Celebrate a special occasion with jewelry!

Jewel Care is about being mindful of how it’s stored and cleaned.

How do you care for and protect jewelry?

You should take good care of jewelry that has some value. Jewel care means taking extra care to ensure that your jewelry does not get lost or damaged. It also involves being mindful of how it is stored and cleaned.

You buy jewelry because it’s beautiful, no matter what price, whether it’s expensive or inexpensive. The beauty of the metal, the shine of the gems and the luster or fire of the stones appeal to your aesthetic sense. This is dependent on how much you have available. You will wear jewelry for a longer time, even for the rest of your life. Some metals and finishes develop a warm patina over time. You don’t want dull gemstones or settings that are scratched, gouged, or otherwise damaged. While accidents can happen, jewelry is often damaged because of carelessness or not spending the time to maintain it.

Jewelry doesn’t require much care if you are careful. However, some types of jewelry require special care due to the fact that gems can be fragile, soft, or absorbent.

Remember that gems are more durable the harder they are and the higher their Mohs hardness scale. A hard gem with a high or distinctive cleavage can be fragile. If struck at the right angle, it may break or cleave. The hardness of a gem does not necessarily mean it is tough. While a tough gem might be less susceptible to being scratched, it will still be very resilient and resistant to breaking or shattering. These qualities are important in cleaning and storing jewelry and when remodeling.

Similar characteristics are found in metals. The more pure the gold and silver, the less it can be damaged. You should also consider how metal is combined with gem or gemstones. It is possible to clean sterling silver but not the gems. It is important to look at jewelry as a whole and not just the metal or the gems.

These points are linked to the third: how you care for your jewelry to prevent it from losing its value, when it is on your body and when it is stored away for safekeeping. It doesn’t matter how well you store and clean your jewelry. This is why you need to take the same care as you would for something you love and treasure. This is common sense regardless of whether the jewelry is insured or valuable. You should be careful with any jewelry you like.

Protection of jewelry

Consider what you wear when you are wearing jewelry. A good example is the ring.

Because rings are more susceptible to being removed from their jewelry than other types of jewelry like pins, necklaces, bracelets, or earrings, they are more likely to be lost. If you have rings, the first thing you should do is to keep them on you at all times.

Rings are viewed differently by men and women, in fact.

– Cleaning and Storing Jewelry

What do you do when you take off jewelry, not just rings? You should first have a safe and secure place to store it. The jewelry should be kept safe from theft and damage.

It is best to keep it in a box that has other jewelry. This can cause it to get scratched and more serious injury. You can place jewelry in leather, cloth or bag cases that protect it from being damaged by other jewelry. You should have separate boxes for each piece of jewellery if you don’t have them.

A plastic bag can be used as a substitute for cloth or leather in most cases. Plastic should not be used with ivory, pearls, or opals. These items require air to maintain their beauty. However, plastic does offer an advantage over other jewelry in that it is easy to see what jewelry is inside. This is also a good option for costume jewelry as it can be scratched just as easily as precious jewelry.

It is important to maintain and restore the beauty and luster jewelry, with or without gems. Perspiration and soap can cause even gold to tarnish. To prevent tarnish from silver, almost all American sterling-silver jewelry is coated in rhodium (an element of platinum). Because silver is more resistant to tarnish, it’s not necessary to polish any other silver. However, it may still need to be cleaned.

Any metal can need to be cleaned from time to time. This includes gems, dirt, soil, and soap film. There are generally four ways to clean jewelry. All are safe to clean precious metals and diamonds. However, they are not all safe for all types of jewelry. These are the most common methods, but you should read more to learn about the exceptions and the precautions that you should take when cleaning precious metals or gems.

Use mild detergents for bath. In a small bowl, or cup, combine mild detergent with warm water. Dip the jewelry in the warm water and brush the eyebrows with a brush. For safety, rinse the jewelry in warm water. Use lintels cloth to dry the jewelry. Use only jewelry made of ivory or pearls that has been strung for soft gems and foe.

