Gold'n Care
General Tips
- Store your jewelry in a clean, dry place.
- Keep your jewelry in a fabric-lined jewelry case, or in a
box with compartments and dividers.
- Don't jumble your jewelry; pieces can scratch each other.
- Keep your jewelry away from sinks where it can slip down
the drain.
- Have your jewelry checked for loose prongs, worn
mountings, and general wear and tear once a year. Have your
jewelry professionally cleaned every six months.
- Ultrasonic Cleaners can be used to clean jewelry in
minutes by using high-frequency sound. They can be a
convenient way to clean your jewelry at home but ultrasonic
cleaners can damage some jewelry. Ask your jeweler which
machine is right for your jewelry wardrobe.
Diamonds
Though diamonds are durable, they still require
proper maintenance. Diamonds can get smudged, soiled and dusty.
Lotions, powders, soaps, and natural skin oils cover diamonds
with a film that dims their brilliance.
- Do not wear diamonds when doing rough work. Though
diamonds are one of the hardest materials on earth, they can
still be chipped by a sharp, sudden blow.
- Keep your diamond away from chlorine bleach or other
household chemicals and remove your diamond jewelry before
entering a chlorinated pool or hot tub. Chlorine can damage
and discolor the mounting on your diamond jewelry.
- Clean your diamonds regularly using a commercial jewelry
cleaner, a mix of ammonia and water, or a mild detergent.
Dip the jewelry into the solution and use a soft brush to
dislodge dust or dirt from under the setting.
- Avoid touching your clean diamonds with your fingers.
Handle clean jewelry by its edges.
Colored Gemstones
Since there are many different types of colored
gemstones which require specific care and cleaning procedures,
it would be impossible to list them all here. There are,
however, some general care and cleaning
rules that apply to all colored gemstones.
- Many gemstones are treated or enhanced from the
time they are mined. These
treatments can affect how you should clean
and care for your colored gemstones. Consult your
jeweler for specifics.
- After wearing, wipe your jewelry
thoroughly with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth. This
will enhance its luster.
- Store gemstone jewelry individually in soft pouches.
- Don't expose your gemstones to salt water
or harsh chemicals, such as chlorine or detergents because
they may erode the finish and polish of your gemstones.
- Hair spray, perfume and perspiration may cause jewelry to
become dull. Apply all cosmetics, perfumes and colognes
before putting on colored gemstone jewelry. Wipe your gemstones after wear to remove any chemicals, oils
or perspiration.
- Do not subject your gemstones to sudden temperature
changes.
- Take extra precautions
with some types of gemstone jewelry. Emeralds, for example,
are brittle and should not be worn when doing household
chores or any activity where the stone could be hit or
damaged.
- Be extra careful with ultrasonic cleaners. Some gemstones
are fragile and can be damaged by them.
Consult your jeweler for the best cleaning procedure for
your particular gemstones.
Karat Gold Jewelry
Karat gold jewelry pieces make up the majority
of many fine jewelry collections. Gold comes in many different
styles and colors, but the care and cleaning procedure remains
the same.
- Remove all gold jewelry before showering or cleaning. Soap
can cause a film to form on karat gold jewelry, making it
appear dull and dingy. By preventing the formation of this
film, you immediately reduce the occasions your pieces will
need to be cleaned.
- To clean your jewelry at home, you'll find many commercial
cleaners available. In addition, you will find a soft
chamois cloth an effective and inexpensive way to keep your
pieces lustrous and shining. Ask your jeweler to recommend
both of these items for you.
- For certain gold jewelry, especially pieces that do not
contain colored gemstones, an ultrasonic cleaning machine
may be appropriate. Once again, ask your jeweler to advise
you.
- Be careful of chlorine. Chlorine, especially at high
temperatures, can permanently damage or discolor your gold
jewelry. Do not wear gold jewelry while using chlorine
bleach or while in a pool or hot tub.
