Jewellery is one of our most precious, intimate and cherished accessories.
Most of us have a very specific intention for every single piece we purchase; whether it be to add extra glam to a beautiful outfit, to express our personality and individual style, or perhaps we buy a certain piece of jewellery to keep a wonderful moment alive; so we are reminded of that particular time, place or person every time we wear it.
If you have ever purchased jewellery from Tesoro, you already know that our jewellery is delicately made to the absolute highest of quality.
However, truth is that no matter how well made a piece of jewellery is, it will start to degrade over time – if you don’t look after it.
For example, your jewellery’s natural beauty can slowly tarnish from perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, detergents, and even the natural oils and salts in your skin. This will dull your pieces and prevent their natural brilliance from shining through.
Understanding how to care for and protect your treasured jewellery can make a world of difference in maintaining its beauty, and keeping your heirlooms sparkling for generations to come.
Here’s our advise on how to keep your jewellery looking its best each and every day for years ahead.
CARE & STORAGE OF STERLING SILVER
Don’t panic – it is natural for sterling silver jewellery to tarnish, blacken or discolour over time, especially if the piece is worn quite regularly.
Tarnish is caused by several factors which include:
– Exposure to moisture, oxygen, humidity and sunlight.
– Acidity (ph balance) of a person’s skin, which in turn is affected by factors such as diet, stresss and medication.
– Exposure to perfume, shampoo, soap, moisturiser, etc, as well as cleaning products such as dishwashing liquid and bleach.
– Exposure to chlorine.
In essence, to keep your sterling silver looking its finest, you need to keep your pieces free of tarnish through proper storage, care and cleaning.
Sterling silver should be stored in a cool, dry place. Fine jewellery should ideally be stored in separate compartments, in a jewellery box or soft pouch. Never store jewellery in paper, cardboard or cotton filled boxes, as these contain traces of sulphur, which may cause tarnishing. For best results, place your sterling silver pieces in a sealed airtight plastic bag or sulphur free tissue paper, prior to boxing and wrapping.
Get in the habit of taking off your sterling silver jewellery before applying moisturisers and other skin creams, sun screen, dyes, hairsprays and perfumes. Make sure the jewellery does not come into contact with abrasive soaps, chemicals, detergents, bleaches, ammonia or alcohols – as these chemicals will cause both discolouration and damage.
Silver is a relatively soft metal and can scratch, so never scrub with abrasive cloths or cleansers.
Lastly, sterling silver jewellery should always be removed prior to washing, bathing, doing dishes, household chores, strenuous activities, exercise, sport, swimming (both ocean saltwater or chlorinated pools), to prevent scratching or denting.
CARE & STORAGE OF GOLD JEWELLERY
Like all other precious metals, gold requires special care and attention to look its best year after year. When it comes to caring for gold, purity affects care. While purer, high carat gold is more prestigious, it also damages and degrades more noticeably than alloyed pieces.
Although it’s a soft metal, gold itself is actually rather resilient. However, because gold jewellery is always comprised as an alloy of several different metals, it is susceptible to degradation. This is because chemicals and wear affect the alloy metals, leading to stress corrosion in key places like prongs and bands.
Keep in mind that despite gold being durable, it is still quite a soft metal that can be subject to scratching and denting if not cared for properly.
Just like sterling silver, gold should be stored in a cool, dry place, and any fine jewellery pieces are always best stored in separate compartments. Avoid storing gold jewellery in paper, cardboard or cotton filled boxes and if possible, place the items in a sealed airtight plastic bag or sulphur free tissue paper prior to boxing and wrapping.
As with sterling silver, it’s important to always take your gold jewellery off before applying moisturisers and other creams, and avoid the jewellery coming into contact with abrasive soaps or chemicals since that can cause discolouration and damage.
Remember to remove your gold jewellery prior to washing, swimming, exercising, etc, to prevent scratching.
Take note; gold jewellery should not be cleaned by traditional household cleaning methods. The presence of harsh chemicals can degrade your gold pieces until they tarnish, crack, and even completely disintegrate. Unfortunately there’s no way to save heavily damaged pieces, so do take extra care.
OUR ADDITIONAL TOP TIPS
- Take your jewellery off at night prior to going to bed as constant rubbing against your sheets over time causes damage to claws, delicate links and fine detailing.
- Clean your earrings, bracelets or necklaces regularly at home with a soft toothbrush after a soak in warm water and a little dish soap. Dry gently on a tea-towel.
- Aim to have your jewellery professionally cleaned and polished at least once a year.
- Store your jewellery in a jewellery roll when travelling, it will keep the jewellery organised and free from tangles and scratches.
- Never put your jewellery down thoughtlessly, as they can be easily misplaced, lost, or even stolen. Try to always put them into a lined box and store in a secure place.
- Ensure you are adequately insured and that you have up to date valuations! Check with your insurer to make sure of their requirements.
CONCLUSIVELY,
We hope these tips help you take better care of your precious jewellery!
As you now know, caring for you jewellery is an important part of maintaining its value and beauty. From stunning sterling silver to luxurious gold, your pieces look better and last longer when you know how to take great care of them.
By following these recommended care instructions you will prolong the life of your precious pieces, and you will be able to enjoy wearing your Tesoro jewellery for many years to come.