Aside from their monetary value, jewelry pieces often come with sentimental significance. Some may be heirlooms, passed down to you from previous generations, and stand as a part of your heritage, others may be mementos of the most precious moments of your life. Jewels are often built to last for a very long time but not without special care. The more frequently you use them, the more they are at risk of deterioration. However, there are simple precautions and guidelines that you can follow to ensure that your treasured accessories keep their gleam for the times to come.
Everyday Activities
Always keep in mind to take off the jewelry before doing any household chores like cleaning and cooking. Cutting and preparing vegetables such as onions and spices can damage them in the long term since many foods contain sulfur compounds and have acidic attributes.
Rigorous activities—especially when it involves working with tools—like workouts often cause damage to the jewelry for various reasons. Necklaces, for example, bounce around and wear down or easily get tangled especially when layered with other necklaces. The bouncing can loosen the clasps over time and make the necklace susceptible to falling, getting it damaged or lost. When you were researching and planning your wedding ring, and considering the choice of moissanite vs diamond for your ring, you may have considered the hardness of the stone itself, on the Mohs scale, with both stones being extremely tough and durable. Moissanite comes in at 9.25 – 9.5, and diamond at 10 on the Mohs scale. So, while the stones themselves are unlikely to encounter any kind of wear and tear in everyday life, such items are usually made of precious soft metals featuring intricately crafted details. Wearing them during tough work exposes them to risks of impact which can warp the band, loosen prongs, wear the mountings, and cause deep cuts and scratches. Because gold is relatively soft, metals such as copper, zinc, and nickel among others are usually alloyed with gold to increase its durability and hardness. That is why perspiration in some environments and climates where there is a lot of chlorine in the atmosphere can cause chemical reactions and corrode and blacken the gold. Although it is impossible to be constantly aware of the jewelry you wear, when it comes to the more valuable pieces, it is a good idea to review the type of activities you are going to engage in before getting ready for the occasion. It’s also always best to wear the jewelry last and after applying makeup, perfume, and other cosmetics. The jewelry should also be the first thing to take off when changing clothes.
The Environment
There are a lot of different materials used in jewelry pieces and different materials react differently to environmental conditions; there is no one solution to fit them all. It is essential to be aware of the primary and secondary materials used in your pieces of jewelry. For example, it is best to clean the gold by soaking the piece in water and drying it with a soft clean cloth, but moisture should be avoided for sliver as it can easily tarnish it.
Generally speaking, the jewelry should be kept in a cool and dry place away from too much light or heat. Too much exposure to direct sunlight can damage the gemstones and pearls and cause discoloration. Too much heat and sudden changes in temperature can dry the natural moisture of some gemstones, causing them to crack and lose their sparkle. Chemicals are also detrimental to almost all kinds of jewelry as they may contain various abrasive compounds. Try to keep your jewels away from perfumes, deodorants, hair sprays, and lotions because spills and leaks can permanently damage them.
Storage Tips
Knowing how to store the jewelry properly is very important because most of the time they are sitting in storage away from your direct care rather than adorning your body. People usually make small mistakes that can easily be avoided.
Try to develop a habit of cleaning your jewelry before storing them. Dust, dirt, and sweat can gradually accumulate on the pieces and eventually alter how they look. This is especially important for more intricately designed pieces of jewelry with unreachable spots. To clean your jewels properly, you need to know about what they are made of by consulting your professional jeweler to avoid possible mistakes that can damage them. If there is water involved, make sure to dry them thoroughly before storing them away.
If you have a diverse jewelry collection of different types and materials, it is crucial to know that some materials are softer than others and when they come in contact, scratches and damages are inevitable. It is best to keep pieces of jewelry separate from each other to minimize wear and tear even if they are made of the same materials. Jewelry armoires, cloth pouches, and boxes with dividers and different compartments are very suitable for this purpose. If you don’t have any available, you can wrap each piece in a soft cloth—untreated cotton or raw silk are the best options— to keep them from touching each other. When using boxes, make sure the lining does not contain organic sulfur compounds. You can store necklaces by hanging them individually on hooks or placing them where there is enough room around for the chain to rest loosely.
Safety is another important factor to consider. Try to store the jewelry in unpredictable and inconspicuous places. A security safe is usually a good solution, but you need to consider other factors mentioned above to make sure they remain intact and fresh. When traveling, make sure to bring with you a jewelry case designed for safely keeping your accessories all the time with you. Try to check on your collection regularly to see if everything is intact or any piece requires care and repair.
Taking good care of the jewelry is a way of ensuring that they function as they are designed and intended; Adorning your body to express your uniqueness. Investing a little bit of time to get the nuances right goes a long way toward preserving these precious lifelong belongings.