As the saying goes, a little TLC goes a long way.
Safeguarding your jewelry investments will ensure that they last. By remembering a few important things, you can enhance the lifespan of these special pieces. Acknowledging the materials in your jewelry so that you can clean them correctly, following essential daily care tips, and committing to proper storage techniques can make a world of difference. Unless you’re in a position where monetary value is never a concern, this guide is here to help you make sure every sparkle endures so your investments last lifetimes – a testament to the value your ultra-luxury jewelry forever upholds.
The Materials In Your Jewelry Collection
You may have read our shopping guide to Cartier gold jewelry where we explain the different types of gold, purity levels, and industry myths. Generally speaking, whether you’re shopping for Cartier jewelry or something else, it’s a great read if you’re trying to get a better understanding of what your fine jewelry is made of. When you know what your jewelry is composed of, you will be one step closer to knowing the best way to care, clean, and store it.
18K White Gold LOVE Bracelet
18K Yellow Gold LOVE Bracelet
18K Pink Gold LOVE Bracelet
Diamond LOVE Necklace
LOVE Wedding Band Rings
How to Clean Different Types of Jewelry
There is a difference between base metals and precious metals. Translation? Some jewelry pieces are merely coated with precious metals while others may have a much higher percentage of these precious metals. You want to be careful about rigorously cleaning your jewelry because excessive cleaning can increase the risk of discoloring the metal or removing the metal coating if there is one. It’s always important to tread carefully around any precious material of value, especially if you’re not sure entirely what it’s made of.
Cleaning gold jewelry poses no issues. However, silver jewelry (especially sterling silver) may require a polishing cloth and water to get any tarnish off. Investing in a proper jewelry polishing kit is a great way to go. Lucky for you, all jewelry pieces at FASHIONPHILE are cleaned professionally before they are listed for purchase on our site.
How to Clean Diamond Jewelry
Our experts say if you’re going to clean anything with diamonds use about a cup of warm distilled water with 1 drop of liquid castile soap. Use a baby’s toothbrush to gently scrub – ideally in a bowl versus somewhere else such as the bathroom sink because if a stone does happen to loosen or fall off (heaven forbid), you can find it! Note that no detergent should ever be used to clean jewelry containing opals or emeralds, as castile soap is very strong and requires heavy rinsing afterward to avoid a film developing over the stone or other lingering issues. When in doubt or if your diamond jewelry really needs some serious TLC take it to a trusted jeweler to have it professionally cleaned.
How to Clean Pearl Jewelry & Mother of Pearl
If you’re wondering how to clean pearl jewelry, our experts advise using a soft lint free cloth to wipe off any small particles and debris to keep your pearls looking fresh. If your pearl jewelry looks dirty, you can give it a deeper clean by soaking a Q-tip in soapy water (dawn soap is recommended) and using the Q-tip to gently wipe away the dirty parts around the pearls. To keep your pearl jewelry intact (because sometimes as they age, they can loosen up), consider getting a re-string done annually or every other year. Mikimoto is renowned for its pearl jewelry, and they suggest this.
Essential Daily Wear & Care Tips for Jewelry
Aside from basic cleaning tips, keeping your jewelry investments looking great also requires daily mindfulness and proper tlc. Which brings us to the point of this section: essential daily care. It’s sort of common sense, come to think of it, so we’ll mainly focus on the not-so-obvious jewelry care tips.
VCA Alhambra Pendant
VCA Magic Alhambra Necklace
VCA Perlee Ring
David Yurman Pinky Ring
Wear & Care Tips for Jewelry With Gemstones
Malachite jewelry should be handled very gently as the color can fade with excessive wear. The same goes for Lapis and Turquoise because these gemstones have a shiny polish that can wear off over time if things are sprayed with perfume or worn in the pool for extended periods of time. Emeralds should be handled carefully as well as they’re usually “oiled” and using something like hot steam or an ultrasonic can damage its internal appearance or even break the stone.
These precautions are not to deter you, but to remind you to stay, well, mindful. When in doubt, keep your jewelry at home, especially if you’re going to be doing any rigorous activities like training for a marathon, going on a 5-hour hike, or even spending a sweaty day at the beach – because your jewelry will be exposed to all sorts of foreign substances and over time this can contribute to the decline in quality or worse, damage jewelry. As a general rule, don’t wear jewelry in any body of water; aside from the damage that it could potentially cause if in the water too long, if a stone is lost you will likely never find it. No one wants to be Kim Kardashian when she loses her $75,000 diamond earring in the ocean. If you must wear them out (it’s okay, we can barely part with ours either), then be sure to refer to our expert jewelry cleaning tips above.
Learn more about Van Cleef & Arpels stones here.
Wear & Care Tips for Pearl Jewelry
Our experts say pearls should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. This makes sense because of how precious and sensitive pearls are to foreign substances. For example, spray on your perfume first, allow it to dry, then go ahead and put on your favorite heirloom pearls that your grandmother passed down to you.
General Care Tips For All Types of Jewelry
Avoid layering your jewelry, especially necklaces if you like to wear multiple at a time. Doing so can cause knots to develop in the chains, tangle the chains in your hair, and overall further damage your jewelry. Sunscreen can also harm your jewelry so like other body creams and perfumes, be sure to apply sunscreen first, let it dry, and then put on your jewelry.
How to Properly Store Your Jewelry
Taking care of your jewelry investments is a no-brainer if you want them to last. Another crucial step is storing your jewelry properly. This ensures your jewelry stays safe, secure, and ready for the next adventure. When not in use, keep your jewelry away from direct sunlight. A great tip is to store them in the original packaging – pouch, case, or box – as they are custom-made to protect and store your jewelry. If you don’t have the original packaging, consider investing in a jewelry box. Jewelry boxes are fantastic, with special compartments for different types of jewelry which keeps things organized and can also prevent unnecessary tangling and tarnishing. The girls who get it, get it.
Mikimoto Pearl Earrings
Omega watch
Cartier Small LOVE Bracelet
Overall, to ensure your jewelry investments last, it’s essential to take the necessary steps in cleaning, caring for them, and storing them properly.
WATCH ON YOUTUBE: TLC Tips for Van Cleef & Arpels Jewelry