– Cold water soak. Combine half of the household ammonia and half of the cold water in a cup or bowl. Place the jewelry in the mixture and let it sit for 30 minutes. It should not be left in the solution for more than 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, take the jewelry out and clean it with a brush. Avoid using soft gems and jewelry strung with ivory or pearls.

– Quick dip. The quick dip method is used by commercial jewelry cleaners. You should carefully read the instructions and follow them strictly, as cleaners can vary. You should not use cleaners on any jewelry that is not specifically listed unless you consult a jeweler.

– Ultrasonic cleaners. These small machines are available in a variety of sizes. The principle behind these machines is to use high frequency turbulence to clean your jewelry. To do this, you need to soak the metal cup in water and detergent. Be sure to carefully read the instructions and not use the machine on jewelry that is not specifically listed. These machines are not safe for use on diamonds, according to some jewelers. Be sure to consult your jeweler before you buy one.

These are the most common methods. Particular metals and gems require special care. These methods are safe for specific metals, and will not harm most gems. Some gems require special care. If you have any questions about how to clean jewelry, consult your jeweler.

1) Copper

In the presence of sulfur and moisture, copper will tarnish just like silver. To prevent jewelry from tarnishing, a lacquer can be baked on. Use any commercial cleaner that is safe for copper to clean it. Avoid using ammonia as it can cause copper to rust.

2) Gold

Due to higher levels of base metals in the alloy, the lower the number of Karats, the more discolored gold will be. The discoloration can be easily removed with mild soap, ammonia, and water. Another theory is that hair spray may prevent gold from leaving a black mark on your skin. You are only adding a substance to the tarnish. To avoid skin discoloration, it is best to keep gold clean. Hair spray should not be used on gold with gems.

Gold-filled. The character of gold-filled jewelry is the exact same as karat, but the jewelry won’t last as long as jewelry made from solid karat. You can clean gold-filled jewelry the same as karat, using mild soap and a little ammonia.

Rolled gold plat Although rolled gold plate might contain less gold than rolled, it should still be cleaned in the same manner as jewelry made of gold-filled or karat.

Electroplating gold. Good gold electroplate can be worn as well as rolled or rolled gold, despite the thickness of the electroplating layer. You should wipe it clean with a soft, damp cloth. A mild soap and water solution can be used to get rid of any makeup. To clean the gold electroplate, do not use a treated cloth.
Gold-flashed or gold-washed. This jewelry contains very little gold. In fact, the surface layer is so thin that it can be negligible after only a few wears. Cleaning, rubbing or any other method of cleaning can remove the finish completely.

3) Silver

A commercial silver cleaner and silver cloth can be used to clean silver jewelry. Silver that has been lightly tarnished by makeup or perspiration can be cleaned with soap, water and ammonia.

Silver-filled. Silver-filled jewelry can be cleaned in the same manner as sterling. However, the longer the jewelry is, the stronger the patina. This patina is indestructible.

Silver plate (or silver electroplate). Silver plate can last years, and unlike gold can be cleaned the same as sterling silver. You can re-plate it if needed, but this is more common with silver tableware than jewelry.

4) Combination Metals

Sometimes metals, including precious metals are combined with other metals or with enamel. Make sure you do not remove the enamel or inlay when cleaning the metal. Vermeil is sterling silver with an electroplate in karat. Use a soft cloth to rub if you have to rub.

5) Gems

Some gems need special care. This care includes cleaning and storing gems. Take extra care with:

Amber. Amber is the most soft gem and can be scratched easily by other gems. It is best to wear it with care and keep it alone. It will darken with age and exposure to light. To protect it, keep it in a bag made of cloth or leather.

Because amber is soft, don’t use rough clothes or cloths that have dirt, dust or grit on them to clean it. Avoid using acid to clean or wear amber when working in acidic environments. Amber will be destroyed by acid. Amber is not affected by alcohol or other solvents unless it has been exposed for a prolonged period. Avoid leaving amber in cleaning solutions that contain alcohol or other solvents, unless you are using it for a very short time. Amber can also be affected by perfume and hair spray.

Coral. Coral is very tough. Twig coral is very tough. Coral is not a mineral, and may lose its luster if it is cleaned with other jewelry.

