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.

5 Tips Every Jewellery Wearer Should Follow

Jewellery: such a personal choice for everyone who wears it and a variety of budgets per piece. But that’s not to say there aren’t certain things every jewellery owner and prospective jewellery purchasers should know about.  Here are five top tips that every local independent jeweller thinks their customers should know:

 1.    Store your jewellery correctly

There are many ways to store your jewellery, and there’s no definitive right or wrong; from small boxes, compartments in larger jewellery boxes, jewellery stands and hooks, there are many ways to look after your precious pieces.  Avoid piling everything into one box; not only can this harm fragile pieces made of softer metals, which include silver and gold, it’s also incredibly frustrating having to detangle your fine chains every time you want to wear one. Similarly, you shouldn’t leave jewellery in direct sunlight, as gemstones can discolour. Remember that your local jewellery shop will stock storage solutions as part of their giftware range, and it’s always worth taking the advice of your local jeweller as to how they would store certain pieces.

2.    Know your Sterling Silver

Silver jewellery is everywhere at the moment, but you should know what you’re buying if you’re in the market for sterling silver. A simple tip is to take a magnet with you when buying silver, as precious metals, such as sterling silver, will not be attracted to the magnet. Remember that true sterling silver will also have a mark to indicate its quality, such as “.925”.  Your local independent jeweller will always be able to steer you in the right direction of sterling silver.

3.    Try before you buy

Any local jeweller will tell you that jewellery should be an investment. If buying for yourself, your local jeweller will encourage you to try before you buy. Ask if you can try on necklaces to see if they hang correctly, for example, or think about the colours of certain stones against your skin tone. If you’re buying for someone else, think about their style – do they prefer studs, or dangly earrings, for example?  If you get it right, the piece really will last a lifetime.

4.    Do your diamond research

Diamonds are bought with a lifetime’s wear in mind. You should therefore always make sure that you only buy diamonds from a reputable dealer, such as your local jewellery shop. The seller should be able to tell you the history of the stone and the piece, such as who created it and where the stones came from.  Make sure that you do some price comparison research before committing, and take a look at the stones up close; less scrupulous dealers may use tricks, such as lighting, to enhance the look of sub-par stones.

5.    Keep jewellery looking like new

We’re all guilty of a bit of neglect of our jewellery, but with a little tender loving care, your pieces can always look as good as the day you bought them.  For example, replace the rhodium plating on white gold regularly, take any pieces with loose stones to your local jewellery shop for resetting, and get pearls restrung annually. You’ll be surprised at how much longer this can keep your jewellery looking fresh and new, and what’s more, all of these services will be available from your local independent jeweller.