How to Properly Store and Care for Your Designer Jewelry

There’s no gift a woman appreciates more than a unique piece of designer jewelry. And naturally, you don’t want to lock your jewelry up in a safe, but show off its beauty and elegance to the world.

If stored and cared for properly, jewelry can last for generations even if you wear it all the time. However, not everyone is familiar with how to properly store and care for their precious jewelry. And while many respectable companies like Emerson & Farrar Fine Jewelry offer a lifetime of professional cleaning and care for any purchased jewelry piece, many jewelry owners never take their precious pieces for an annual cleaning.

Fortunately, jewelry is fairly low-maintenance when it comes to storing and caring for it. In this article, we are going to give you a few hints how to care for your precious jewelry pieces and preserve their shine forever.

To keep your jewelry in its prime, you should store it in a clean, dry place. Purchase or make DIY jewelry boxes and pouches, and keep your jewelry stored away safely when you’re not wearing it. You should store your jewelry pieces separately so they don’t get scratched by rubbing one against another. Keep different types of jewelry stored separately to make sure they don’t get entangled. Furthermore, to avoid your necklaces from knotting be sure to hang them.

Every time you take off your jewelry make sure to clean it properly. You can use a solution made out of 1 tablespoon of pharmaceutical ammonia, 1 tablespoon of liquid detergent and 1 cup of warm water.

Dip the jewelry into the solution and let it sit there for 5 minutes. Take the jewelry out and gently brush it with a soft toothbrush. After that, dry the jewelry with a soft towel. Don’t use this solution on porous gemstones such as pearls or opals, as they could get permanently discolored.

When traveling store your jewelry pieces in a dry, safe place. Don’t mix your jewelry with the rest of the luggage, but keep it in your carry – on luggage. You don’t want to risk your precious jewelry getting displaced or worse stolen. Don’t keep the jewelry in your rental car or your hotel room. Instead, ask for a desk safe from the hotel personnel.

Avoid wearing your luxurious jewelry when working with harsh cleaning products or abrasive chemicals like bleach. These chemicals could cause permanent discoloration and dam age to your designer jewelry.

Likewise, remove your jewelry when doing any manual work or engaging in sports like tennis. If you don’t you risk chipping or losing your gemstones. You could also damage the setting.

You should make a habit out of visiting a jeweler annually, so they can professionally clean and inspect your jewelry.

Use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean your diamond jewelry at home. If you don’t have one, you can clean it by hand as well, using a mild detergent or most commercial jewelry cleaning products.

After letting the piece of jewelry soak in the cleaning product for a while, brush around the gemstone with a soft brush. This will help remove any dirt or dust and bring out the diamond’s shine again. Finally, avoid touching diamonds with your fingers.

To clean colored gemstones, use a water and mild detergent solution. Gently brush the pieces with asoft toothbrush and rinse. Store them separately and in soft pouches. Wipe your jewelry after wearing it to keep their shine. Don’t use ultrasonic cleaners on colored gemstones, since they are much more fragile than diamonds.

Pearls stay shiny for much longer than other gemstones, especially if you frequently wear them. The natural oils your body produces help preserve the pearls’ beauty. However, don’t pair pearls with other types of jewelry to avoid accidentally scratching them.

Apply any perfumes, body lotions and other cosmetics before you put on your pearls. Avoid exposing the pearls to salt or chlorinated water, harsh household cleaning products and moisture. To keep them dry, wipe them with a soft cloth each time you take them off.

Store your pearls away from the rest of your jewelry using soft cloth bags. If you live in a dry area, you can store them in a slightly damp, soft cloth bag to prevent them from drying out.