Storing and cleaning your jewellery
You just got a new piece of jewellery, it dazzles and shines and you can’t stop looking at it… then the impending doom sets in! “It won’t last forever” you think to yourself, well guess again friends… it really can!
I have gone away to find out the best jewellery care tips, from cleaning to storing, to keep our jewels in the best condition for as long as possible.
Cleaning precious stones
You may think that to clean precious stones you need some snazzy equipment, but actually some warm mild soapy water and a non abrasive brush goes a long way in removing built up dirt and grime.
I sometimes soak a ring or pendant, in the solution, gently brush to coax away any build up and rinse off with warm water. You will be surprised at how well this works!
When drying, make sure you don’t use any abrasive materials, we would recommend using a lint free cloth and with anything more intricate an air blower is a great tool.
Antique Jewellery
Cleaning antique jewellery is definitely not a task to be taken lightly, nor is it one where a one shoe fits all approach should be taken.
Extra care will need to be taken with antique jewellery, we would recommend speaking with an expert to see the best practice to cleaning your jewellery piece.
Cleaning precious metals
Your precious metals are likely to suffer from wear and tear over time. Although this can’t be treated fully, using a special cloth, known as a Selvyt cloth, can help. This is inexpensive, durable and some are washable which ensure they last a long time! There is a range of cloths for gold and silver available.
The cloth can be gently rubbed over the metals to bring the shine back and remove any finger marks or grime.
This is perfect for cleaning all types of jewellery including necklaces, rings or bracelets.
Professional Cleaning
If you feel as though your jewellery could do with a helping hand, professional cleaning is also an option. If your white gold is fading or the metal is becoming too tarnished, there are options to have your items rediped to give that brand new glow! Please speak to your local jeweller to discuss these options.
Tips of storing your jewellery
Storing your jewellery correctly is so underrated! We underestimate how far this simple step goes in maintaining your jewellery.
Ideally, we would suggest keeping all items separate to avoid scratching. Keeping multiple pieces of jewellery close together will likely lead to the pieces getting scratched.
Try to avoid storing chains close together, particularly thinner chains, as the likelihood is they will become tangled and scratched.
Oftentimes, when trying to separate intertwined or knotted jewellery, it can be very difficult and can lead to breakages in the process.
Make sure the jewellery is stored in a dry place, in individual boxes or compartments. If you are using a jewellery box, please ensure it is lined with a non abrasive fabric.
It is vital to remove jewellery before venturing into a Jacuzzi, swimming pool or the sea where chlorine and salt water is present. Please note chlorine and salt water can discolour metals like platinum and gold as well as damage gemstones.
It’s also important to try to keep jewellery especially items with any precious jewellery away from direct sunlight or severe temperature fluctuations. This can cause metals to contract and expand leading to fractures in bands, claws and mounts. This can lead to movement causing stones to become loose.
As you can see there are plenty of easy and accessible options out there to maintaining jewellry, it isn’t as overwhelming as it seems!
Happy cleaning!