Diamonds. To avoid scratching other gems, diamonds should be kept separate from other gems. This applies to both cleaning and storage. To clean diamonds, one expert recommends boiling them in soap, water and ammonia for 10 minutes.

Ivory. Ivory should be washed in soapy water and dried with a moist cloth. It is best to avoid soaking ivory in soapy water. This can cause it cracking or breaking. Do not let the string get wet when cleaning ivory beads. The string can become damaged if it is left wet. Use no acid or commercial jewelry cleaner.

Ivory will darken as you age. You can bleach it with sunlight or peroxide. Use peroxide only to bleach the ivory. Avoid soaking the ivory in the solution and avoiding soaking any strings that have ivory beads strung with it.
Remember that ivory is porous and relatively soft. This means that it can shrink or expand in cold temperatures and expand in heat. Combining temperatures with drying and soaking can cause cracking. It is best to clean ivory by wiping it with a soft, damp cloth.

Jet. Jet is a tough piece of jewelry, but it can be scratched easily. Its polish is affected by scratching, which can cause it to lose its value.

Lapis Lazulli. Lapis Lazulli is soft and comfortable. It’s a popular choice for men’s jewelry, especially rings. It can scratch but scratches are easy to remove by a skilled jeweler.

Malachite. Malachite has a soft, non-tough exterior. It can easily break and should be treated with care. It can also scratch easily and lose its shine. It can cause malachite to turn dark or black if it is worn close to your skin.

Moonstone. Moonstone is soft and requires care. Moonstones can be left alone and should only be cleaned with a soft cloth, soap, and water.

Opals. Opals of all kinds are fragile and need to be taken care of as well as any other gemstone. Polished stones can crack or craze easily because they are often thin. The most common causes are extreme cold, indirect sunlight, hot dishwater, and handling frozen foods. Opals can also shrink in cold weather, meaning they may fall from their setting. Opals are soft and easily scratched. They may also absorb dirt and grit. This is another reason to avoid dishwater and be careful when cleaning them.
Opals can contain up to 10% water. They can dry out. Experts recommend soaking them in water or a mixture of water with glycerin to prevent them drying out. To clean them, use a mild soap solution with a soft cloth. Avoid putting opals into plastic bags, commercial jewelry cleaner, acid, or any other container.

Pearls. Both cultured and oriental pearls are real pearls that require special care. Pearls can be affected by cosmetics, hair spray, dirt and even perspiration. After wearing, they should be cleaned with a soft cloth and stored in a satin-lined box. They are delicate and should not be scratched by cars. Pearls should be worn and allowed air to circulate. You should not clean pearls with acid or commercial jewelry cleaners.

Peridot. Peridot is prone to scratches and loses its shine easily. You should store it carefully and wear it with care. However, no special cleaning is required.

Topaz. Topaz should always be kept dark. Gems can fade or become pale when exposed to light. Some yellow-brown topazes that are displayed in museums have become clear over the years. It cleaves easily, so be sure to keep that in mind. It doesn’t require any special cleaning techniques.

Turquoise. Turquoise is porous and will absorb any impurities.

Turquoise’s color tends to change with age. It may lighten, darken, or streak. An old wives’ tale says that burying the turquoise in dirt will restore its color. However, the advice doesn’t specify how long or how much dirt can be absorbed. It is probably best to learn how to appreciate the color change.

Avoid exposing turquoise to ammonia. This can cause damage by pitting and spotting. Also, acid and jewelry cleaner can cause damage to turquoise.

The best way to clean jewelry is to use mild soap, water, and a little ammonia. However, ammonia shouldn’t be used with some gems. Fine jewelers also sell commercial jewelry cleaners. These are safe for most jewelry, but not all. Pay attention to the instructions on commercial cleaners and follow them.

Ask your jeweler for his advice if you are unsure about how to clean jewelry. A watchmaker is not a jewelry maker. A jeweler with knowledge of metal and gems is the best person to help you. In some cases, it may be a better idea to bring the jewelry into the jeweler for cleaning.

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