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Good gems warrant good care. Here's how to keep your precious pieces sparkling.
Take It Off
No baubles - not even a wedding ring - should be worn all the time. All stones (including diamonds and sapphires) can chip. Gold, silver and platinum are easily scratched. And harsh chemicals can damage both stones and metals. Take it off when:
- You do hard work or work out hard. (If you lose a stone, you'll never find it.)
- You clean the house or garden. Household cleaners can damage jewelry, plus you run the risk of catching it on something.
- You bathe, swim, or soak in the hot tub. Chlorine can damage stones and metals.
- You go to the beach. Salt is also hard on jewelry.
People usually don't take off jewelry for fear of losing it. Think about where you normally would take off your rings and place a container there for that purpose.
Then the rings don't go down the drain, and you always know where you put them.
Cleaning and Care
All your pieces need an occasional cleaning to remove grunge around settings and to remove oily buildup that dulls the sheen.
Most pieces can be cleaned by soaking for a few minutes in a bowl of lukewarm water with a little hand dishwashing detergent and scrubbing gently with a toothbrush.
Never use toothpaste, however; it's too abrasive. Ultrasonic cleaners should only be used for all-metal jewelry or diamonds. It can damage other stones. Ditto for ammonia.
- Silver: If you use silver polish, be careful not to get it on the stones. Polish with a soft all-cotton cloth as paper can scratch silver.
- Gold or silver chains: Let soak in soapy water. If they get tangled or knotted, apply a drop of baby oil and unravel with needles.
- Diamonds: A little ammonia dissolved in water will remove any oily film.
- Crystals (rubies, sapphires, etc.): Soak for just a few minutes in a warm solution of dish detergent and water and scrub gently with a toothbrush. Polish dry with a clean cotton cloth.
- Opaque stones (turquoise, malachite, onyx, lapis, etc.): These are rocks, not crystals, so they are absorbent. Do not soak or expose them to ammonia or any other chemicals. Just wipe with a damp cloth, and polish with a soft dry cloth.
- Opals: Clean these fragile stones with soapy water and quickly wipe dry. Do not clean in an ultrasonic cleaner and do not expose to ammonia.
- Pearls: Do not soak: Wipe clean with a moist cloth. Unlike other jewels, pearls get better and more lustrous with exposure to the skin's natural oils. Do not wear these absorbent baubles in the shower or while cooking. Re-string once a year.
- Emeralds: Clean these soft stones using just a lint-free cotton cloth.
Safe Keeping
Resist the urge to toss jewelry into the bottom of a jewelry box.
Not only do chains get tangled, but the gems can be damaged. Diamonds and sapphires can scratch metals and other gems.
Here's how to store your good stuff:
- Stash individually in soft fabric bags in a cool, dark place.
- Light causes silver to tarnish, so store these pieces individually in tarnish-preventing bags.
- Store gold pieces in chamois to protect its luster.
- Store bead necklaces flat because the silk string will stretch over time.
- Do not store pearls in plastic bags; chamois is best.
- Store opals in a cool, dark place; they will dry out if exposed to light.
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