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You have to remove
your jewelry whenever you are doing activities that are risky. These
activities may cause an impact or expose the jewelry to chemicals. Do
not wear your jewelry when you are playing sports or doing house hold chores.
If you have rings
that can not be removed and you have to use strong cleaning products,
particularly those with an Ammonia base, you can protect it (as well
as your skin) by wearing gloves made of rubber. Rings and bracelets
are jewelry that are often worn, earrings and necklaces are also
prone to damages from chemicals, especially whenever they are worn
while putting on make-up, spraying fragrances and hair products.
A jeweler can also
restring your pearl necklaces every two years. This should be done if
it is your favorite jewelry. You can also clean your jewelry yourself
by using mild and warm water with a soapy solution. Use a soft brush
in cleaning the edges. Dry them using a soft cloth.
Be mindful of
loose clasps and gems before you wear your jewelry. You would not
want the stones dropping out. Neither would you want to lose the
entire thing when you are walking down the street.
Do not pull the
stones. Some women who wear jewelry pull on the stones whenever they
are bored; just so their fingers have something to do. Well, this
practice results in the gemstones being more prone to oil, dirt and
sweat. You may even risk losing these because you loosen the setting
on the metal.
It is also not
advisable to store your jewelry in one big pile. This will cause the
metal and the gems to scratch one another. Store your jewelry in
separate sections. Wrap them in paper, silk or velvet. Put them in a
jewelry box.
Here is a quick
run-through on how to clean common gems:
1. Alexandrite -
Clean using soapy water or commercially available products. The best
is alcohol. You can also resort to mechanical cleaners.
2. Aquamarine -
Steer clear of chemical cleaners and heat. These should not be
cleaned frequently as well. Use a soapy solution.
3. Diamond -
Chemical and mechanical cleaners are said to be safe, but they should
be avoided when cleaning diamonds because the stone could be
fractured. Rinse the diamond dry and well after using a soapy solution.
4. Emerald - Do
not use mechanical and chemical cleaners. It will only dissolve oils
during the cleaning process. Emeralds must be cleaned using soapy
water. Have a jeweler re-oil the gem once every year.
5. Garnet - Just
use soapy water.
6. Jade - Soapy
water is the best, safest and easiest solution. You can also resort
to mechanical cleaners, just steer clear of the chemical ones.
7. Opal - Wipe the
stone after every use with a slightly damp or dry cloth. Do not wash
or scrub hard.
8. Peridot - Do
not use chemical or mechanical cleaners. Just use soapy water.
9. Ruby - Use
soapy water or the cleaning solvents that are commercially available.
Mechanical cleaners are also safe but these should be avoided because
it may affect the clarity of the ruby.
10. Sapphire - Use
soapy water and cleaning solvents. Mechanical cleaners are also safe
but when these are used, they may affect the sapphires clarity.
11. Spinel - Use
soapy water and the commercial cleaning solvents. Mechanical cleaners
are to be avoided because these affect the clarity of the spinel.
12. Tanzanite - Do
not use chemical or mechanical cleaners. Just use soapy water.
13. Topaz - Same
with tanzanite, do not use chemical or mechanical cleaners. Soapy
water is fine.
Caring for Your
Pearls - Pearls are quite durable. Proper care keeps them lustrous
and even more beautiful as they age. Here are some general tips in
doing so.
1. Wipe the pearls
using a damp warm cloth. This removes dirt and body oils which harm
the original color of the pearl. Do this before you put them away.
2. Pearls must be
stored away from other jewelry and objects. Keeping them close to
such could scratch the surface. Wrap them in soft cloth or linen and
put them in pouches. Do not store your pearls in packages that are
air tight because they might lose their moisture.
3. Wash them using
mild soap and wipe them dry with a soft cloth. You can use also use acetone. |
