HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR JEWELRY
1. TIPS FOR USE OF JEWELRY
Jewelry gives any look a more complete appearance, makes it unique and sophisticated. However, over time, they lose their shine and shape, even if they are not worn every day. Is it possible to keep the original look of your favorite accessories for many years? Of course, if you regularly clean and take care of them, and treat them with respect. In order to preserve jewelry that is so dear and precious, it isn’t enough just to be careful when wearing it.
Here are some guidelines that can preserve your jewelry:
- Avoid exposing your jewelry to perfume, cosmetic creams, soaps, and abrasive household cleaners. These substances can corrode metal and damage stones.
- Do not subject the stones to strong impacts, as they may slip off or get scratched. When performing any physical activity, it is recommended to avoid wearing jewelry.
- Drastic temperature fluctuations tend to darken precious metals. It is not recommended to wear your jewelry while visiting a sauna. Salt water also negatively affects the appearance of your jewelry. You should not wear jewelry at the beach or when swimming in a pool.
- Store your jewelry in a place with stable temperature and humidity. It is best to keep jewelry away from bathrooms, attics, basements, and other damp areas.
2. STORAGE OF PRECIOUS JEWELRY
- Pearls need special conditions. If you have jewelry with pearls, add a drop of boiled water to the box before closing it. This will create a comfortable microclimate for the pearls. However, it is worth remembering that neither dry or humid air benefit the stones.
- Chains and Necklaces have the unpleasant proclivity to get tangled or tied in knots. Constant repetition of this is very bad for the chains. To avoid such a situation, it is better to store your chains and necklaces in special organizers or stands.
- Store your jewelry in boxes or cases that are specifically designed for this purpose and make sure they remain closed when not in use. Store it in a cool dry place. Precious Stones do not react well to heat and light over time so it is better to keep them out of direct rays when not wearing them. Otherwise, they will fade, and lose their brightness. Cases lined with fabric are the best choices as they will protect the precious stones and metals from abrasion and accidental scratches. This is especially important for yellow gold.
3. CLEANING OF JEWELRY
3.1 Basic Recommendations
It is highly recommended that you remove your jewelry when doing housework or any physical activity. Fragile stones such as emeralds, opals, and mother of pearl are easily chipped off even with little physical effort. Soap ofter leaves a faded film on white gold, so it is best to wear latex gloves or remove your ring when using it. When wearing diamond jewelry, it is best to avoid contact with chemicals such as:
- Baking Soda
- Potassium Permanganate
- Vinegar
- Chlorine Bleach
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Iodine
There are commercially available special solutions for cleaning precious metals and stones. These solutions can be purchased in most jewelry stores. Although it is worth noting that they can be expensive, but the results far outweigh the cost, especially when it comes to what is so dear to your heart. Please note that these solutions have different chemical compositions, because they are intended for cleaning different metals and stones. Before buying and using such solutions, we strongly recommend that you consult with a jeweler, as you can ruin the coating or the stone if you choose the wrong solution for a particular jewelry.
3.2 Specific Recommendations
Care for Yellow and Rose Gold. Gold is a hard metal but it does tend to lose its luster if treated without care. If you choose not to use commercially available jewelry cleaning formulas then gold jewelry can be washed with warm water, liquid soap, and a soft brush. This will remove residual grease and dirt that builds up. Afterwards rinse with cold water and dry with a microfiber cloth.
Irreparable harm to both gold and platinum can also be caused by iodine accidentally hitting the surface of the jewelry. Traces of this substance are very difficult to wash off. It is necessary to place the jewelry in a solution of hyposulfite (1 tsp. In a glass of water) for 15-20 minutes, then the jewelry must be rinsed in clean water and wiped dry with a soft dry cloth. Hyposulfite can be purchased at photo supply stores and is sold under the name “photographic fixer”.
White gold. Despite the fact that white gold is in great demand, not everyone knows that ordinary gold is taken for its production, which is combined in a molten state with palladium, nickel and platinum. By adding ligature metals, you can get gold of different colors:
- White gold is obtained from 7% silver, 4% nickel and 14% palladium
- A yellow tint takes on a material containing 15% silver and 10% copper
- Rose Gold contains on average 4% silver and 21% copper
- Gold, which contains 25% silver, has a greenish tint
White gold is plated with rhodium, which gives it a unique brilliance and elegance, the white that many people like so much. Without rhodium plating, white gold is yellow due to the presence of copper. This coating requires regular attention as it suffers from wear and tear. A simple and inexpensive recoating process every 12-18 months will restore your jewelry to its original appearance. If rhodium-plated items need cleaning, they must be rinsed in warm water, then wiped dry and polished with a jewelry cloth. Do not clean jewelry with ammonia or abrasive products (such as toothpaste).
