewelry. Enjoy it! And give it the consideration that precious metals and gems deserve.