Jewellery can cost a lot of money and can be valuable for sentimental reasons. Wanting to make your jewellery last longer is natural, but there have been online hacks that have gained popularity recently that may not necessarily be good for your jewellery pieces.
With all this in mind, customised jewellery experts Glamira have provided their top tips to care for your pieces which will help give them some longevity.
Get jewellery shining again by giving them a clean
One technique championed by the popular Mrs Hinch is to place silver jewellery in a mixture of hot water and baking soda, but while it seems to work in some cases, experts at Glamira have suggested that this hack may be too harsh for some jewellery and it may cause scratches or other damage
For nearly all coloured gemstones, cleaning with warm water, a couple of drops of washing-up liquid, and a soft brush will do the trick. This will also work for gold and silver.
Some coloured gemstones have however been treated to enhance their appearance, and this treatment can be adversely altered by some cleaning products and damage the jewellery. If in doubt, see a professional before cleaning and avoid online hacks found on TikTok and Instagram when trying to revitalise your jewellery.
Ideally, you would do this in a soft-lined box or case, so that your favourite pieces do not tangle, rub or scratch one another. Chains and necklaces can be fastened when stored to avoid tangling. Pearls in particular should be kept separately as they have a tendency to be scratched by other hard gemstones.
Keep jewellery well away from chemicals, especially chlorine
If your jewellery does come into contact with chemicals, rinse it in water immediately (also consider using a drop or two of washing up liquid in this clean) and leave it to dry for about an hour before storing it again. Again, resorting to online ‘hacks’ such as using toothpaste or baking soda to revitalise your pieces can cause damage to your jewellery.
Additionally, if you are planning on going on holiday this summer, make sure to keep your jewellery away from sun cream. Although it can be aesthetically pleasing to wear jewellery for your holiday pictures, this is not recommended, as the ingredients in sun cream can affect the quality of your pieces.
Check your jewellery pieces regularly
Before you put on a piece, take a good look over the item. Then you can identify those pieces that need cleaning or repair before leaving the house. Questions you might ask yourself when looking over them could be:
- Is the clasp secure?
- Are the stones set firmly in place?
- Is the piece sparkling, or is it starting to get dirty?
- Are there any scratches on the piece?
Make a jewellery care kit
It will be useful to have all your jewellery care items in one place. You can create a simple jewellery care kit using a small plastic storage container. Here are items you may want to include in it:
- A gentle, jewellery-safe silver polish for sterling silver or silver-plated items.
- A soft-bristled brush for getting into crevices.
- A soft lint-free cloth for polishing and drying.
- Glue for reattaching gems to inexpensive costume jewellery.
- Cotton buds for polishing hard-to-reach spots.
- Tweezers for removing lint or resetting costume jewellery stones.
Get insured
When investing in a new piece of jewellery, make sure you understand what the jewellery warranty and insurance covers. Repairs and replacements can be expensive, but an extended jewellery warranty gives you coverage to replace or repair any defects or breakdown that comes from wear and tear.
Keep jewellery away from direct sunlight
Prolonged exposure to light and heat can have an effect on the colour and durability of many gemstones. When you are not wearing your jewellery, be sure to store it in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight.: https://www.glamira.co.uk
