Jewellery is one of the most cherished and celebrated accessory that adds to your charm and marks a symbol of prosperity and self confidence in any event. This makes it even more essential to understand how to care for and protect your treasured gold and diamond jewellery in order to maintain its shine and lustre since a little carelessness can make you pay a big price.
Shobha Shringar brings to you some tips to take care of your Gold and Diamond Jewellery so that your heirlooms are kept shining for the generations to come:
PROTECT THE DIAMONDS AND PRECIOUS STONES
Diamonds are precious stones that can lose their shine and sparkle if you keep touching them. This happens because the oils from your fingers pass onto the diamond and eventually make it dull. Jewellery should be kept away from heat, moisture and hard fragrances or chemicals.
AVOID CONTACT WITH DUST AND CHEMICALS
It is highly recommended to take off your jewellery when attempting any work that involves chemicals and sharp objects. It is also advisable to take off your jewellery before entering a pool or bathing with soap since chlorine and soap are prone to negatively affect metals and diamonds. Soap can create a film on diamonds that does not come off by a mere wash while bleach and sweat can wear off the shine of diamonds and precious stones.
WEAR WITH CARE
Jewellery should always be worn at the end – after dressing up and using cosmetics or hairsprays so that they don’t tarnish or contaminate your jewels. In case of use of heavy makeup, ensure that the makeup dries before the jewellery is worn and remember to remove your accessories when you’re working around with distinct chemicals and solutions. Remove earrings before styling or colouring your hair to prevent them from getting caught on combs or brushes. Always remember to remove rings and bangles at the manicurist.
GENTLE CLEANING
Gently clean your jewellery with a soft cloth or with prescribed methods and solutions to remove any oil or dust caught on the stones or between the metal detailing. Generally a soft cloth suffices for gentle cleaning but in case a piece of jewellery requires an intense cleaning, make sure you use the prescribed and correct method. Don’t be too harsh on set stones. Use only soft brushes since hard brushes can wear off the top layer of metals and reduce the shine of gems. Gold bands can be cleaned in lukewarm water but if the same gold is studded with precious stones or gems like emeralds or onyx, storing in water for a long time can be harmful.
STORE PROPERLY
Store gold rings separately from other metal rings since they can scratch gold easily. It is preferred to store gold jewellery separately. It is recommended to wrap your jewellery in soft tissues before storing them since that will absorb all excess moisture and oils and prevent discolouration. Jewellery can be maintained better if stored in sponge or padded boxes with separate sections. Storing your jewellery properly is an essential step to make sure the gems or diamonds don’t get unnecessarily scratched or chipped.
SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
Whenever in doubt, seek professional advice rather than experimenting. Excessive oil can cause the prongs to loosen and you could lose some precious gems if this isn’t checked regularly. It is necessary to make sure the mount is intact. Periodic checkups for your Gold and Diamond Jewellery can be done to make sure it is in a perfect condition. Follow the jeweller’s tips and feel free to visit wherever necessary.
Gold and Diamond Jewellery