Platinum jewelry needs professional polishing from time to time. They are made from an almost pure alloy (95% platinum per thousand alloy units or 950 fineness). Strength, durability, as well as the natural shine of this metal allow products to serve for a long time and not lose their presentable appearance, therefore platinum products do not require rhodium plating, which cannot be said about jewelry made of silver and white gold. Special care is not required here: only a mild soap solution, then wash off the soap and wipe with a soft cloth.
Jewelry with diamonds. Cut diamonds (diamonds) can be cleaned with a soft brush using a 1: 6 ammonia / water solution. Ammonia (ammonia) is an inexpensive product that can be purchased at any pharmacy. Jewelry should be cleaned and checked every six months and it is advisable to seek the help of a professional jeweler.
Silver. Unlike other precious metals, silver is softer, so you need to be very careful when wearing silver jewelry, especially if it is thin and delicate enough. It should be noted that silver items darken over time. The thing is that silver jewelry contains a certain percentage of copper. It is this metal, under the influence of moisture, sweat and other external causes, oxidizes, forming an oxide film, and, as a result, darkens, distorting the color of silver. 925 sterling silver jewelry must be looked after using special means, avoiding traditional cleaning methods. And for products with a lower sample, you can use a citric acid solution: dip the silver into the solution and leave it for a few minutes, then wipe it with a dry cloth. You can also use a soft brush and toothpaste to clean out dirt, grease and dust that has accumulated in hard-to-reach places on the jewelry. Be careful, as this method of scrubbing can leave scratches on your garments if it is scrubbed. Next, rinse off the toothpaste under a strong stream of water and wipe the jewelry dry.
Rhodium and ruthenium jewelry. Rhodium, due to its hardness, wears out more slowly than platinum and gold, and therefore retains its luster for a rather long time. The main thing here is that the rhodium layer is dense enough. Rhodium plating is available in color, black and white. Rhodium plating is the application of a thin layer of rhodium (0.1 - 0.25 microns) to the surface of jewelry. The coating improves not only the appearance of metals, giving the surface a platinum luster, but also their chemical and mechanical properties. In addition, rhodium does not tarnish over time. The disadvantages of rhodium plating are that you cannot clean the jewelry using abrasives, as the coating can be damaged, and after each repair of the product, it will have to be re-plated with rhodium. Rhodium plating does not last forever, but its lifespan depends on several factors, the main of which is thickness. According to the experience of use, the renewal of the rhodium layer on rings, earrings, and chains is required every five years and less often, depending on the intensity of use of the product, however, when in contact with surfaces, both rhodium and ruthenium are quickly erased, therefore, when working with your hands, jewelry must be removed ... In many cases, high-quality rhodium plating has adorned the metal for decades.
Ruthenium, in turn, is used as a ligature in jewelry alloys. The use of this metal in jewelry alloys is limited by its strength characteristics. Here it acts both as a component strengthening the alloys and as a coating. Ruthenium also saturates the product with shine, but it also gives an unusual black tint. To preserve its original appearance when cleaning, it is worth using warm water and a special jewelry napkin to polish the surface well; it is advisable to give jewelry to professionals for polishing once every few years.
JEWELRY CARE CONCLUSIONS
- When doing household work and physical activity, be sure to remove your jewelry.
- For storing your jewelry, use organizers stands and cases designed for that purpose.
- Use the correct cleaning solutions and processes for your jewelry.
- When visiting a pool or sauna, be sure to remove your jewelry.
- The most important conclusion is that you should not get carried away with cleaning jewelry at home. The most gentle and safe way is to have it cleaned by professional jewelers, who will return your jewelry to its original shine and appearance.
И самый главный вывод – не стоит увлекаться чисткой ювелирных украшений домашними способами. Самый бережный и безопасный способ - это чистка у профессиональных ювелиров, которые вернут вашим изделиям былое сияние и первозданный вид.
