Jewelry Care Tips
While jewelry is something that we invest our love and passion into, our love, unfortunately, isn’t enough to keep it intact forever. The process of fighting off grime, damage, and the forces of entropy is something that requires continuous vigilance. However, that fight doesn’t have to be something that’s unbearable! For decades, Rumanoff’s Jewelry has helped men and women repair their jewelry, and over those years, we’ve picked up a few tips and tricks that people can perform at home to ensure that you can keep your treasures as sparkling as the first day you purchased them.
Prevention
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. And when it comes to soft metals like gold and silver; and crystalline gems, this saying can’t be more accurate. We’ve had plenty of customers come in over the years, agonizing about their engagement ring having chipped diamonds or their wedding band’s prongs mashed flat.
The best way to keep your jewelry safe is to not wear it in scenarios where it’ll get damaged. Those who work with their hands are advised to leave their pieces at home; if you’re planning on moving furniture, remember to leave your engagement ring in your jewelry box!
Gentle Cleaning
Jewelry, particularly rings and bracelets, will pick up grime over time. If it isn’t time to take your pieces into the jeweler, you can do some light cleaning at home. Of course, before you start with a single drop of water, make sure you know what you’re doing! Pearls and other soft gems, such as opal, amber, or jade should never be cleaned at home due to the risk of damage. Also, if you’re unsure about cleaning certain pieces of jewelry, such as bezel-set or channel-set rings, wait to take your jewelry to the professionals.
When cleaning at home, opt for lukewarm water, mild dish soap, and a microfiber cloth to dry the piece afterwards. Never do your cleaning over a sink, and err on the side of caution by using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Proper Storage
This is a tip that often goes overlooked, but one of the most important ways of keeping your jewelry in good shape is to ensure that it’s being stored properly when not in use. While it may be tempting to toss your jewelry indiscriminately in the box after a long day, you’ll thank yourself in the long term when chains aren’t tangled and warped; jewels aren’t chipped; and settings aren’t bent.
Ensure that rings have their own fabric-lined spaces separate from other pieces. Keep gemstones of different hardness away from each other, and keep your necklaces on pegs where they won’t get tangled.
For everything else though—as well as your biannual jewelry cleaning—you can trust Rumanoff’s Jewelry to be the place to go. Since 1938, we’ve been trusted to clean and repair treasured pieces of jewelry, and we’re more than confident we’ll be able to assist you with your specific needs. If you’d like to speak to our staff, contact us at (203)230-1199, or visit our Hamden, Connecticut showroom today!