- You can remove tarnish with a jewelry cleaner, or by using
soap and water mixed with a few drops of ammonia. Carefully
brush with a soft bristle brush. An old toothbrush can also
be used. After the brushing, simply rinse with lukewarm
water and allow to dry. If there is a heavy tarnish on your
jewelry, consult your jeweler for the best cleaning
procedure. You should also talk to your jeweler before
attempting to clean any karat gold jewelry set with colored
gemstones because some stones require special cleaning
procedures.
- Grease can be removed from karat gold jewelry by dipping
the jewelry into plain rubbing alcohol. Again, check with
your jeweler about colored gemstone pieces.
Platinum
Platinum is one of the rarest and most durable
precious metals. It is resistant to tarnishing and discoloration
due to chlorine and other chemicals. These factors, along with
its strength and white luster, have made platinum an
increasingly popular choice for jewelry, either on its own or as
the setting for diamonds and other precious gemstones. However,
despite its durability, platinum jewelry needs to be properly
cared for.
- Platinum jewelry can be cleaned the same way you can other
fine jewelry. Your jeweler can recommend a prepackaged
jewelry cleaner that works with platinum, or ask your
jeweler to professionally clean your platinum pieces. A
professional cleaning every six months will keep your
platinum jewelry in great shape.
- Store your platinum jewelry separately and with care, not
allowing pieces to touch each other because even platinum
can be scratched.
- Signs of wear such as scratches can eventually appear on
platinum. However, due to the metal's durability there is
usually little metal loss from the scratch. If visible
scratches do appear, your jeweler should be able to repolish
the piece.
- If your platinum is set with diamonds or other precious
stones, be especially careful as these materials can be more
susceptible to damage. Some fine jewelry pieces combine
platinum with karat gold jewelry. Care for these pieces as
you would your gold jewelry or consult your jeweler.
Sterling Silver Jewelry
Sterling silver, like other precious metals, can
oxidize with time. But properly maintained silver jewelry
improves with age and develops a lush patina. Treat your silver
well, care for it properly and it will reward you with a long
life and a lustrous look.
- Clean your silver jewelry with a mild soap and water
solution, allowing the water to bead up, and then patting
dry with a soft cloth. For more stubborn dirt, use a jewelry
cleaner designed for silver use. Ask your jeweler to
recommend an appropriate brand.
- Store your silver in a cool, dry place, preferably in a
tarnish-preventive bag or wrapped in a soft piece of felt or
cloth. Store pieces individually so that they don't knock
together and scratch.
- Do not rub silver with anything other than a polishing
cloth or a fine piece of felt. Your jeweler should be able
to provide these. Tissue paper or paper towels can cause
scratches because of the fibers in these products.
- Make sure your silver is not exposed to air and light
during storage _ this can cause silver to tarnish. And don't
wear sterling silver in chlorinated water or when working
with household chemicals.
Cultured Pearls
Cultured pearls are precious jewels and should
be treated as such. They're also the products of living
creatures. Cultured pearls are formed when an irritant is
introduced into a mollusk. The mollusk secretes a substance
called nacre which covers the irritant and produces the pearl.
Nacre gives pearls the rainbow of colors and luster that makes
these gemstones so treasured, but its delicate nature also makes
pearls particularly susceptible to damage. For this reason you
should be extra careful with your cultured pearl jewelry.
- Apply cosmetics, hair sprays and perfume before putting on
any pearl jewelry. When you remove the jewelry, wipe it
carefully with a soft cloth to remove any traces of these
substances.
- You can also wash your pearl jewelry with mild soap and
water. Do not clean cultured pearls with any chemicals,
abrasives or solvents. These substances can damage your
pearls.
- Do not toss your cultured pearl jewelry carelessly into a
purse, bag or jewel box. A pearl's surface is soft and can
be scratched by hard metal edges or by the harder gemstones
of other jewelry pieces.
- Place cultured pearl jewelry in a chamois bag or wrap them
in tissue when putting them away.
- Cosmetics, perspiration, oils and ordinary wear weaken and
stretch the threads on which the pearls are strung. Bring
your pearls back to your jeweler for restringing once a
year. Make certain the pearls are strung with a knot between
each pearl. This will prevent loss of pearls if the string
should break.
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