This is a sponsored guest post.
Your jewelry is a major investment, but when you wear it frequently, it becomes more prone to damage. Since your jewelry is your valuable possession, you need to take good care of it by following some best practices. Jewelry care and maintenance prevent spending your money on repair or replacement. Give your jewelry tender loving care if you want to extend its lifespan. Here are some care and maintenance tips to follow:
- Keep your jewelry in a cool temperature
There is a reason why you should not expose your jewelry directly to the sunlight. If the sun can damage your skin, it can definitely damage your gemstones as well. Store it in a cool place instead.
- Remove your ring when washing your hands
They say that old habits die hard. Washing your hands with your ring on might be one of those habits you are having a hard time to get rid of. If you are used to washing your hands with soap, unperturbed to its impact on your ring, then you are exposing your piece of jewelry to damage. Soap or lotion can make your center stone less shiny or cloudy because the lotion or soap tends to build up. Be sure to remove your ring before washing your hands.
- Send your ring to a jeweler for inspection
Your jewelry, especially your ring can become out of shape over time. The good news is that you can take it to a jeweler for inspection and tightening. It should be every 3-6 months. Like any other valuable items, your jewelry also requires regular maintenance to keep them in the best condition. It also prevents the stones from loosening.
- Remove jewelry when doing strenuous activity
Putting pressure on your jewelry can ruin its original shape or loosen the stones. The rule of thumb is to put on your ring or other jewelry items last after you finish hair styling, or getting dressed.
- Take off all jewelry before going to bed
Do you always find yourself sleeping with your jewelry on? This is not a good idea because if your jewelry comes in contact with a wall, headboard, or even a thread, you might damage the ring. Never wear your jewelry when sleeping to avoid damaging them.
- Do not clean your jewelry with harsh chemicals
While bleach, nail polish remover, or hairspray are known for their cleaning properties, they contain harsh chemicals that can affect the original chemical composition of your jewelry. Not only will you damage the metals but the stones as well. When you expose colored gems and precious metals to chemicals, they can be permanently damaged. If you intend to dive into a chlorinated swimming pool, be sure to remove your jewelry because the chemical found in chlorine can damage delicate gems and gold alloys.
- Do not put pressure onto the center stone
You might not be aware that the way you put on your ring has an impact on the center stone. Do you have a habit of placing pressure directly onto the stone? The west side of the ring should be held by the pointer finger and the east side of the ring should be held by the thumb. Avoid shoving the ring past your knuckle. Wiggle it gently instead to prevent injuring your knuckle and damaging the ring.
- Avoid wearing your ring with latex or rubber gloves
It is not also recommended that you wear your ring with tight gloves because the tightness can cause the stone to fall out. This habit can also cause cross contamination when prongs puncture the gloves. Loose-fitting winter gloves may not cause any damage, but you still have to be careful when taking the gloves off.
- Wear your jewelry with care
Jewelry pieces with delicate details require extra care. Since they are not resistant to trauma, normal wear, and strenuous activities, you should wear them with care to preserve its quality.
Proper Jewelry Care
You can use mild soap, warm water, and a soft brush when cleaning colored gems. When you rinse your jewelry, place them in a glass of water to prevent losing stones, which frequently happens when you rinse it directly in the sink. For pearls, use warm, soapy water and a clean makeup brush to clean them. Make sure to lay pearls on a towel to dry. Avoid touching the strand so you will not attract dirt. Pearls also need to be restrung at least once a year.
Even proper storage must be taken into consideration. Do not just toss your jewelry on top of a dresser or into a drawer or you may end up scratching or damaging gems. Since they come in a pouch or box, use them to keep your jewelry in great condition. Take your jewelry pieces to the jewelry store for professional cleaning following scheduled intervals for them to last longer.
