Since time immemorial, women have adorned themselves with the most precious of metals-gold. Gold should be well protected in order to make it last a lifetime. Gold demands a little care, though.
Gold is soft metal and contact with a hard surface can dull its lustre. Always store your jewellery safely, wrap it in a soft cloth, so it does not scratch or tangle.
You can bathe while wearing gold, without causing your jewellery harm. However, ordinary soap and water can coat it with a thin film leaving your gold seem dull.
Protect your gold jewellery from dust, moisture, perfume, hair spray and makeup. Never wear your jewellery before applying make up. Instead wash your hands after completeing your make up and and then put on your jewellery.
Try not to wear your jewellery while doing housework. Any abrasive object could damage its surface.
Ask your jeweller to recommend a cleaning solution or to clean your jewellery with ultrasonic machine. You can also clean gold in a solution of mild detergent, warm water and a little ammonia.
Guidelines
Here are some simple guidelines that should help, keep your jewellery looking great for years. Don’t wear your jewellery while doing rough work. Even thought a most jewellery iis durable, a hard blow can chip a stone. Bring your jewellery to a qualified jeweller if you notice a loose stone setting, stones moving or any other noticeable damage to your jewellery. It’s a good idea to have a jeweller check the setting in your diamond ring (while you watch) once a year. Always remove your jewellery before bathing and grooming. Think of your jewellery as the final touch and put it on right before you get on with our day. Hairspray, get, body lotion, moisturizer, perfume, mousse, make-up, shaving cream and soap are chemicals that can leave a residue on jewellery, creating a dull film that is very difficult to remove. To be safe, always remove your jewellery before working with chlorine bleach. When silver is exposed to chlorine bleach, the chemical has an oxidizing effect on the metal, causing the metal to turn an unsightly black. Chlorine bleach works well with dirty laundry, but not with jewellery. Keep it dry. Using water to clean and rinse some of your jewellery is permissible; however, make sure it’s dried thoroughly when you’re done.
Moisture will cause tamish on silver and will weaken the springs and claps. Certain jewellery, such as pearl and gemstone jewellery, should never be soaked in water or worn when bathing. The stones in such jewellery may be glued into the setting and the moisture will cause the glue to loosen, causing the stones to fall out and get lost. Always make sure your jewellery items are thoroughly dry before placing them in an enclosed area, or your jewellery will get water spots. When you’re not wearing your jewellery, be sure to store it in a fabric-lined case or in a box with dividers or separate compartments-jewellery pieces can scratch each other.
Cleaning Your Jewellery
Your jewellery can get smudged, soiled and dusty over a short period of time. Lotions, powders, soaps-even the natural oils from your skin-can create a film on gemstones, reducing their brilliance. In addition, chemicals in the air can oxidize or discolour the mountings. Keeping your jewellery clean will maximize its beauty.
Detergent Bath
Prepare a small bowl of warm suds using any mild household liquid detergent. Brush the jewellery with a soft brush until you have created lather around it. With the jewellery on a plastic or metal strainer, rinse off with worm water (be sure not to clean your jewellery over the drain!) Pat your jewellery dry with a soft lint-free cloth.
Cold Water Soak
Make a solution of r parts cold-water and 1 part very mild dishwashing detergent. Soak the pieces for several minutes. Life out and tap gently around all sides of the mounting with a soft brush. Rinse the pieces in the solution once more and drain on tissue paper.
Quick-Dip Method
Buy one of the brand name liquid jewellery cleaners, choosing the one that is best for the king of stone and metals in your jewellery. Read the label carefully and fallow the instructions. Do not touch your clean diamonds with your fingers, as the oils from your hands will leave a film on the stone.
The Ultrasonic Cleaner
There are many types of these small machines available to the public today. They will clean any piece of jewellery that can be soaked in a liquid within a matter of minutes,. These machines often have a metal cup, which is filled with water and detergent. When the machine is turned on, a high-frequency turbulence is created.
Don’t ever leave your jewellery on the rim of a sink when you remove it to wash your hands. It can very easily slip down the drain. When you’re away from home, don’t take off your jewellery in a public place-you may accidently forget it and lose it forever.
Care & Cleaning of gemstones
|
Gemstone |
Steam Cleaning |
Ultrasonic |
| Andalusite | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Beryl Aquamarine | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Emerald | Not Acceptable | Not Acceptable |
| Golden | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Morganite | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Chrysoberyl | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Alexandrite Cats Eye | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Transparent Coral Corundum Ruby | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Sapphire | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Diamond | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Felspar | Not Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Moonstone | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Garnet | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Almandite | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Andradite | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Demantoid | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Grossularite | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Pyrope | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Rhodolite | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Spessaritite | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Lolite Jade | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Jadeite | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Nephrite | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Lapis Lazuli | Not Acceptable | Not Acceptable |
| Malachite | Not Acceptable | Not Acceptable |
| Opal | Not Acceptable | Not Acceptable |
| Pearl | Not Acceptable | Not Acceptable |
| Peridot | Not Acceptable | Not Acceptable |
| Quartz | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Amethyst | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Citrine | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Smoky | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Spinel | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Spodumene Kunzite | Not Acceptable | Not Acceptable |
| Topaz | Not Acceptable | Not Acceptable |
| Tourmaline | Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Turquoise | Not Acceptable | Not Acceptable |
| Zircon | Not Acceptable | Acceptable |
| Zoisite Tanzanite | Not Acceptable | Not Acceptable |
