|
|
Country: |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
General Tips
Store your jewelry in a clean, dry place.
Keep your jewelry in a fabric-lined jewelry case, or in a box with compartments
and dividers. If you prefer to use ordinary boxes, wrap each piece individually
in soft tissue paper.
Don't jumble your jewelry pieces in a drawer or jewelry case. Pieces can
scratch each other.
Be careful when removing your jewelry to wash your hands. Do not leave your
jewelry on the rim of a sink where it can easily slip down the drain.
See your jeweler at least once a year to have your jewelry checked for loose
prongs, worn mountings, and general wear and tear. Visit your jeweler every six
months to have your jewelry professionally cleaned.
There are many types of small machines on the market that will clean jewelry in
a matter of minutes using high-frequency sound. These machines are called
"ultrasonic cleaners" and are available in many different models and prices.
They can be a convenient way to quickly clean your jewelry at home. However,
ultrasonic cleaners can damage some jewelry. Your local jeweler can tell you if
an ultrasonic cleaning machine is right for your jewelry wardrobe and, if it
is, recommend an appropriate model.
Diamonds
Diamond jewelry is very popular. Some pieces, such as diamond
engagement and wedding rings, are often worn 24 hours a day. Even though you
may wear your diamond jewelry around the clock, you should give thought to its
care. Diamonds are durable, but they still require proper maintenance. Diamonds
can get smudged, soiled and dusty. Lotions, powders, soaps, even natural skin
oils, put a film on diamonds and cut down their brilliance. Clean diamonds
"glow" because the maximum amount of light can enter the stone and return in a
fiery brilliance. It takes just a little care to keep them that way.
Do not wear diamond jewelry, especially rings, when doing rough work. Even
though diamond is one of the hardest materials in nature, it can still be
chipped by a sharp, sudden blow.
Chlorine can damage and discolor the mounting on your diamond jewelry. Keep
your diamond away from chlorine bleach or other household chemicals. You should
also remove your diamond jewelry before entering a chlorinated pool or hot tub.
Clean your diamonds regularly using a commercial jewelry cleaner, a mix of
ammonia and water, or a mild detergent. Dip the jewelry into the solution and
use a soft brush to dislodge dust or dirt from under the setting.
Avoid touching your clean diamonds with your fingers. Handle clean jewelry by
its edges.
Colored Gemstones
There are many different types of colored gemstones, some of which
require specific care and cleaning procedures. It would be impossible to
enumerate all of them in this brochure. However, there are some general care
and cleaning rules which apply to all colored gemstone jewelry.
Many natural gemstones are treated or enhanced from the time they are extracted
from the earth by one or more traditionally accepted jewelry industry
practices. These treatments and enhancements can affect how you should clean
and care for your colored gemstone jewelry. Consult your jeweler for more
information on caring for treated or enhanced gemstones.
After wearing, wipe your precious gemstone jewelry thoroughly with a clean,
soft, slightly damp cloth. This will enhance the gemstone's luster and ensure
that your jewelry is clean before storage.
Store gemstone pieces individually in soft pouches. You should be able to
obtain these from your jeweler.
Do not expose your precious gemstone pieces to salt water or harsh chemicals,
such as chlorine or detergents. These chemicals may slowly erode the finish and
polish of gemstones.
Hair spray, perfume and perspiration may cause jewelry to become dull. Apply
all cosmetics, perfumes and colognes before putting on colored gemstone
jewelry. Make sure to wipe your gemstones after wear to remove any chemicals,
oils or perspiration.
Do not subject gemstone jewelry to sudden temperature changes.
If you have an active lifestyle, take extra precautions with some types of
gemstone jewelry. Emeralds, for example, are brittle and should not be worn
when doing household chores or any other activity where the stone could be hit
or damaged.
Be extra careful with ultrasonic cleaners. Some gemstones are fragile and can
be damaged by ultrasonic cleaners. Consult your jeweler for the best cleaning
procedure for your particular gemstone jewelry. Your jeweler is also a good
source for any information on colored gemstones.
Karat Gold Jewelry
Karat gold jewelry pieces make up the majority of many fine jewelry
collections. Gold comes in many different styles and colors, but the care and
cleaning procedure remains the same.
Remove all gold jewelry before showering or cleaning. Soap can cause a film to
form on karat gold jewelry, making it appear dull and dingy. By preventing the
formation of this film, you immediately reduce the occasions your pieces will
need to be cleaned.
To clean your jewelry at home, you'll find many commercial cleaners available.
In addition, you will find a soft chamois cloth an effective and inexpensive
way to keep your pieces lustrous and shining. Ask your jeweler to recommend
both of these items for you.
For certain gold jewelry, especially pieces that do not contain colored
gemstones, an ultrasonic cleaning machine may be appropriate. Once again, ask
your jeweler to advise you.
Be careful of chlorine. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can
permanently damage or discolor your gold jewelry. Do not wear gold jewelry
while using chlorine bleach or while in a pool or hot tub.
You can remove tarnish with jewelry cleaner, or by using soap and water mixed
with a few drops of ammonia. Carefully brush with a soft bristle brush. An old
toothbrush can also be used. After the brushing, simply rinse with lukewarm
water and allow drying. If there is a heavy tarnish on your jewelry, consult
your jeweler for the best cleaning procedure. You should also talk to your
jeweler before attempting to clean any karat gold jewelry set with colored
gemstones because some stones require special cleaning procedures.
Grease can be removed from karat gold jewelry by dipping the jewelry into plain
rubbing alcohol. Again, check with your jeweler about colored gemstone pieces.
Platinum
Platinum is one of the rarest and most durable precious metals. It is
resistant to tarnishing and discoloration due to chlorine and other chemicals.
