📢 Amitis Art offers 100% natural turquoise now and forever.
Whether your jewelry holds sentimental or financial value, it deserves proper care and protection. Investing a little time and effort in jewelry care can help preserve its beauty and ensure its longevity. This comprehensive guide will share valuable tips and tricks on caring for and protecting your precious jewelry.
When you buy jewelry, regardless of its value, it’s because you find it beautiful. The radiant metal and the sparkle of the gems appeal to your aesthetic sense. Naturally, you would want to wear and cherish your jewelry for a long time. To maintain that ‘like new’ glow, it’s crucial to handle your jewelry with care and store it properly.
Rings are more prone to being lost due to carelessness than any other type of jewellery. To prevent loss, make it a habit to wear your rings at all times or handle them with the same care you would with your money and credit cards. When taking them off, place them in a designated spot, such as a ring dish or box.
When taking off your jewellery, it’s essential to have a safe place to store it. Avoid mixing different pieces of jewelry in a jumbled jewelry box, as it can lead to scratches and damage. The best practice is to store each piece in individual leather or cloth cases or bags to protect them from harm.
A plastic bag can be a suitable alternative if separate boxes are unavailable. However, avoid storing pearls, opals, and ivory in plastic, as they require air to maintain their beauty.
Regular cleaning is vital to maintain your jewellery’s beauty and lustre, including metal and gemstones. Even gold can discolour from soaps and perspiration, and silver is especially prone to tarnish. While precious sterling silver jewelry is often coated with rhodium to prevent tarnishing, it still requires occasional cleaning.
This method is suitable for most jewelry types but should be avoided for soft gems or jewelry with delicate strings, such as ivory or pearls.
Mix a mild detergent with warm water in a small bowl or cup.
Immerse the jewelry in the mixture and gently brush each piece with an eyebrow brush.
Rinse the jewelry under warm running water and pat dry with a lint-free cloth.
This cleaning method can be used for most jewelry but should not be applied to soft gems or jewelry with delicate strings.
Combine half cold water and half household ammonia in a cup or bowl.
Soak the jewellery in the solution for 30 minutes (avoid leaving it for longer periods).
Gently clean the front and back of the setting with an eyebrow brush, if necessary.
Swish the jewellery in the solution again before draining it dry on tissue.
Commercial jewellery cleaners often employ this method. It is important to read and follow the instructions carefully for the specific cleaner you’re using. Please avoid using cleaners on any jewellery that is not specified, or consult with a jeweller before doing so.
Ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency turbulence to clean jewelry in a metal cup of water and detergent. It is important to follow the instructions provided with the machine carefully. However, check with your jeweller before using an ultrasonic cleaner, as it may not be suitable for all types of jewellery.
Now, let’s discuss how to clean metal jewellery safely without causing any damage.
The lower the karat, the more gold may discolour due to base metal content. Mild soap, water, and ammonia can remove discolouration. Avoid the myth of preventing skin marks by spraying gold with hairspray, as it may contribute to tarnishing.
Similar to karat gold, clean gold-filled jewellery with mild soap and a drop of ammonia. Remember, it won’t last as long as solid karat gold.
Cleaned similarly to gold-filled and karat gold jewellery, rolled gold plates may contain less gold but require gentle care.
Regularly wipe clean with a damp, soft cloth. Avoid treated clothes and use mild soap and water for makeup removal.
Jewellery with thin gold layers may wear off with cleaning or rubbing. Exercise caution to preserve the finish.
Remember, the character of gold-filled jewellery is the same as that of karat gold, which makes up 1/20 of the total weight, except that the jewellery will not last as long as the same jewellery in solid karat gold. Gold-filled jewellery can be cleaned the same way as karat gold, with mild soap and a drop of ammonia.
The rolled gold plate may contain less gold than rolled gold, but it should be cleaned the same way as gold-filled and karat gold jewellery.
Although the layer of gold deposited by electroplating may be 7 to 100 millionths of an inch thick, good gold electroplate and rolled gold can wear. It should be wiped clean regularly with a damp, soft cloth, and a mild soap and water solution may be used to remove any makeup. Do not use a treated cloth to clean the gold electroplate.
Gold-washed or gold-flashed.
Jewelry finished in this manner contains very little gold. The surface layer, in fact, is so thin that it may be negligible and wear off after being worn a few times. Any cleaning, and particularly any rubbing, can remove the finish entirely.
Commercial silver cleaners or silver cloth can clean silver. Soap, water, and ammonia work for light tarnish or makeup removal.
Clean silver-filled jewelry like sterling silver. The older the piece, the more permanent the patina, which cannot be removed.
Lasting for years, silver plates can be cleaned like sterling silver. Re-plating is possible, though less common in jewellery.
Exercise caution when cleaning metals combined with enamel or vermeil (sterling silver with karat gold electroplate). Gently rub with a soft cloth to avoid damaging inlay or enamel.
Some gems require special care for cleaning and storage. Take extra precautions with the following stones:
Keep diamonds separate to prevent scratches. Boil for 10 minutes in soapy water and ammonia for cleaning.
Despite its softness, lapis lazuli wears well and is popular for men’s jewellery. Scratches can be polished out.
Soft and easily broken, malachite can scratch and lose polish. Avoid wearing it against the skin.
Softness requires careful cleaning with a very soft cloth, soap, and water.
Fragile and prone to cracking, opals require careful handling. Keep them in water or glycerin to prevent drying.
Soft and easily scratched, store amber separately. Avoid rough cloths and acids; clean with a soft, dry cloth.
Wipe carefully after wearing, store in a satin-lined box, and avoid commercial cleaners or acids.
Scratch-prone, store and wear peridot carefully. Routine cleaning is sufficient.
Store topaz in the dark to prevent fading. No special cleaning methods are required.
Very porous; avoid exposure to dirt, grease, ammonia, acetone, etc. Appreciate colour changes with age.
Natural turquoise gemstones, distinguished by their inherent porosity (unfilled with resin and dye), are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of chemicals and oils. It is crucial to exercise caution and shield your turquoise stone from substances like perfume and sunscreen. These porous characteristics make turquoise more vulnerable, emphasising the need for diligent care. We’ve compiled a comprehensive article for detailed guidance on caring for and cleaning your turquoise. You can access it by clicking HERE.
In conclusion, mild soap, water, and a drop of ammonia are effective for general jewellery cleaning. Commercial cleaners are safe for most pieces, but specific gems may require special care. When in doubt, consult your jeweller, ensuring your precious jewellery receives the attention it deserves. Remember, a jeweller’s expertise in metals and gems is crucial for maintaining the beauty and integrity of your cherished pieces.
Author: Sohrab Jamarani
We are excited to offer an alternative way to experience our blog posts. If you prefer listening over reading, visit our YouTube channel: Turquoise Uncovered Podcast.
Have any questions regarding cleaning jewellery? Feel free to comment below.
Nishapur Turquoise: Nishapur turquoise is widely regarded as the highest-quality turquoise in the world. Extracted from the Bozghan (Firoza) mines, it is celebrated for its
Persian Turquoise: A Gem Above All the Others While various types of turquoise are mined worldwide, Persian turquoise stands out as the pinnacle of quality
The Coveted Jewel: Napoleon’s Obsession with Persian Turquoise Few gemstones have captivated rulers and conquerors like Persian turquoise throughout history. Its mesmerising blue-green hues, reminiscent
Discover the Beauty of Natural Persian Turquoise: Handmade Jewellery Collection
