Every girl knows the value of gold jewellery. But perhaps not every girl knows the best way to look after their jewellery to ensure it stays as sparkling as the day it was bought. If you're such a girl, than read on for some easy advice on how to look after your bracelets, rings and necklaces.
First of all there are some simple facts you should be aware of with regards to your jewellery. All jewellery is prone to wear and tear. Metals in particular vary in their hardness although generally speaking, the purer the metal the softer it will be. This means that your gold bracelet or silver rings could be prone to scratching. Minimise this by removing all offending articles before bed. Additionally, avoid letting your jewellery come into contact with make-up and creams, particularly hairspray and perfumes. These can contain chemicals which are harmful to the metal.
Avoid mixing your jewellery with chlorine. That means taking off all jewellery before you go swimming which may sound a bit of a pain, but is definitely worth it in the long run. For oxidised metals and pearls, in addition to avoiding chlorine you should also ensure you never use silver polish to clean them with. Exposure to the chemicals in these products this cause the dark effect created by the oxidation process to fade.
And then there is the case of jewellery that has not been oxidised. For example, silver is a soft metal and prone to oxidation which creates a tarnished look which you will want to avoid. In this case the tarnishing is not caused by water but by certain sulphur compounds like salt water found in a variety of foods and household products such as table salt, vinegar, certain household cleaning products and paints.
If you do notice that your favourite charm bracelet has become tarnished, do not despair! This can be rectified with some very careful polishing. You may use silver polishing liquid, but remember that it is abrasive and as such will slowly wear down soft metals such as silver. For regular cleaning it is advisable to just use a soft silver polishing cloth. Additionally, you bathe your jewellery in lukewarm water and use soap and a toothbrush to clean it with.
And finally, a quick word on gold. For those lucky enough to possess some high quality gold pieces, remember that, like silver, the purer the gold, the softer the metal. That is to say 9ct gold will be less easy to scratch than 22ct gold. This is why it is often recommended not to wear gold rings of varying quality next to each other, because you might find that the harder one scratches the softer one.
First of all there are some simple facts you should be aware of with regards to your jewellery. All jewellery is prone to wear and tear. Metals in particular vary in their hardness although generally speaking, the purer the metal the softer it will be. This means that your gold bracelet or silver rings could be prone to scratching. Minimise this by removing all offending articles before bed. Additionally, avoid letting your jewellery come into contact with make-up and creams, particularly hairspray and perfumes. These can contain chemicals which are harmful to the metal.
Avoid mixing your jewellery with chlorine. That means taking off all jewellery before you go swimming which may sound a bit of a pain, but is definitely worth it in the long run. For oxidised metals and pearls, in addition to avoiding chlorine you should also ensure you never use silver polish to clean them with. Exposure to the chemicals in these products this cause the dark effect created by the oxidation process to fade.
And then there is the case of jewellery that has not been oxidised. For example, silver is a soft metal and prone to oxidation which creates a tarnished look which you will want to avoid. In this case the tarnishing is not caused by water but by certain sulphur compounds like salt water found in a variety of foods and household products such as table salt, vinegar, certain household cleaning products and paints.
If you do notice that your favourite charm bracelet has become tarnished, do not despair! This can be rectified with some very careful polishing. You may use silver polishing liquid, but remember that it is abrasive and as such will slowly wear down soft metals such as silver. For regular cleaning it is advisable to just use a soft silver polishing cloth. Additionally, you bathe your jewellery in lukewarm water and use soap and a toothbrush to clean it with.
And finally, a quick word on gold. For those lucky enough to possess some high quality gold pieces, remember that, like silver, the purer the gold, the softer the metal. That is to say 9ct gold will be less easy to scratch than 22ct gold. This is why it is often recommended not to wear gold rings of varying quality next to each other, because you might find that the harder one scratches the softer one.
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