How To Make Your Cherished Jewelry Last A Lifetime
We all know that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but most of us would not say no to rubies, sapphires, emeralds, or a nice gold chain. We all have cherished jewelry, but if you are anything like me, it spends most of its time tucked away in my jewelry armoire. There’s its ready for us to wear on the odd occasion that we go somewhere that involves a little dressing up.
How To Make Your Cherished Jewelry Last A Lifetime
It recently struck me that jewelry is completely timeless if you take good care of it. I’ve had to learn a few hard lessons by not being mindful of some of my most precious pieces, especially my designer watches.
You can buy it second-hand with as much confidence as buying it brand new, and in some cases, the quality will be even better. The items displayed at these jewelry auctions from rosss.com provide a case in point. (I love some of their antique pieces).
But – there is always a but – whether your jewelry is fresh from the shop or an antique over 100 years old, it will only remain beautiful if you give it some love and care.
Some of my beloved pieces of jewelry to wear are bracelets. You can hover here for more info on one of my favorite places to purchase them. I also enjoy layering them with contrasting tones of silver and gold or varying colors of birthstones and textures.
General tips
Some of us have cherished jewelry we love so much, we never want to remove them. That can be a bad idea, though. I have two pieces that I find hard to remove and must remember to ensure I do it at the end of the day.
Take your jewelry off in the following situations:
Household chores – if you keep that precious ring on when washing up, using chemicals, or tending the garden, you risk damage. I have a bad habit of leaving my rings on when I clean. That’s never a good idea.
This is what happened to one of my favorite rings because I insisted on cleaning it with it on. Missing stones are a common problem, and you can easily avoid them by simply being mindful when wearing them, especially during cleaning. I love custom jewelry, but I feel upset it’s no longer available for sale. Lesson learned!
Makeup—the rule is simple: Apply your makeup, then put on your jewelry
Typically, it’s not the other way around. This is my biggest problem; my rings get the most dirt and debris from makeup. Don’t forget to keep your earrings clean as well. Be sure to use alcohol to spot-clean them and keep them free from bacteria.
Sport + jewelry = trouble. Every sport should have a rule that we should remove all jewelry before play begins. Otherwise, your prized possession will risk damage, and someone could can risk injury.
Swimming and sauna: Remove your jewelry before entering the spa, as the chlorinated water can damage and discolor it.
Cleaning tips
The above will help prevent your jewelry from becoming damaged, but even careful and civilized use will result in a certain amount of wear and tear. Keeping your jewelry lovingly cleaned will reduce the likelihood of it becoming tarnished or discolored.
Use proper polishing clothes for the best results. A jeweler can sell a specialist jewelry cleaning solution, which might be a good idea if yours is really grubby or you bought something second-hand that needs some love.
In most circumstances, however, good old-fashioned warm, soapy water is the best cleaning compound.
Repairing damage
All is well and good, but what if you read this too late, and the damage is done? The first tip is not to panic or do anything too radical. Avoid cleaning damaged jewelry, as you could ruin it by introducing water into an already perilous situation.
Almost anything can be fixed, but it is important to get your jewelry to a repair shop as quickly as possible, as the longer you leave it, the worse it will get.
Always ask for a quote upfront; be pragmatic if the repair is expensive. Unless there is a major sentimental attachment, replacing it might make more sense than repairing it.
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Oh you really do point out super good ideas on how to save jewelry. I used to do a lot of that and forget about it so what you say is soooo true.
Thank you, Sue. I’ve lost so many stones from cleaning and not being careful with mine. Even recently, that photo is of my a ring I love and wasn’t being mindful and lost a stone. Now, I know better lol
Carolann