Jewelry Care Guide
from Overstock.comDazzling diamond necklaces, shiny gold rings, luminous pearl brooches. Rare gemstones and metals have enchanted mankind, and womankind, for millennia when fine jewelry signified wealth and status.
Jewelry still symbolizes love and commitment; however, it is most often used as fashion accessories today. Even so, owning jewelry requires an emotional and monetary investment. You'll want to protect all your jewelry--wedding rings, special occasion earrings, simple silver chains--and keep it in like new condition for a lifetime. This jewelry care guide outlines the basics of cleaning and storing these treasures.
Protecting jewelry
Each gemstone, metal and piece of jewelry has its unique properties and care needs. Follow these simple guidelines for protecting a jewelry collection.
Do: Wear jewelry often to brighten your look and your mood. Fine jewelry isn't meant to stay home.
Don't: Wear jewelry during strenuous work sessions and where it can be damaged. You don't want to dig up the newly planted daisies to find your lost rings.
Do: Put on jewelry after you've finished applying cosmetics, perfumes and hair products, including hairspray.
Don't: Overexpose jewelry to the oils, chemicals and dyes found in many household products and beauty products.
Do: Store each piece of jewelry in a separate compartment in the jewelry box or in the pouch that came with the piece.
Don't: Overcrowd the jewelry box when it becomes too small for your collections. Clasps and prongs scratch gemstones and metals.
Do: Hang chains from hooks or lay loosely in a compartment or box.
Don't: Wind chains tightly. Wound chains develop permanent kinks and bent links.
Do: Have pearl strands restrung every few years with a new nylon or silk cord.
Don't: Have necklaces strung unless the jeweler promises to place knots between each pearl. Knotting prevents the pearls from rubbing against each other and will ensure the whole strand isn't lost if it breaks.
Keeping the sparkle
Most of us eagerly put on new jewelry as soon as we get it. The gold bangles shine, diamond rings twinkle and gemstones glow with brilliant color. We love this natural beauty and want our jewelry to sparkle forever.
Cleaning jewelry
Over time metals tarnish and lose their luster, and gemstones develop a dull film on the surface from exposure to the environment and skin oils. Fortunately, a few minutes of maintenance will restore your fine jewelry to the full brilliance that first caught the eye.
Diamonds and gemstones
Use a solution of water and a few drops of mild dish soap to clean diamond and gemstone jewelry. Clean the settings with a soft toothbrush. Brush gently to avoid scratching the metal sections. Rinse with fresh water and dry the jewelry with a soft cloth. Alternatively, diamonds, sapphires and rubies can be cleaned in a solution of six parts water to one part ammonia; however, do not use this method on other gemstones.
Pearls
Pearls are very vulnerable to damage by the chemicals in cleansers and cosmetics. Chemicals damage the surface and dull the beautiful luster. To keep your pearls in good condition, wipe them with a slightly damp, lint-free cloth after every wearing. Occasionally clean pearls with a water and mild dish soap solution, but don't soak the jewelry. Wipe the pearl jewelry with a soft cloth dipped in the solution, rinse the cloth in fresh water and wipe the pearls again. Don't clean pearls in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner: the process is too rough for these delicate treasures.
Porous gemstones
The organic gemstones--pearls, coral and amber--and certain opaque stones like turquoise and lapis lazuli cannot be soaked for cleaning as they are porous and absorb water. Clean this jewelry as you would pearls and avoid exposing it to chemicals and harsh cleansers.
Metals
Metal jewelry is usually quite durable, but most of it is easily scratched. Clean metal jewelry and watch bracelets regularly with a dry, soft cloth to remove dirt and oils. Use a water and mild soap solution for occasional cleaning just as you would for gemstones. Rinse with fresh water and wipe dry. Use this method for maintaining the precious metals of gold, platinum and silver, and also on stainless steel, titanium and tungsten.
Avoid using abrasive detergents, brushes and rough cloths that can damage the surface of metals. If the metal jewelry has gemstones and pearls for decoration, use the safest cleaning method described for those materials.
Polishing silver
Silver jewelry must be cleaned occasionally to remove tarnish. There are many commercial silver polishes and polishing cloths available and they are suitable for cleaning silver jewelry. Tarnish is easier to remove when its layer is thinnest, so be sure to polish silver as soon as the tarnish appears. Wear your jewelry often to help prevent tarnish build up. Polishing your silver necklaces, bracelets and rings will make them shine brighter, fully reflecting the timeless beauty.
