Here are some quick and easy tips to take care of your jewellery to prevent tarnishing, scratches and dullness.
Jewellery is essential in every wardrobe and whether it's sentimental and given to you by a loved one or a piece you bought for yourself, regardless of whether it's fine or costume jewellery, it's valuable to you and you’ll want to keep it forever.
To preserve the value and condition of your earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings, prevent tarnishing, scratches and dullness and keep them sparkling for years to come, follow our quick and easy tips...
1. Store your jewellery well or in an airtight container
Storing your jewellery is important because it can either help or harm your pieces, depending on what you do. Avoid storing your pieces on top of each other as they will scratch each other and tangle and the plating will rub off faster. Certain stones can also chip and scratch softer stones. Make sure to lay each piece flat next to each other and preferably in an airtight container, especially if you live in a humid climate as humidity eats away at metals. Gold scratches more easily than silver so it's important to store them individually in soft cloth bags.
2. Wipe your pieces after every use with a soft, dry cloth
Depending on the base metal and type of plating, a piece will require different cleaning methods. You can use a soft microfiber cloth to wipe each piece before storing it away. This will make sure any moisture, oils or dust is taken off.
If your jewellery is 18k gold or 925 silver, every few months you can place it in a cup with warm water and dishwashing liquid, rinse off and pat dry with a soft cloth (but do not rub against itself) to remove build-up and make it sparkle again.
Do not use toothpaste. This home remedy is too abrasive and will damage your jewellery.
3. Avoid contact with perfume, cream and chemicals like sanitiser.
The rule with jewellery is to put it on last and take it off first. Do not spray perfume, put cream or chemicals like sanitiser, soap or any cleaning products on it as this will damage the plating. Even stainless steel, solid silver and gold jewellery will be damaged by these abrasive products.
4. Remove when showering and swimming
Jewellery is delicate, no matter what it's made from, and chemicals in pools like chlorine and salt in the sea will damage even the toughest materials, whether plated or solid. Showering involves soaps, shampoos and other chemicals as well as scrubbing and abrasive cleaning which will shorten the longevity of your pieces so make sure to remove your jewellery beforehand.
5. Remove before sleeping or exercising
When we sleep our jewellery gets tangled and rubs against each other which can scratch and even break them. Exercising causes a similar problem as vigorous movement is harsh on these delicate pieces, plus sweat contains salt which is corrosive.
6. Avoid leaving in sunlight, heat and near damp
The colour of stones will become dull when exposed to too much light and heat, so make sure to store your pieces in a cool dark place like a drawer, but make sure it is dry too as moisture damages all types of jewellery.
These are the best ways to take care of your jewellery but if we've left any out let us know in the comments and don't forget to reach out to us if you have any questions!
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