Jewelry Care And Jewelry Cleaning

Costume jewelry is often produced with non-precious metals, usually gold or silver plated, and with or without synthetic or glass stones. Costume jewelry could be antique, period, or contemporary. Today, there are many collectors of every style of costume jewelry.

normal care:

To make your jewelry last a lifetime and beyond, certain care should be taken in the wearing, cleaning and storing of each piece.

Remove your jewelry when:
• cleaning the house or using harsh chemicals.
• putting on lotion, perfume, hairspray, shaving cream and other beauty products.
• doing laundry.
• swimming in the pool.
• bathing.
• experiencing extreme cold or heat - especially one right after the other.

To clean your fine jewelry:
• use warm water and mild soap.
• rinse.
• polish with a soft cloth.
• dry your jewelry before storage. Both gold and silver can tarnish from it and water can leave residual water stains on your precious metals.

Store jewelry carefully, following instructions when provided. Try not to let the pieces touch to avoid scratching. If your jewelry comes with its own pouch or box, use it. Some jewelry and gemstones come with special care instructions. Follow them to the letter.

Fine Jewelry Care And Cleaning

Fine Jewels and gemstones require special care when wearing, storing, or cleaning.

Here are some Do's and Don'ts:

Don't wear fine jewelry when doing housework or gardening.

Don't heap your jewelry into one drawer. Remember a diamond ring can scratch that pearl necklace. Keep them separate and ideally wrapped in velvet, paper, or silk.

Do check for loose stones frequently by gently tapping the piece with your finger near your ear.

Do get pearls restrung every two years or annually with frequent use.

Do clean fine jewelry often to maintain its sparkle and beauty. Do not use toothpaste as its abrasives can damage softer gems and metals. All fine jewelry can be safely cleaned by soaking for 10 minutes in warm soapy water (using a non-detergent soap). Use a soft brush on harder gems to loosen any dirt around the prongs. To reduce greasy build-up on diamond jewelry, dip it in plain alcohol or vodka before soaking.

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