There’s a good chance that some of the most expensive things you own are jewellery, whether that’s a diamond engagement ring or a sparkling tennis bracelet. Because they’re worth so much and you want them to last a lifetime, you’ll want to keep them in as good a condition as you can. Here are some tips and tricks on how you can keep your jewellery in the best condition.
Buy Good Quality Jewellery
Of course, no matter how well you look after your jewellery, if it is poorly made or of bad quality then it’s bound to wear and discolour much quicker. Buying jewellery from a reputable place, like these jewellers in Hertfordshire will mean that you’re guaranteed it is of excellent quality and craftsmanship second to none. Taking care of good quality jewellery is easier and it will last you several lifetimes if you do it properly.
Know When to Take It Off
Not every activity is a suitable one for jewellery, and you should know when to take your rings, bracelets, and other jewellery off or leave it at home. A trip to a leisure centre swimming pool with high levels of chlorine, for example, won’t be very kind to your jewellery; nor will participating in a sports practice session or sports game, particularly if it’s a contact sport. A quick rule of thumb is if it’s going to come into contact with any sort of chemical, or if it’s going to come into contact with people or objects at unnatural force, it’s better to leave it off.
Store It Separately
You might wear some jewellery every day, like your engagement and wedding bands, but other jewellery is going to spend most of its life being stored for when you wear it. If you don’t store your jewellery properly, it can be prone to damage.
Storing all your jewellery together in a jewellery box will mean it’s likely to get tangled and knocked against each other, and this can cause damage that will need to be repaired. Opt instead for a jewellery tree for your necklaces and earrings. Separate vintage or your most precious jewellery into cloth pouches for storage. This will help prevent tarnishing, but it won’t hurt to store your jewellery with some kind of anti-moisture substance like silica gel to eliminate the moisture that can do damage to fine metals. Try and prevent storing different metals together too, particularly gold and silver.
Don’t Leave It in The Sun
Sunshine and harsh light is the enemy of jewellery and should be avoided wherever possible. A good jewellery box that’s well-padded with no exposed wood or metal will prevent damage from sun and light, so make sure you keep your jewellery in cool, dry and dark conditions so it doesn’t get damaged.
Proper care and attention to preventing damage from physical contact and harsh light and chemicals will go a long way to keeping your jewellery in great condition. Consider too taking your most precious pieces to be professionally cleaned and maintained so they never lose their shine.
