5 Tips For Keeping Your Jewelry Sparkling

We have a special treat for you guys today. Our friends at Indian Traders have written a guest blog on great ways to keep your jewelry sparkling. Guys, I know from first hand experience that once you purchase an engagement ring for your girlfriend that you’re going to be holding it a lot before you propose, so you definitely need to keep it clean right before you do. Read on for some great tips!

Once you’ve acquired a few nice pieces of jewelry, it’s important to take care of them so you have them for several years to enjoy. But, what are the best way to clean them and keep them sparkling? Depending on the type of jewelry, there are different guidelines you should follow. It’s a great idea to get your jewelry professionally cleaned and inspected twice a year. When this is done, a jeweler will look at your piece under a microscope to look for loose stones and will let you know if any prongs are cracked or broken as well. Otherwise, follow these five tips to help keep your jewelry sparkling.

Diamonds

A diamond is the hardest natural substance that is found on Earth. That doesn’t mean it can’t get dirty though and it can happen just from the oil from a human finger. The oil attracts dirt and the stone will quickly get dull. If you’re looking for a quick way to clean the diamond, place the diamond ring or necklace in warm water and a dash of lemon ammonia for a few minutes. Take a toothbrush and gently clean around the diamond and remove any dirt that may have collected and then rinse. If it still looks a little cloudy, repeat the process. Also, follow these tips to help keep your diamond shining:

• Touch your diamond as little as possible
• Clean your diamond often
• Use a toothbrush gently when cleaning the diamond – being rough will loosen diamonds
• Don’t use harmful cleaners
• Only use an ultrasonic cleaner when necessary to remove caked dirt as it can also loosen diamonds

Pearls

Always put on your pearls after you have put on perfume, lotions and hairspray. They are naturally porous and can absorb the chemicals you use while you are getting ready. These chemicals can damage the surface of the pearls and cause them to discolor or discolor the silk that they are strung on. Always wipe your pearls with a soft, clean cloth after wearing.

Sterling Silver

To keep sterling silver jewelry from oxidizing when you’re not wearing it, store it in airtight ziplock bags with anti-tarnish paper. Using a polishing cloth before you wear it will make your silver piece sparkle but make sure not to dip a sterling silver piece in silver polish if it has any gemstones as the polish will ruin the stones.

Heirloom Jewelry

Be very careful when cleaning your heirloom jewelry as many pieces can be fragile. If it doesn’t look like it will withstand soaking and being scrubbed with a toothbrush, just trying rinsing it with warm water and wiping it clean with a soft cloth. You’re better off not risking damaging the piece than trying to get it sparkling like a newer piece.

Storing Your Jewelry

Be careful how you store your jewelry and you can keep your pieces looking great for years to come. Make sure to keep each piece separate from the other pieces so that the gemstones and metal aren’t getting scratched. A great tip is to keep each piece in a small ziplock bag. This also helps in seeing all your pieces so you’ll remember to wear them and they are also ready to go for travel, just place them in your bag and go!

Jessica Kane is a professional writer who has an interest in arts and crafts, DIY, and other handmade products. She currently writes for Indian Traders, a leading vendor of pendleton blankets and jewelry.