Keeping Your Jewellery Happy

So you have got your beautiful jewellery home but how are you going to look after it and make sure that it always looks its best – with that silver sparkling and the gemstones or crystals twinkling? Here are some tips on how to best keep your jewellery happy.

Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The first thing to remember is sterling silver tarnishes typically by things that we do or not do and/or wear. Perfume,  lotions, sweaty skin and hair products can all help tarnish your beautiful silver jewellery. Harsh chemicals from dishwater detergents or chlorine will also cause it to tarnish.

Top  10 Tips

1.) When you remove your jewellery at the end of your day, take a couple of minutes to wipe it clean  with a jewellery cloth or an old t-shirt. Never use tissues or paper towels for cleaning silver as it will scratch.

2.) Once you have taken your jewellery off and wiped it clean, keep it in an airtight container, such as a resealable plastic bag, a cloth bag or an airtight jewellery box. The less air and light your silver is exposed to when you aren't wearing it, the less tarnish will occur, making it easy to have shiny jewellery each and every time you're ready to wear it.

3.) Be careful with commercial silver and gold cleaners which can damage some gemstones. The dips, while very good at removing tarnish, are equally as effective at removing the colour and polish off gemstones. It’s a good rule not to dip any jewellery with stones.  Also don’t  leave your jewellery in the dip too long and don’t rinse it off with cold water otherwise you could find your jewellery gets a white residue which can be as hard to get off as the tarnish. To make sure your jewellery stays perfect, make sure you read the manufacturer’s instructions.

4. ) Store all your jewellery separately so none of it scratches other pieces.

5.) Make sure you take all your jewellery off when doing all those jobs around the house such as gardening, cleaning washing up or DIY.

6.) Apply your  make-up and hair spray before putting on your jewellery. They contain chemicals that may damange your jewellery.

7.) Take all your jewellery off  while in the sea, a pool, hot tub or bath/shower. Salt water, chlorine in swimming pools, soap and shower gels can all damage your jewellery.

8.) Do not store jewellery next to heating vents, window sills, or in the car.

9.) Store jewellery away from sunlight. The sun may fade some gemstones.

10.) Lastly make sure you lovingly clean your jewellery regularly to make sure it always sparkles and shows its and your true beauty.