Don’t Wear Jewelry When…
If a piece of jewelry was expensive, that doesn’t mean it can withstand anything. In fact, price is all the more reason to remove jewelry items when you do the following:
- Household Tasks.
- Dishes: While soap and water are perfectly harmless to your jewels, submerging your hands into the sudsy sink could result in a ring slipping off of your finger and down the drain.
- Deep Cleaning: Cleaners with harsh chemicals are a different story. If you’re scrubbing your bathroom with a toxic cleaner, a drop onto your jewelry could have disastrous effects. Keep in mind that bleach will absolutely destroy your favorite piece of jewelry!
- Gardening: Finally, if you’re out planting seeds and pulling weeds, you don’t want to get dirt and grime all over your accessories. Wear gloves or remove everything!
- Personal Grooming.
- Showering: No matter what the significance of the piece is, protect it from loss by removing all jewelry before showering.
- Applying Makeup: Similar to cleaning products, cosmetics contain dangerous chemicals that could diminish the appearance of your jewelry on contact.
- Around Spray Products: Perfume and hairspray can cause your perfectly white diamond to look yellow and cloudy.
- Putting on Lotion: Lastly, applying lotion with rings on your fingers can cause it to build up in the prongs, potentially loosening the stone over time.
- Physical Activities.
- Swimming: If you decide to go for a swim, make sure your jewelry stays poolside.
- Chlorine has an especially damaging effect on gold, causing it to corrode and possibly even disintegrate! It is a little more forgiving on gemstones, causing a little discoloration.
- Saltwater is a major concern for any piece of jewelry, no matter the type of metal or stone. It can damage your favorite pieces beyond repair and, if a ring or bracelet happens to slip off, your chances of recovering it from the vast ocean waters are very slim.
- Playing Contact Sports: Participating in physical rough sports with jewelry on is asking for trouble. From dents to complete breaks, the game is not worth the risk to your jewelry.
- Swimming: If you decide to go for a swim, make sure your jewelry stays poolside.
Keeping Items Clean
It might seem like a no-brainer to keep your most prized pieces of jewelry clean, but it is a task that you can easily forget about. As often as you can remember, give your pieces a quick polish with a professional cloth to keep them sparkling. If you plan to only clean at home, do not use a tissue or paper towel that can cause scratches.
While it is perfectly acceptable to use a store bought jewelry cleaner, it is recommended to have more high-end pieces professionally cleaned several times a year. However, bear in mind that the machines work aggressively; you don’t need to go once a week to have your engagement ring cleaned! Excessive ring cleaning can lead to loose prongs.
Proper Storage Requirements
One of the easiest ways to damage or lose your jewelry is by not having a proper place to keep it. Tossing items on top of the dresser can cause nicks from hitting a hard surface. If a ring or earring happens to slide off the dresser, your pet might see the item as a toy and you’ll likely never see it again. So, a jewelry box can be a worthwhile investment. It doesn’t have to be overly fancy, as long as it has a fabric lining. You could even use an old cardboard box with a sheet of fabric on the inside to store everything! If you have a lot of jewelry, go to the next level and also buy anti-tarnish strips. These are especially beneficial to the pieces you don’t often wear; jewelry that sits unused for long periods of time can tarnish too!
At Hannoush Jewelers CT, we pride ourselves on selling only the finest quality jewelry. A family business for 36 years, we understand the importance of receiving an item of jewelry from a loved one. Be sure to protect that special gift by adhering to these care suggestions.
