|
It is very important to insure
your gold jewellery, so that you can recover its value if it is ever misplaced
or stolen. Getting a small safe installed is a good idea if you choose to keep
your expensive gold jewellery at home. It is also advisable to maintain a list
of everything that you put in and take out of your safe. Your jeweller's
guarantee card should also be kept safely with your jewellery, inside the safe.
For added security, it is best to deposit your expensive jewellery in the safe
deposit vault of a bank.
One good thing to do is to photograph your jewellery, especially when you are
wearing it. This is an inexpensive yet effective way ensure that your jewellery
is traceable, should you ever lose it. This is also vital evidence for those
helping you to locate your lost or stolen jewellery. Remember to inform the
police immediately if your jewellery is ever stolen.
Taking care
of your Gold Jewellery - The Golden Rules
General Tips
Be careful when removing
your jewellery to wash your hands. Do not leave your jewellery on the rim of
a sink where it can easily slip down the drain.
See your jeweller at least
once a year to have your jewellery checked for loose prongs, worn mountings,
and general wear and tear. Visit your jeweller every six months to have your
jewellery professionally cleaned.
There are many types of
small machines on the market that will clean jewellery 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 jewellery at home. However,
ultrasonic cleaners can damage some jewellery and prolonged use may loosen
gemstones from their mountings. Your local jeweller can tell you if an
ultrasonic cleaning machine is right for your jewellery wardrobe and, if it
is, recommend an appropriate model.
Storage solutions
When you buy gold jewellery,
make sure that it is given to you in a box with a satin or velvet lining.
Gold ornaments should not be kept in pouches, because this will cause
scratching and wearing away of gold when the gold pieces brush against each
other. This is even more likely if the ornament is studded with diamonds or
other hard gemstones.
Ideally, two different gold
ornaments should not be kept in the same box. Wrapping smaller items of
jewellery individually in tissue paper before keeping them in the box
safeguards them from scratches.
Keep it clean...
It is best to use a soft
cleaning cloth, chamois leather or synthetic chamois to clean your
jewellery. A good gold cleaning liquid is also useful for maintaining the
shining glory of your gold jewellery.
When cleaning your jewellery,
always use soft, non-abrasive material. A good cleaning liquid may be used
for intricate jewellery with delicate links, which a cloth may not reach.
Once in a while, gold ornaments should be cleaned by dropping them into
boiling water in which a pinch of sodium bicarbonate has been added, for
just half a minute. Drop one piece of jewellery at a time and remove it.
Then wipe it immediately with a soft cloth.
Antique Jewellery
Always handle antique
jewellery very delicately. Wipe them with a soft cloth, or get them cleaned
by a reliable jeweller.
Never jumble jewels in very
small containers. Remember also to keep your genuine gold jewellery away
from costume jewellery. Always keep jewellery of different carats
separately.
General tips for Pearls
Apply cosmetics, hair sprays
and perfume before putting on any pearl jewellery. When you remove the
jewellery, wipe it carefully with a soft cloth to remove any traces of these
substances.
You can also wash your pearl
jewellery with mild soap and water. Do not clean cultured pearls with any
chemicals, abrasives or solvents. These substances can damage your pearls.
Always lay cultured pearl
strands flat to dry. Hanging a strand may stretch the threads.
Do not toss your cultured
pearl jewellery 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 jewellery pieces.
Place cultured pearls 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 jeweller 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.
Pearl Cleaning
Never use
detergents, bleaching agent or powdered cleansers to clean the pearls. All
these cleaning agents can harm the surface of the pearls. Never use
toothbrush or rough cloth to wash or smooth the pearls. They can scratch the
pearl surface. After wearing the pearl, a wet soft cloth can be used to
clean the pearls slightly. Then put it back to the jewellery box after drying.
Pearl Storing
Pearls will
get brittle and crack when they are dehydrated. Never keep the pearls near
heaters or in places that get strong exposure under sunlight. A safe deposit
box is always dry. Try to take the pearls out of the safe box and get
exposure under a moisture area regularly. Since pearls are soft gems, they
should be stored out of things that can scratch them. Soft jewellery pouches
or bags are a good choice for pearl storing.
Pearl Stringing
Pearl
necklaces should be restrung periodically, suitable for once a year.
Moreover, the period for restringing the pearls depends on the wearing
frequency of the pearl necklaces. Fine pearls should be strung with silk and
with knots tied between each pearl. This keeps pearls from rubbing against
each other and from scattering if the string is broken.
Pearl Wearing
Take your
pearls off when applying cosmetics, skin care products, hair sprays or
perfume. These beauty aids are composed of chemicals and acids which can
harm the pearls. You should wear the pearls after a few minutes of applying
the beauty aids. Moreover, take your pearls off while swimming or bathing.
It's worse to get the string wet. Pearl rings should be taken off when
washing hands or dishes. When taking off a pearl ring, grasp the shank or
metal part rather than the pearl. This will prevent the pearl from loosening
and coming into contact with oily skin.
|
Sign
up today to receive our low volume newsletter.Tips, tricks, news and
other Asimi Promotions.
