By Anita Hale


If you are a lover of jewellery you will want to find out the quick and easy way to clean it and make sure it remains as stunning as the moment you first saw it. Intrigued? Then read on for some convenient help and advice about ways to deal with your bracelets, rings and necklaces.

For starters, more or less all jewellery will show a bit of wear and time over the years. However it is possible to significantly reduce this by cutting down on when you decide to wear your jewellery. For instance, it is easy to scuff rings, bracelets and even earrings in your sleep. For this reason it is recommend to take off all your jewellery before bedtime. Sport is another occasion where it's best to remove your jewellery. This is because sweat and metals simply don't mix and you may end up with discolouration of your favourite ring or bracelet. There are equally damaging chemicals found in nail polish remover and perfume, so beware!

Now let's have a look at oxidised jewellery. You may not recognise the name, but you've probably seen such pieces for sale. Oxidised metals have been specially treated to create a darkened or sometimes black appearance. Both oxidised metals and gold must be kept well away from chlorine. Oxidised metals and pearls can also become discoloured when cleaned with silver polish.

On the flip side, jewellery that isn't oxidised must be carefully looked after to prevent this from occurring. This is because oxidation brings about tarnishing and staining in metal. Such tarnishing can take place should sulphur compounds come into contact with your jewellery. These are present in air pollution, certain types of rubber and some detergents.

It is possible to remove tarnishing with silver polish but you must be very careful. Some silver polishes are particularly abrasive and this can lead to further damage of your jewellery. Look for recommended brands and use them very frugally to avoid any upset. If you are more concerned with the regular upkeep of your jewellery then you need not worry. A simple silver polishing cloth will usually do the trick. Likewise, warm water and soap are all that is needed to remove dirt.

And finally, always remember that the purer the metal the softer it is likely to be. This is why precious metals such as gold are so valuable and thus are more prone to scratching. Lower purity metals have been mixed with high density alloys and this makes them harder and more rugged. However, this also means that it is dangerous for mixed metals to come into contact with each other. So be careful when wearing different kinds of bracelets and rings next to each other.




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