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JEWELRY CARE

Why You Should Let Your Jeweler Clean Your Jewelry?

If you wear your jewelry, either every day or just occasionally, there will be wear and tear.

A ring, during the day, many people do not realize how many times we grip things, bump into things, or hit our hands and do not even realize it. We wash our hands, do yard work, use lotions and hair products, and many other daily chores. You should remove your jewelry for most of these but we all on occasion do not. Just everyday wear can wear down prongs and shanks and thin out the metal. When this occurs, several things could happen; a prong could break or get moved, you could put a scratch or dent in the gold or platinum, or you could break, chip, or lose a stone.

On pendants, we check to see that the metal where the pendant slides on the chain does not wear down to the point the chain wears through and you lose the pendant.

On bracelets, there is always wear and tear on all moving pieces, especially hinges.

Some of these things you notice immediately and then some you do not find out about until it is too late. That is why we recommend you have a professional jeweler inspect your items a minimum of every six months.

We at The Diamond Shop will clean and check all your gold and platinum jewelry free of charge, whether you bought it here or somewhere else. Not only do we check all the settings to make sure your stones are tight and protected, but we also check that the metal damage and wear that could cause loss in the future.

So, no matter how often you wear your jewelry, get it professionally checked. It will save you in the future. Not only does it keep your jewelry looking its best, but it also ensures that a trained professional check it every six months, allowing for the earliest possible detection of wear or damage. Between professional cleanings, however, there are some things you can do to keep your jewelry clean and in pristine condition to ensure your purchase last a lifetime.

Tips for everyday cleaning and care of your jewelry:

All jewelry should not be worn while in contact with household chemicals, such as chlorine bleach. You should always remove jewelry before entering a pool or spa. Chemicals can discolor or damage your jewelry mountings.

Cosmetics, hairspray, perfumes, and lotion can contain chemicals that can often damage jewelry. Putting jewelry on after applying these materials will limit exposure to jewelry and any potential damage. Pearls are especially susceptible to these as they will damage the fine silk thread.

When performing manual tasks, remove your jewelry to prevent physical damage or exposure to chemicals or cleaning fluids. Gemstones can also be loosened or chipped during these activities.  Some tasks that should be avoided when wearing jewelry include kitchen work, gardening, lifting, and moving heavy objects, laundry, working out, going to the gym, cleaning the house and other common tasks.

Diamond Jewelry:

For cleaning diamond jewelry, use a soft-bristled non-metallic brush and a mild ammonia and water solution. Gently scrub away any grime, especially around the prongs or setting where buildup is likely. Rinse with warm water and wipe jewelry with a soft dry cloth (microfiber cloths work great!) after cleaning. Even a clean looking diamond often has a thin layer of skin oil and will shine better after a cleaning. Avoid touching the diamond as much as possible.

Gemstone Jewelry:

Cleaning gemstones is easy. Simply soak the piece in a bowl of warm, soapy water for several minutes and then use a soft, non-metallic brush to remove any grime. Rinse with warm water and wipe jewelry with a soft dry cloth (microfiber cloths work great!) after cleaning. Even If you use a jewelry cleanser, make sure it is non-abrasive. Do not use harsh chemical cleaners, and do not clean the item in the sink too often it ends up down the drainpipe. Also keep in mind that some gemstones may have been treated or enhanced by heating, oiling, irradiation, or diffusion. Heated and irradiated stones generally do not require special care when cleaning, but diffused stones could become lighter if scrubbed too hard. Also, the oil on an emerald or opal can be stripped away by cleaning, changing the appearance. If this happens, simply bring it to your jeweler for re-oiling.

Pearl Jewelry:

Pearls are beautiful, no matter the pearl type. Unfortunately, the layers of nacre of which a pearl is made are incredibly soft by jewelry standards and easily damaged. Since it is an organic compound, pearls also are easily dulled or even eaten away by chemicals and alcohol. Cosmetics, hairspray, perfumes, and lotion can contain chemicals that can often damage jewelry. Putting your pearls on after applying these materials will limit exposure any potential damage. Wiping your pearls down with a soft cloth (microfiber cloths work great!) after wear before putting them away, ensures that any substance that may be lingering on your pearls is removed before storage. It is also a good idea to bring your cultured pearls in for restringing every couple of years, especially if you wear them often, as the silk thread will stretch and weaken over time.

Metal Jewelry:

For metal only mountings, you can use rubbing alcohol to dissolve some of the stickier grime. However, do not use alcohol on any kind of pearl jewelry or if it contains gemstones. Soap and water and a soft brush will take care of most of your cleaning needs. Make sure the brush is soft bristled when used on metal, especially gold, which can be scratched relatively easily. Use a soft cloth that will not leave threads behind (microfiber cloths work great!) to dry and buff your jewelry once it is cleaned.

Jewelry Storage:

Jewelry is vulnerable while it is being worn, but it can also suffer damage if it is not stored properly. Diamond jewelry can also scratch softer stones as well as gold and even platinum. For this reason, it is important to store your jewelry, so the pieces do not touch each other. Wrap individual pieces in tissue or cloth or put them in separate compartments in a jewelry box. Be extra careful with pearl jewelry since it is soft and scratches more easily than gems and metals. Often jewelry comes in a special box, bag or wrap. Keep these; they are often the best means for storing or packaging the jewelry and will provide protection from damage and dirt. Sometimes jewelry tarnishes went it is not worn, especially silver and gold. To maintain the luster of your jewelry, place silver anti-tarnish strips in your storage container to absorb the oxidants that discolor and tarnish jewelry.