Over time, jewelleries have represented highly valued objects by men and women, and today especially women give special treatment to their clothes, for different reasons, either because they have a special meaning that reminds them a moment of their lives or a person, as in the case of engagement or wedding rings, christening chains, pins or rings that have been a gift from a loved one, or simply because of the cost of buying new jewellery.
Whatever the reason is, the modern woman increasingly gets information about the care that should be given to jewel according to the material with which they are made, considering, as it was said previously, that some garments could have much more than a mere economic value.
That is why in this article we are going to present a series of magic secrets, tips or recommendations to keep those special jewels beautiful and to give them a longer life, making them look like brand new. In this way, we will make specific recommendations on how to take care of jewellery made of silver, of gold, the one that has precious stones, as well as the daily use of them, how they should be kept and when you should not wear them.
Let’s start with jewellery made of silver which should not be exposed for long periods to sea water, sun and sand. So when you go to the beach, leave them preferably in your closet, saved in a jewellery box covered with a soft cloth.
It is also important to note due to the fact that silver oxidizes easily in contact with air, that it is advisable to use a homemade mixture made with warm water and some neutral soap, preferably liquid to gently clean the jewel with or without stones, using a new toothbrush with fine bristles.
On the other hand, silver jewellery should not be cleaned with products such as ammonia, bleach, chlorine and alcohol, which could cause permanent damage to the garment, so less aggressive products should be used, such as a detergent that contains a low content of phosphate, as well as sodium bicarbonate that is rubbed on the surface of the jewels, which can remove minor stains and oxidations from silver.
With regard to gold jewellery, special care must be taken not to expose them for too long to the sun and sea water, protecting them from any natural alteration, and thus ensure that they are always bright and impeccable.
In addition, when we observe a grey or white layer on the rings, chains, brooches and even earrings, which adhere finely reducing the brilliance and beauty of the piece of jewellery, you can start by using an eraser; but if this dirt is already very present in places that cannot be accessed to because of the shape or design of the jewel, it is advisable to take it to a specialist or jeweller to do a deep cleaning that returns the original shine of the garment.
There are some critical cases that make it necessary to submit the jewel to an ultrasound bath, which is very effective, and surprising results are achieved, although its cost is much higher. Also, if you have white gold jewellery which usually has a layer of rhodium, it is likely that, with frequent use, this layer turns yellow, losing its colour and brightness, which is the reason why a new layer of rhodium would have to be applied to the garment in order to recover it.
In relation to the care of jewels with stones, the same will depend especially on the type of stone; for example, if the garment is designed with pearls, it is considered that the care is simpler, although those cultivated do require more precaution. The main thing in any case is not to expose them to substances such as perfumes, lotions, oils or other abrasive products.
If you are lucky enough to own a jewel that has diamonds, we must note that this precious stone is extremely hard and resistant; but in spite of that, if it is accompanied by other jewels with diamonds at the time of keeping them, they could scratch each other, so the main precaution would be to keep each jewel separately.
With regard to other types of stones, for example, those that are made with amethysts, emeralds, citrines, lapis lazuli, quartz, among others, precautions should be aimed at taking care of the metal (gold, silver, gold field) as explained: clean the stones gently with non-abrasive liquids, and keep them neatly so they do not trip over each other and can scratch, which reduces shine and beauty and look worn, which is not elegant at the time to wear them.
Then, the way in which jewels are kept is basic to protect them, besides that you will have at your disposal any garment at those times when you are in a hurry and you must literally run to arrive on time, and if you have your jewellery disorganized, for sure you will be upset with yourself. So, organize your jewellery, sorting it even by type, from the simplest you use daily, to the most sophisticated you have saved for those special occasions, luxury parties, weddings, baptisms, or any very important social event.
An important aspect related to chains and necklaces is that they are usually rolled and knots can be formed that make us burst with impatience by trying to untangle them. Therefore, the main precaution in these cases is to keep them closed, stretched and wrapped to prevent them from forming the undesired knots.
In addition to this special care of chains, all the jewels must be manipulated with extreme care, avoiding daily activities in the home with them on, hence any ring or ring should be removed when you wash your hands, do the cleaning or scrubbing, and even when applying perfumes or cosmetic creams on the body, so that no residues of these remain in places that later will be difficult to extract.
On the other hand, it is convenient to avoid vaporizing perfumes directly on the jewels, so it is advisable first to apply the perfume on and that put the jewels on at the end; this way you will be protecting the jewels from substances that will gradually deteriorate them until the point that you will have to go to a jeweller and / or specialist, and thus have to use extra money from your budget, which can be avoided with caution.
Also, it is important to be careful not to approach jewellery to an X-ray or radioactive source which generates intense heat, in addition to not exposing them to the natural environment of beaches, since the excess of sun, sand and salt water deteriorates them. You must also be aware of chemical products, household detergents or any abrasive substance, which in many cases cause irreversible damage to the metal or precious stones present in jewellery.
Another practical recommendation to keep jewellery in good condition is the frequent verification of the good functioning of the closing and setting of the stones to avoid that jewels deteriorate, and if something irregular is observed, preferably they should be taken to a jeweller to avoid greater ills. One way to check is by shaking the jewel close to the ear, and if a slight noise is heard, it is probably because the stones have moved and need to be placed properly.
You must also take special care with the settings, because if they are hooked on a soft fabric or fabric is a sign that the stones have moved. On the other hand, it should be considered that if you keep the jewellery in safes, these usually have a lot of humidity, so it is necessary to apply a moisture absorbing product.
Now let’s talk about fantasy jewellery that every modern and hard-working woman has in her closet, becoming this an effective alternative to lower the costs involved in staying beautiful and presentable, in addition to supplying those constant losses of any garment that often happens to active women who are always in a hurry and have a lot of things to do, or simply need to buy an accessory that you will only use a couple of times in some event.
Whatever the reason for its acquisition is, we are clear that fantasy jewellery often gets stained or damaged over time, and for this reason you should take into account some recommendations or tips that we will give you below:
-It is convenient to use some transparent nail polish to apply it regularly to that inexpensive fantasy jewel, especially in areas that will be in direct contact with the skin. For example, in the case of rings and collars, it should be applied only on the inside, which will have contact with the skin of the fingers and neck.
-The use of effervescent aspirin diluted in a little water is very effective to keep fantasy jewellery in good condition. This solution should be poured into a container and put the jewels in it, letting them soak for 10 minutes, and then drying them carefully with a towel.
Precaution should be taken not to apply this mixture to pearls, plastics or wood; however, in metals, it represents as a perfect alternative to restore the shine or remove stains that are usually green or orange product of the reaction of the metal with the skin, especially when they are copper, gold filled and even silver. In addition, jewellery dipped in silver or in gold filled should not get wet, and much less be exposed to the chlorine in the pool, the water on the beach or water massage devices.
ALFA