How To Make Your Cherished Jewelry Last A Lifetime
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 either. The fact is, we all have some cherished jewelry, but if you are anything like me, it spends most of its time tucked away in my jewelry armoire, ready to be brought out on the odd occasion that we go somewhere that involves a little dressing up.
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.
Don’t forget to read Ana Luisa Jewelry – Elegance Never Goes Out Of Style if you love handmade jewelry too!
It is one of those things that you can buy second-hand with as much confidence as buying it brand new, and in some cases, the quality will be even better. The items on display 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 that is more than 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 layer them with contrasting tones of silver and gold or with varying colors of birthstones and textures.
Here’s how.
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 have to remember to make sure 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 are asking for it to get damaged. 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 with it on. Missing stones are a common problem and you can easily avoid it by simply being mindful when wearing it especially during cleaning. I love custom jewelry, and I’m upset I can’t replace this one. Lesson learned!
Makeup – the rule is simple – apply your makeup, then put on your jewelry – 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 jewelry gets removed before play begins. Otherwise, your prized possession will end up damaged, and someone could get hurt.
Swimming and sauna – remove your jewelry before entering the spa, as the chlorinated water can cause damage and discoloration.
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. If you keep your jewelry lovingly cleaned, you will reduce the likelihood of it becoming tarnished or discolored.
Use proper polishing cloths for the best results, as these are made specifically for the task and will be effective without causing damage. You can purchase specialist jewelry cleaning solution from a jeweler’s, and this might be a good idea if yours is really grubby, or you have bought something second-hand and it needs some love.
In most circumstances, however, good old-fashioned warm soapy water is the best cleaning compound around.
Repairing damage
All well and good, but what if you are reading 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 end up ruining it by introducing water into an already perilous situation.
Almost anything can be put right, 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 up front, and if the repair is expensive, be pragmatic. Unless there is a major sentimental attachment, it might make more sense to replace than to repair.
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