HOW TO PRESERVE THE PRICELESS BEAUTY OF YOUR FINE JEWELRY
Fine jewelry is an investment we make for the present and the future. While our beloved pieces had a price tag at one point, as we wear and cherish them over the years, our fine jewelry becomes priceless and therefore all the more worthy of preservation. With such treasured items that have increased in their monetary and sentimental value so much, we must take the necessary steps to store and care for our fine jewelry, and Brittany’s Fine Jewelry is here to share exactly what those steps are.
STORING AND CARING FOR FINE JEWELRY
1. BEGIN WITH THE BEST JEWELRY BOX
Sturdy, strong, and soft are the essential qualities of the holder in which you should store your fine jewelry. A jewelry box with a solid exterior will provide the protection against external pressures and elements that your fine jewelry needs, and wood or plastic jewelry boxes should suffice as such secure structures. Furthermore, the place you are putting your fine jewelry should also be suitably soft in order to give your jewelry a safe place to land and a cozy place to rest that will prohibit kinks and scratches. Therefore, seek a silky fabric interior to cushion your fine jewelry and maintain the original shine of each piece. To supply extra care, choose a jewelry container with multiple storage compartments and dividers that will give each piece of jewelry its own space. To prevent tugging and tangling, a storage option that offers a place to hang necklaces is ideal. Precious metals are hard and enduring, but they can actually be their own undoing when they come in contact with each other. Luster can be lost, and chips and cracks can be created when pieces of fine jewelry are piled on top of each other, so look for a box that has enough spots for each item, and when your jewelry starts touching each other, upgrade to a bigger box or a jewelry armoire.
2. STORE EACH JEWELRY TYPE SEPARATELY
Each piece of fine jewelry is a unique, wearable work of art that deserves special attention, so be sure to consider what your fine jewelry is made of and store it according to the needs of its components. Fine jewelry featuring diamonds, pearls, and colored gemstones has its own storage specifications, as does jewelry that incorporates the metals of karat gold, platinum, and sterling silver. Therefore, the distinct care of each must be noted.
- Diamonds: Due to their durability, diamonds can be worn just about all the time, but they still require regular TLC. In order to keep diamonds able to give off their breathtaking glow, diamonds should not come in contact with chlorine bleach or other household chemicals. They should also be shielded from lotions, powders, soaps, and sprays when possible, so it is best to add your diamond jewelry after applying makeup and hairspray. Furthermore, diamonds should be stored when you are doing rough work, as they are still susceptible to chips from sharp, sudden blows. You should also tuck away your diamonds temporarily when exercising, gardening, swimming, and doing housework.
- Pearls: As products of nature, pearls are quite stunning but also particularly delicate, so owners should be extra careful with cultured pearl jewelry. Before positioning your pearls, apply all cosmetics, perfumes, and hair sprays, and wipe your pearls after removal in order to erase any traces of these substances. These materials as well as body oil and sweat can not only affect the original sheen of your pearls, but also weaken and stretch the threads on which your pearls are strung, so it is important to have your jeweler restring your pearls every year or two. Finally, do not toss your pearls into storage casually, as their fragile faces can be scratched with violent treatment. Instead, place them carefully on a soft surface.
- Colored Gemstones: The many different types of gemstones each expect their own kind of love to keep them looking their best, but in general, gemstones should be wiped with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth before storing in order to ensure their cleanliness and shimmer. Gemstone pieces should not be exposed to salt water, chemicals, sprays, perfumes, or perspiration, and when stored, they should be concealed in soft pouches if possible.
- Karat Gold: No matter the style or color of your gold, the standards of care are usually the same. Gold jewelry should be stored before showering, and especially before entering a pool or hot tub. Keep gold jewelry away from hot chlorine specifically and any chlorine in general, and avoid interaction with soap and cleaning products as well.
- Platinum: Even though platinum is outstandingly strong, it can still be scratched, so store all of your platinum jewelry carefully in its own place and do not allow other pieces to touch it.
- Sterling Silver: Sterling silver has the tendency to oxidize over time. Therefore, sterling silver should not be exposed to air and light during storage, nor chlorinated water and household chemicals during wear. Sterling silver pieces should be stored individually in a fabric or plastic bag in a cool, dry place.
3. PROVIDE THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT
Your fine jewelry desperately desires a cool, clean, dry place to repose. Excessive heat and direct sunlight can cause damage over time, as some metals and gemstones can change color under the oppression of extreme temperatures. Humidity can have adverse effects as well, as water can harm certain gemstones and cause clasp weakening. In order to prevent future tarnishing, anti-tarnish strips are life-saving solutions to jewelry storage. While they will not remove current tarnishing, anti-tarnish strips can protect sterling silver, silver plate, gold, bronze, copper, brass, and other metals from tarnishing.
CARING FOR FINE JEWELRY WITH OUR HELP
When traveling with your fine jewelry, apply these same gentle treatment methods to each item by keeping them in soft and secure packaging. Follow these tips in order to give your fine jewelry all the love it deserves, as caring for fine jewelry will enable it to last for the duration of your lifetime and beyond as an heirloom for future generations. Check the condition of your fine jewelry regularly, and if you can hear or feel loose stones, bring the item into your local jeweler immediately. Because we love your fine jewelry as much as you do, Brittany’s Fine Jewelry offers professional jewelry repair services, so contact us today to learn more about how we can work with you to supply stupendous care for your fine jewelry.
Source: http://brittanysfinejewelry.com/storing-and-caring-for-fine-jewelry/