One of the first rules would be to stay away from Bleach. Bleach is one of the harshest chemicals for jewelry; it can cause your jewelry to weaken and breakdown. Do not soak in diluted ammonia or toothpaste as these both can cause damage to the stone and a weakening of the setting. Take proper care by removing the piece when you plan on swimming, entering a hot tub or cleaning.
Speaking of cleaning, to care for your jewelry gently wipe off excess make-up and skin oils after each wearing. Use a nub free, 100% cotton cloth and gently wipe the piece clean using only the soft pads of your fingers. If you’d like your gemstones to shine a bit more, create a solution of warm water and mild dish detergent and gently soak your jewelry for a few hours. Rinse under warm water and make sure you rinse out the back of the stones and in between the prongs of a setting. Do not do this if your jewellery is strung on silk or cotton as these will stretch (pearls, strands of beads etc.). If you have time bring your jewelry down to Bostonian, we will clean your jewelry for free, as well as check your stones, settings and clasp to make sure that your gemstones are safely set.
If your stones feel loose or if one falls out, please don’t try an at home repair. Some websites boast of a quick fix using tweezers or pliers, we recommend to put the piece in a Jewelers Bag, the box it came in or even a plastic bag until the time in which you can get to your Jeweler. Remember: A small repair job costs less than a replacement! Cleaning your jewelry is an important part of keeping the value and the integrity of a piece intact. With out proper cleaning and maintenance your jewelry can become dull and lackluster which is never the original design. Hopefully these hints were helpful and each week we’ll be posting more but if you have any questions please feel free to contact us on our website at www.bostonianjewelers.com .
