How to Take Care of Your Jewellery

At Beldiamond our fine jewellery is crafted to last a lifetime, but we do advise our clients to employ delicate care in prolonging the life of their treasured pieces as normal wear can take its toll. To assist with this, we have developed this Basic Jewellery Care Guideline to direct you in the proper care of your jewellery.

Many factors can influence the condition of jewellery and it is very important that it is properly cleaned, repaired and stored. Avoiding extreme humidity and heat is crucial as they cause tarnishing.

Different types of materials react differently to everyday wearing. For example, due to its softness – silver jewellery is more prone to scratching; it also oxidises and this will affect how it looks over time. There are a few simple advanced rules anyone can apply to consider wearing jewellery:

• Put Jewellery On After Applying Makeup – All cosmetic products, hairspray, perfumes and lotion contain chemicals that can often react poorly with jewellery and affect its appearance. Putting jewellery on after applying make-up limits exposure and any potential damage.
• Don’t Wear Jewellery In Swimming Pools and Spas – Chlorinated water reacts with most of the metals found in jewellery. This leads to colour changes and even structural damage. Make it a rule to always remove jewellery before entering the pool or spa.
• Exercise/Sports and Jewellery Don’t Mix– Hard blows during sports, operating certain equipment and sweating can all damage jewellery not to mention the people involved. All jewellery should be removed before exercising not only for aesthetic reasons but your own personal safety as well.

All jewellery should be cleaned with a soft cloth and warm (not boiling hot) water to preserve the delicate materials. A soft toothbrush is ideal for intricate pieces with lots of detailing. If there is dirt that is hard to remove, soak the jewellery in clean water. However, this particular cleaning method should not be used to clean cultured freshwater pearls.

Metal

Keep 18kt white, yellow and rose gold jewellery looking shiny and lustrous with a soft, lint free cloth. Do not use tissue paper or paper towels to clean metal, as they are rough and can cause scratching.

Gemstones

Most gemstones are quite delicate and hot water, harsh chemicals and cleaners can damage them irreparably. Clean all pieces with gems with a clean, soft, damp cloth after wearing. Porous stones such as turquoise and emeralds should be cleaned with an untreated, dry, soft cloth only. Never use tissue paper or paper towels to clean gemstones or they will be damaged.

As a general rule and regardless of the type of materials – jewellery should be stored away from natural sunlight and heat. This can be done in a protective (lined) jewellery box or a tarnish-resistant pouch to keep them from being scratched or tangled. Plastic zip lock airtight bags made of Mylar or polyethylene are also an acceptable alternative. Polyvinyl plastic bags are not a good choice, such as trash can liners as they contain sulphur compounds, or rubber containers that will speed up the tarnishing of sterling silver. Do not store your jewellery in the bathroom as excessive humidity and heat will affect its appearance over time.