Jewelry and Gemstone Care Tips

Any piece of jewelry you purchase is going to be a large investment which you will want to keep for a long period of time. Like anything else, this will take effort and you will need to clean and care for your jewelry on a regular basis. There are many things which you can do to ensure your jewelry remains in good condition, follow these steps to ensure your jewelry continues to sparkle:

1. It is very important to put your jewelry away when you are finished wearing it. If you set your jewelry on a table it is going to get filled with dust and other particles which are likely to make your jewelry appear dull. Store your jewelry in a jewelry box to ensure your pieces remain sparkly. Do not pile your jewelry on top of one another, pieces with stones are likely to scratch other pieces. Place each type of jewelry in the appropriate drawer of your jewelry box.

2. Most forms of jewelry can be cleaned by simply placing them in water. If you prefer, you can add a touch of mild dish soap. Make sure that your sink is completely plugged to prevent anything that may fall into the sink from, god forbid, going down the drain. Once you have cleaned your piece of jewelry, dry it with a lint-free cloth. If you are unsure of which cleaning detergents are best for your jewelry, just use water. Water is your safest choice – it will clean your jewelry without any risk of ruining it.

3. Never expose your jewelry to high temperatures. Gems such as emeralds, opals, and pearls are most affected by these types of conditions. Also, the same risk of damage is likely in dry conditions or severe, sudden changes in temperature. In these conditions it is likely your gem will break or crack.

4. Use common sense. Common sense will go a long way in determining how long your jewelry lasts. Don’t wear your diamond solitaire engagement ring to a boxing class, or any form of exercise for that matter. They are likely to get damaged with all the physical contact. Likewise, if you tan in a salon, remove any form of jewelry which is likely to get scratched from the acrylic on the beds. If you are unsure, remove your jewelry. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to expensive pieces of jewelry.

Taking care of your jewelry on a regular basis will ensure it lasts as long as possible and remains in the best condition possible. Taking a few minutes about once a week can create a noticeable difference between clean, sparkly looking jewelry and dirty, dull looking jewelry. You know what your jewelry is worth – clean it accordingly.