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Jewellery is often an investment and for a lot of people, has a lot of sentimental value attached to it. It is important to take care of your jewellery to make sure it looks fantastic for years to come. Whether you need to clean your diamond engagement ring or have an inherited pearl necklace to care for, try this guide and take care of your jewellery in the right way.
General Care
If you have quality pieces, such as d color diamonds, you should have a jeweller check your jewellery for damage or wear. If you are worried about your jewellery, take it to a local jeweller that you trust. A skilled jeweller will take great pride in helping you keep your pieces looking as good as the day that you bought it. Here are some tips on some of the rings that you can do yourself to keep your jewellery looking good.
- Always take your jewellery off if you are involved in any kind of activity that could damage, scratch, or knock it. Take it off and keep it safe.
- Take off the jewellery when you go to bed.
- Keep your jewellery well away from any chemicals, especially chlorine. If your jewellery does come into contact with chemicals like this, rinse it immediately.
- Bathe and put on any lotions or perfumes before you put your jewellery on. Organic gemstones like pearls and opals are very vulnerable to acids, even in sweat.
- Store your pieces carefully, in a soft-lined box or case. Make sure your jewellery doesn’t rub or scratch on each other when stored. Pearls should be kept separately, as they can easily be scratched by harder gemstones.
- Store chains and necklaces fastened to avoid tangling.
- Take off your jewellery to cook and clean.
- Store your jewellery away from sunlight, heat, and dampness.
Photo by Joeyy Lee on Unsplash
Jewellery MOT
Make sure you have an insurance valuation for your jewellery. As a rough guide, the description in a professional jewellery valuation will be detailed enough that a jeweller could use it to draw an accurate sketch of the item.
If you aren’t sure about the care, repair, or value of your jewellery, then get some advice from a professional jeweller. In the UK, you can look for the National Association of Jewellers’ Grant-of-Arms, which identifies retail jewellery shops that have been vetted by the NAJ.
Jewellery is rarely beyond repair or restoration. If you need advice, go into any NAJ jeweller to get advice. There are some things you can look out for that tells you pieces need some care:
- Worn, damaged, or missing claws on settings that risk losing stones
- Loose stones in the setting
- Loose catches and clasps or rough links on chains or bracelets
- Any fractures in metals
- Pearls that are loose on their thread or frayed thread
- Too much movement in joint hinges
- Plating that is wearing to off-white gold
- A ring that is too tight or loose needs to be resized to fit
- Dive watches need to be pressure tested every year