Tip: Before rinsing jewelry in fresh water shut the drain, put a wash cloth over the drain and place a colander on top of it. Hold the jewelry over the colander as you rinse it with water. This will reduce the chance of dropping the jewelry down the drain.
Are commercial jewelry cleaners safe?
There are several cleaning solutions designed just for jewelry on the market. These cleaners safely clean jewelry if the directions are followed. Use the solution only on materials designated as suitable by the cleaner's label.
Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are used by many consumers and professional jewelers. They use ultrasound technology and a conducting fluid to clean items, especially metals. Ultrasonic cleaners are safe for precious metals, diamonds, sapphires and rubies. It is not suitable for most other gemstones which are softer than these three stones. Pearls cannot be cleaned in an ultrasonic machine either; it will damage them.
How do I take care of earrings and other body jewelry?
Keeping jewelry clean, especially jewelry for piercings is an important safety consideration. Ideally, the posts on earrings and body jewelry should be cleaned every time they are removed from the piercings.
Use a soft cloth dampened with water to clean posts and studs. You can also use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol on metal posts and then rinse with water. Antiseptic rinses for jewelry are also available from some shops; be sure the solution is safe for the pearls or gemstones in your pieces. Occasionally clean earrings, barbells, studs and other body jewelry using the methods outlined for specific materials.
Be sure to follow the advice of your piercing professional or a doctor when taking care of a new piercing and the accompanying jewelry.
Under lock and key
As you update and expand your jewelry collection, update your jewelry box, too. If you love Overstock.com's large selection of beautiful jewelry, you'll be delighted with our full range of jewelry boxes and jewelry armoires. These jewelry chests are lined with satin or velvet and feature individual compartments for different types of jewelry.
Jewelry cases feature a variety of styles. Many are beautiful furniture accessories made of oak, rosewood and other fine woods, and inlaid with mahogany or mother of pearl. Others have the classic travel case design with a carrying handle and leather or fabric exteriors. Most boxes have a mirror. To keep little hands from playing with your necklaces and earrings, choose a jewelry case with a lock.
Jewelry box
A jewelry box sits on a dresser or table and generally has a hinged lid on the top. Some jewelry boxes have extra trays and drawers, and padded compartments. A jewelry box is a good choice for anyone who needs to store just a few pieces or has an abundance of one type of jewelry. For instance, a box with long, padded slots for bands is perfect for someone with an extensive ring collection.
Jewelry armoire
Anyone with a large collection of jewelry should consider a jewelry armoire. An armoire resembles those used for apparel and come in various sizes; some sit on a dresser and others sit on the floor and can be over three feet tall. The jewelry armoire has several storage drawers, cabinets with hooks for hanging chains and bracelets, and usually has a mirror.
Wall jewelry boxes
Some jewelry boxes hang on a wall like a medicine cabinet. The wall cabinet reduces clutter on a dresser and provides a lot of space for storing jewelry, especially necklaces. Most wall cabinets have a large mirror on the door which allows you to check your appearance at eye level while you try on accessories.
When to see a professional jeweler
Even the finest jewelry, made by the best craftsman, can wear down over the years. This leaves the owner faced with the unhappy possibility of never wearing beloved jewels again. However, jewelry damage can often be repaired by a jeweler who can replace clasps, clean tarnish, buff out scratches and replace lost stones. You'll pay for these services of course, but the price may be worth it to restore a unique necklace or special gift.
Even if your jewelry seems to be in good condition, you may want to visit a jeweler occasionally:
- Settings: Have the settings on pearl, gemstone and diamond jewelry checked every couple of years for loose stones and have the setting tightened repaired if necessary.
- Gold plating: Plating on metal jewelry rubs off with wear. If you have expensive gold plated items, such as gold over sterling silver jewelry, consider having it re-plated when it starts to lose its luster.
- Pearls: Have your pearl strands restrung when the cord starts to fray.
- Outdated jewelry: If you have some jewelry that has lost its glamour due to a dated style or a look you just don't care for, turn it into something else. With good materials and a decent frame, a jeweler can often update old pieces with new designs. Replace the gemstones with your personal favorites or have good stones from an old brooch placed in pretty earrings. Jewelry enhances your personal style and the design possibilities are endless.
Expanding your jewelry collection
You don't need to leave your home or your favorite coffee shop to add new glitter to your jewelry box. Overstock.com's amazing jewelry store is just a click away on your personal computer. With quality jewelry, low prices, great customer care and informative buying guides, shopping at Overstock.com for sparkling jewels helps you look your best.