Do you spend a lot of money on jewellery? If you do, then it makes sense to know the proper way to look after it. It's really not that hard if you follow these simple steps. This will help you to maintain your rings, bracelets and necklaces and keep them looking lovely.
For starters, virtually all jewellery will shows affects from wear over time. Sadly, this is unavoidable. But don't despair, it is possible to significantly reduce this damage by reducing the situations in which you decide to wear your jewellery. For instance, you should remove necklaces, rings and bracelets prior to bedtime. This will counteract occasional scuffing. Sweat is known to cause discoloration in many metals. Therefore it's always best to remove accessories when doing sport. Nail polish remover, perfume and hairspray can all contain chemical contaminants that can damage jewellery. That's why it's best to ensure these don't have physical contact with your favourite bracelets and rings.
Now let's have a look at oxidised metal. This blackened metal is becoming significantly fashionable in jewellery use. But it does require special care in order to maintain the darkened impression created by the oxidation. For that reason, keep oxidised jewellery away from chlorine. In fact, all gold and silver jewellery can be damaged by chlorine, so be careful! Furthermore, never clean oxidised metal with silver polish as this will ruin the black effect. The same rule applies to pearls.
Ironically, you also need to take certain steps to prevent oxidation occurring in regular jewellery. Oxidation results in tarnishing and discolouration of metal. There are many things that contain sulphur compounds that could enhance oxidation if it makes contact with your jewellery. These include salad dressings, cigarette smoke and sometimes even some varieties of rubber.
If your silver jewellery does get tarnished you can use silver polishing liquid to remove it. But don't use too much as it is very abrasive and can sometimes make the problem worse. For routine cleaning you can just use a polishing cloth for silver. And if you're trying to clean off dirt then nothing beats soapy water and a toothbrush. It might sound daft, but toothbrushes are excellent for cleaning little intricate pieces of jewellery.
And finally, a word about good quality metals. These metals are known as "pure metals" and are subsequently much softer. The less pure the metal, the greater the proportion of alloys. That means that less pure metals are more durable and hard-wearing while pure metals are more prone to scratching. Therefore, to avoid serious marks and grazes on your best gold bracelets and rings, it's a good idea to keep them out of contact with tougher metals.
For starters, virtually all jewellery will shows affects from wear over time. Sadly, this is unavoidable. But don't despair, it is possible to significantly reduce this damage by reducing the situations in which you decide to wear your jewellery. For instance, you should remove necklaces, rings and bracelets prior to bedtime. This will counteract occasional scuffing. Sweat is known to cause discoloration in many metals. Therefore it's always best to remove accessories when doing sport. Nail polish remover, perfume and hairspray can all contain chemical contaminants that can damage jewellery. That's why it's best to ensure these don't have physical contact with your favourite bracelets and rings.
Now let's have a look at oxidised metal. This blackened metal is becoming significantly fashionable in jewellery use. But it does require special care in order to maintain the darkened impression created by the oxidation. For that reason, keep oxidised jewellery away from chlorine. In fact, all gold and silver jewellery can be damaged by chlorine, so be careful! Furthermore, never clean oxidised metal with silver polish as this will ruin the black effect. The same rule applies to pearls.
Ironically, you also need to take certain steps to prevent oxidation occurring in regular jewellery. Oxidation results in tarnishing and discolouration of metal. There are many things that contain sulphur compounds that could enhance oxidation if it makes contact with your jewellery. These include salad dressings, cigarette smoke and sometimes even some varieties of rubber.
If your silver jewellery does get tarnished you can use silver polishing liquid to remove it. But don't use too much as it is very abrasive and can sometimes make the problem worse. For routine cleaning you can just use a polishing cloth for silver. And if you're trying to clean off dirt then nothing beats soapy water and a toothbrush. It might sound daft, but toothbrushes are excellent for cleaning little intricate pieces of jewellery.
And finally, a word about good quality metals. These metals are known as "pure metals" and are subsequently much softer. The less pure the metal, the greater the proportion of alloys. That means that less pure metals are more durable and hard-wearing while pure metals are more prone to scratching. Therefore, to avoid serious marks and grazes on your best gold bracelets and rings, it's a good idea to keep them out of contact with tougher metals.
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