These factors, along with its strength and white luster, have made platinum an
increasingly popular choice for jewelry, either on its own or as the setting
for diamonds and other precious gemstones. However, despite its durability,
platinum jewelry needs to be properly cared for.
Platinum jewelry can be cleaned the same way you can other fine jewelry. Your
jeweler can recommend a prepackaged jewelry cleaner that works with platinum,
or ask your jeweler to professionally clean your platinum pieces. A
professional cleaning every six months will keep your platinum jewelry in great
shape.
Store your platinum jewelry separately and with care, not allowing pieces to
touch each other because even platinum can be scratched.
Signs of wear such as scratches can eventually appear on platinum. However, due
to the metal's durability there is usually little metal loss from the scratch.
If visible scratches do appear, your jeweler should be able to repolish the
piece.
If your platinum is set with diamonds or other precious stones, be especially
careful as these materials can be more susceptible to damage. Some fine jewelry
pieces combine platinum with karat gold jewelry. Care for these pieces as you
would your gold jewelry or consult your jeweler.
Sterling Silver Jewelry
Sterling silver, like other precious metals, can oxidize with time.
But properly maintained silver jewelry improves with age and develops a lush
patina. Treat your silver well, care for it properly and it will reward you
with a long life and a lustrous look.
Clean your silver jewelry with a mild soap and water solution, allowing the
water to bead up, and then patting dry with a soft cloth. For more stubborn
dirt, use jewelry cleaner designed for silver use. Ask your jeweler to
recommend an appropriate brand.
Store your silver in a cool, dry place, preferably in a tarnish-preventive bag
or wrapped in a soft piece of felt or cloth. Store pieces individually, so that
they don't knock together and scratch.
Do not rub silver with anything other than a polishing cloth or a fine piece of
felt. Your jeweler should be able to provide these. Tissue paper or paper
towels can cause scratches because of the fibers in these products.
Make sure your silver is not exposed to air and light during storage _ this can
cause silver to tarnish. And don't wear sterling silver in chlorinated water or
when working with household chemicals.
Cultured Pearls
Cultured pearls are precious jewels and should be treated as such.
They're also the products of living creatures. Cultured pearls are formed when
an irritant is introduced into a mollusk. The mollusk secretes a substance
called nacre which covers the irritant and produces the pearl. Nacre gives
pearls the rainbow of colors and luster that makes these gemstones so
treasured, but its delicate nature also makes pearls particularly susceptible
to damage. For this reason you should be extra careful with your cultured pearl
jewelry.
Apply cosmetics, hair sprays and perfume before putting on any pearl jewelry.
When you remove the jewelry, wipe it carefully with a soft cloth to remove any
traces of these substances.
You can also wash your pearl jewelry with mild soap and water. Do not clean
cultured pearls with any chemicals, abrasives or solvents. These substances can
damage your pearls.
Do not toss your cultured pearl jewelry carelessly into a purse, bag or jewel
box. A pearl's surface is soft and can be scratched by hard metal edges or by
the harder gemstones of other jewelry pieces.
Place cultured pearl jewelry in a chamois bag or wrap them in tissue when
putting them away.
Cosmetics, perspiration, oils and ordinary wear weaken and stretch the threads
on which the pearls are strung. Bring your pearls back to your jeweler for
restringing once a year. Make certain the pearls are strung with a knot between
each pearl. This will prevent loss of pearls if the string should break.
Shipping
If you've ever sent jewelry somewhere, you know how tense it can be.
However, there are a few simple precautions that can make the experience less
stressful.
Package your jewelry securely in an appropriately sized box. When possible, use
a box designed to hold the specific type of jewelry you are sending, since this
will hold it securely. Otherwise, wrap each piece individually in cloth, not
plastic, and fill empty spaces in the box to keep the jewelry from shifting too
much.
Use a shipping method that allows tracking, such as Federal Express or UPS, so
you'll be able to know when it gets to its destination.
Buy insurance, especially for extremely valuable jewelry. It costs a little,
but it can make the sting of lost jewelry a little easier to bear.
Storage
Jewelry is vulnerable while it's being worn, but it can also suffer
damage if it isn't stored properly. Diamond is the hardest substance on Earth.
So how does a diamond get scratched? By another diamond. Diamond jewelry can
also scratch softer stones as well as gold and even platinum. For this reason,
it's important to store your jewelry so the pieces don't come in contact with
each other.
Wrap individual pieces in tissue or cloth or put them in separate compartments
in a jewelry box. Be extra careful with pearl jewelry since it is soft and
scratches more easily than gems and metals.
Often jewelry comes in a special box, bag or wrap. Keep these; they are often
the best means for storing or packaging the jewelry and will provide protection
from damage and dirt.
Wearing
Caring for your jewelry starts with proper wear. That means knowing
when to put your jewelry on - and when to take it off.
Put jewelry on after applying makeup, perfume and hairspray. Also, handle gems
and pearls as little as possible, since skin oil can build up over time and
dull their appearance.
Remove your jewelry if you're going to do any manual labor, including
housework. A bracelet can be easily broken or bent if it catches on a hook.
Gems, even diamonds, can chip or crack if they're knocked against a hard
surface. Another danger comes from the harsh solvents used in cleaning, which
are not good for any kind of jewelry and particularly harmful to pearls.
If you wear earrings, it's usually best to remove them while you're having your
hair styled. That way the stylist's comb won't catch them. And, never wear
pearl earrings or necklaces while you're having your hair colored. Some of the
coloring agents contain alcohol and other chemicals that can mar the luster of
the pearls.
If you're right-handed, think about wearing a bracelet or watch on your left
wrist since you don't use it as much as your right. The opposite applies if
you're left-handed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|