Your fine jewelry is a precious keepsake meant to last generations. However, jewelry is also prone to wear and tear. Sporting your cherished diamond engagement ring or wedding band every day can cause metals and stones to quickly lose their shine.
Learning to take care of them in the proper manner will keep them in the best shape possible. Read up on these jewelry cleaning and maintenance tips to make sure you enjoy your jewelry’s lasting qualities for years to come.
1) Safe storage is key.
Taking precautions to keep your jewelry clean and safe will minimize the pains of dealing with tarnished pieces later on, saving you time and money in the long run. Always keep your jewelry stored in a clean and dry place, with each piece separated to prevent them from scratching each other. If you don’t have a jewelry box at hand, wrapping each piece individually in soft tissue will do the trick.
2) Professionals know best.
As a standard rule of thumb, you should visit your jeweler once a year for jewelry repair checkups and get your pieces cleaned twice a year. From replacing missing diamonds to resizing settings, visiting a professional will restore your pieces to their dazzling original condition.
3) Learn how to clean jewelry at home.
We don’t all have time to visit a jeweler regularly, so learn how to clean silver jewelry or how to clean gold jewelry with these simple solutions:
- For gold jewelry, soak in a mix of two cups of warm water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid for around 15 minutes. Gently scrub them with a soft-bristle toothbrush to clean small areas, then rinse with warm water and pat dry.
- For cleaning silver jewelry, rinse in warm water then pat dry. If you have more tarnished silver, soak it in a solution of ½ a cup of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda for around 2-3 hours to get them looking brand-new again. Take note that silver is scratched easily, so avoid using a toothbrush to scrub and instead wipe with a clean, soft cloth.
- For diamonds, soak in one cup of warm water mixed with ¼ cup of ammonia for around 20 minutes. Gently scrub pieces with a soft-bristle toothbrush to clean between any small areas and crevices. Rinse everything with warm water, and air out to dry.
4) Watch out for chlorine and soap.
Soap can dull gold, so try to take off your gold jewelry for showers, when washing hands , and when putting on lotion. Additionally, chlorine will deteriorate jewelry. It can cause silver to pit, or erode, so avoid wearing your precious pieces in the pool!
Follow these easy tips to make sure your fine jewelry always shines bright like a diamond (or gold, or silver, or any other precious metal or gem).
Have additional questions? Check out Diamonds on Wabash’s FAQ and feel free to contact us today!
