It’s no secret that high quality jewellery can be expensive. Some pieces more so than others. If you’re anything like us, you’ll want to make the most of your investment and keep your jewellery looking as stunning as the day that you bought it. There’s nothing worse than spending hundreds of pounds on a beautiful necklace only to forget about maintenance and leave it to wear over time.One of the most popular ways to keep your jewellery looking brand new is to get it cleaned professionally. But, of course, not everyone may have the time or money to do this regularly. In fact, many experts recommend getting your jewellery cleaned professionally just once every six months.So, what can you do at home in the meantime to keep your jewellery in pristine condition?
Store it in a clean location
Our first tip is to ensure that your jewellery is stored in a clean location. Most people keep their collection in a jewellery box with soft-lining, but if you don’t want to do this at least ensure your location is dust-free. Avoid mixing new and old jewellery too; leaving your brand-new diamond pendant alongside a tarnished gold chain is most definitely a bad idea.
Avoid high temperatures and humidity
Leaving your jewellery in high temperatures or humidity can lead to discoloration and tarnishing over time. Store your collection at room temperature and somewhere that’s not in direct sunlight. If possible, choose a location that won’t get too stuffy but isn’t too cold either. It’s also important to remember that different types of jewellery can be more susceptible to damage from high temperatures and humidity than others.
Store different jewellery separately
If you’re a fan of QI, you may know that diamonds are widely-accepted as the hardest gemstone in the world, ranking at 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. This means that diamonds have the ability to scratch or damage any material that ranks lower than it, for example Sapphire, Emerald or Amethyst. The same concept applies to your other gemstones.With this in mind, it could be wise to store your gemstone jewellery separately. Try storing it in individual cases or zip-lock bags, this way you’ll be taking proactive steps to prevent damage and keep your jewellery in a clean location at the same time.
Beware of contamination
Avoid bringing your jewellery into contact with oils, soap, cleaning chemicals etc. where possible. For example, if you’re washing the dishes or doing a spring clean then it could be wise to put your jewellery to one side beforehand. It’s even wise to limit how often your jewellery comes into contact with water; we’d always advise taking off all of your jewellery before going for a shower, even earrings. The effects of water and soap scum can leave visible damage to your pieces. It really is worth that extra few seconds to take your jewellery off in advance.
Gentle cleaning
There are tons of home remedies out there, with some more effective than others. Whilst some of these cleaning methods can work wonders, it’s important to do your research first. Something may seem to do a brilliant job of getting rid of any grime or dirt but could leave visible damage in the long run. If you plan to visit professional jewellery cleaners every six months then you can use this simple method to keep your jewellery clean in the meantime:
Run a bowl of warm water and add a small amount of soap.
Soak your jewellery and proceed to gently wipe away any build-up or grime with a soft cloth.
Rinse your jewellery with warm water to get rid of any leftover soap.
Gently dry your jewellery with a soft, clean cloth.
The most important thing is to just be conscious of any potential dangers to your jewellery. Not everyone buys jewellery with the intention of maintaining it well enough to become a vintage piece, but if you simply forget about cleaning your jewellery you’ll be sure to regret it. Combine these home methods with a visit to your jeweller every so often to get your collection professionally cleaned and you won’t go wrong…
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