Simple Jewellery Care Tips from Your Local Independent Jeweller

Jewellery should most definitely be worn to be seen. But obviously some precious pieces are more delicate than others, and all jewellery may be susceptible to wear and tear over time.  To protect your jewellery from everyday weathering that may occur, there are some simple tips that are easy to carry out.  Here, your local independent jeweller gives you their best jewellery care advice:

The importance of good storage

When you’re not wearing your jewellery, you should make sure that it is correctly stored.  Make sure that you have jewellery storage solutions which include individual soft lined boxes, padded compartments and separate pouches so that you can prevent scratching, entanglement and possible chipping of stones.  Plastic zip lock bags can be purchased with an anti-tarnish strip, which not only ensure that chains do not become tangled with other chains, but also help to slow down the tarnishing process.  As part of their giftware range, your local jewellery shop will stock a variety of storage options, and it’s worth investing in a jewellery box which includes a variety of storage solutions to enable you to store your different pieces correctly.

                        

Avoid contact with household chemicals and cosmetics

It may sound like a simple piece of advice, but many people don’t realise the impact that household cleaners and the likes of perfume and hairspray have on their jewellery.  Such substances can permanently damage and discolour precious metals, and if your jewellery includes porous gemstones, the stones can absorb these chemicals, potentially causing both corrosion and discolouration of the stones.  When applying cosmetics, you should always ensure that they are completely dry before putting your jewellery on.  Should your pieces come into contact with substances they shouldn’t, remember that your local independent jeweller will offer a cleaning service and will professionally clean your jewellery in a manner which will not harm it further.

Have your jewellery checked regularly

It’s important to have your jewellery checked over by a local jeweller on a regular basis.  This could mean having the settings checked for loose stones, ensuring that clasps are still strong and do not pose a risk of loss, and getting pearls or gemstone necklaces restrung if necessary.  Jewellery can be professionally polished, and in the case of white gold pieces, you may need to have the rhodium plating replaced to bring back its original shine and silver-white appearance.  All of the above services will be offered by your local independent jeweller, so there really is no excuse for poor jewellery care.