So you know that feeling when you're strolling down the street, early morning sunlight glinting in your eyes, your new dress swishing in the light breeze, you're rocking in the free world sister! Suddenly glancing down, you let out a small cry, panic strikes, you've forgotten to put on your favourite piece of jewellery. For some of us, wearing jewellery every day is a habitual part of our dressing routine. If we happen to forget one of our staple pieces, its like forgetting to put your clothes on!
The necessity of wearing jewellery every day however can take its toll. Dust and pollution are two enemies which can dull the surface of precious metals and dampen the brilliance of a gemstone. Add to that everything else your jewellery might come in contact with over an average day and that's some serious grime build-up.
If you're spending your hand earned cash on some cool jewels, you want to make sure that you and them are looking the best every time. We all need some TLC now and again and that applies to your jewellery too. Just follow these eight easy hints and tips to keep you and your jewellery sparkling.
- Try to avoid wearing your jewellery in the bath/shower and when swimming.
- Always apply perfumes, lotions and potions before you put your jewellery on or even better, put your jewellery on last when getting dressed.
- Remove your jewellery when doing household chores or playing sports to avoid scratching.
- Store your jewellery separately and ideally in its original packaging.
- Sterling silver jewellery will eventually tarnish but its less likely to happen so quickly if regularly worn. To clean each piece of silver use a good quality soft cloth. Silver is also susceptible to damage by chlorine so avoid wearing silver jewellery when using chlorine or bleach.
- Gold is the only precious metal that will not tarnish as it contains no oxides. However, gold should still be cleaned regularly using a soft lint free cloth in order to maintain its beauty and patina.
- Gemstone hardness is based on a standard called the Mohs scale, so the higher the Mohs scale number, the harder the stone. In contrast, the lower the Mohs scale number, the more susceptible the stone is to scratching, chipping, and breaking. To check your gemstone on the Mohs scale, click here. Many gemstones are also susceptible to damage by chemicals, water and even sunlight which may cause them to become paler in prolonged exposure. The best way to clean gemstones is using some warm water, a touch of mild detergent and a soft cloth.
- Pearls being an organic material are much softer than most other gemstones and can be easily scratched. However they react well to the natural oils in your skin and so wearing them helps maintain their lustre. To clean your pearls, wipe with a soft cloth after wearing, and occasionally wipe them clean with mild soapy water. Make sure you let the pearls dry throughly before putting them away in their box.
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