Expert-approved Ways to Take Care of Your Precious Jewellery

When it comes to heirloom pieces, something that has been handed down to you as a token of family legacy, there’s a lot of sentimental value attached to it. You would want to wear it forever. But preserving them and keeping them sparkling isn’t an easy task. Everyday dust and dirt can clog your jewellery, making it look dull and lifeless. So here are a few, quick and easy tips from Sanjay Ranawade, chief manufacturing officer, jewellery division, Titan Company Limited, to keep your heirlooms looking as good as new for generations to come.

1. Clean jewellery after every use

Did you know that wiping your jewellery with an anti-tarnish cloth at the end of the day will preserve the shine of the piece? If you didn’t do it earlier, do it now before storing it away. This will make sure any lingering moisture, oil or dust is removed. In the time of ongoing pandemic, Sanjay, suggests you use Ultra Violet- C type light box for jewellery sanitization. This is to be used for about a minute.

2. Protect it from light and heat

Light and heat can have an adverse effect on a coloured gemstone’s durability and colour. Gemstones, like amethyst, kunzite and topaz tend to fade colour or get damaged with exposure to light. And delicate pearls and ivory tend to get whiter or bleached under extreme exposure to light. Make sure your jewellery doesn’t come in contact with light or heat. 

3. Store jewellery in a zip lock bag

This is a known fact that when jewellery comes in contact with moisture and air it gets tarnished. Hence, it’s essential to preserve precious jewellery in zip lock bags.Squeeze out all the air before sealing it.

4. Be careful with diamonds and gemstones

Diamonds and gemstones lose their sparkle over time. To make them look as good as new all you have to do is mix a few drops of mild soap, like hand wash, with warm water in a bowl and let the jewellery soak in it for a bit. You can also use a toothbrush to clean the jewellery under running water. But brush it gently and keep a filter underneath just in case any loose part falls off. Dry the jewellery using a hair dryer.

5. Avoid velvet-lined jewellery box

The velvet-lined jewellery boxes contain a glue that holds the velvet together and this glue reacts with diamonds causing them to lose their colour. Store such jewellery by wrapping them in soft cotton or muslin cloth and putting them away in plastic boxes. For surfaces of plain gold and diamond jewellery, clean with an alcohol-based sanitiser. Use the soap and water mixture for metals such as gold and platinum.

6. Wear jewellery after getting ready

The chemicals in perfumes, hair sprays, and lotions can potentially harm or dirty your pieces. A simple solution is to wear it after you are done with your makeup and are ready to head out. Remember to take it off before changing your clothes or going to bed.