Wearing your fine jewelry out and about is one of your favorite things to do.
You hate to take your rings and necklaces off. They go everywhere with you; to the gym, the pool and to work in the garden, even. Do you know you could be damaging your good jewelry without realizing it? Listen to what your diamond earrings have been whispering in your ears. It’s time to show your fine jewelry a little love.
Jewel Smarts
The most important things you can learn about your jewels are the harmful conditions to avoid while wearing them. Diamonds cannot be scratched but do chip. Opals turn brown if subjected to prolonged UV exposure. Pearls draw moisture from the air. Extreme heat and improper storage cause them to dry and crack. Chemicals in hairspray and makeup can damage porous stones like turquoise and coral. Recognizing situations that expose jewelry to potential harm is a significant first step in protecting your gemstones.
It’s equally important to learn what not to do while wearing your jewelry:
- Work out – Your gems get subjected to dirt, grime and sweat at the gym. Using free-weights or exercise machines can bend the soft gold of rings and crack the stones.
- Swim – Chlorine damages many soft gems. If your colored gemstone is treated to help improve its color and clarity, this type of chemical may strip the treatment.
- Garden – Even with gloves on, rings can collect dust and dirt compromises settings and loosens stones. Gardening work can dislodge stones and etch the softer metals of earrings and necklaces, too.
- Clean – Strong chemicals like Clorox can eat away at soft metals like gold. Scrub pads can scratch a gem’s surface.
Your Jewelry Deserves a Fine Place to Rest
Correctly storing your jewelry is essential. Avoid the habit of leaving gemstone rings and other beautiful pieces loose on a counter or in a dish. Use a padded box where rings are separated from other chains, bracelets and earrings. Leaving fine jewelry in a jumble only causes wear on stones and precious metals like gold. Chains get knotted and the links become weakened. Gems like pearls and opals need to breathe, so store them in a soft cloth bag. Keep your jewelry box out of direct sunlight or places with extreme temperature fluctuations. It causes some stones to darken, crack or chip easily.
A Lifetime of Sparkle and Pizzazz
You don’t have to pamper your gems but do treat them properly. By practicing regular cleaning habits and protecting your jewelry, you are extending its life, helping to avoid repairs and even loss. Take your jewelry to be professionally cleaned once a year. A certified jeweler can clean, restore and repair your gems to their original luster. Look for an experienced GIA gemologist who has the expertise to check prongs, remove grime, polish stones, spot issues and make the appropriate repairs. Show your jewelry some love, and it will reciprocate with a lifetime of sparkle and pizzazz.
Indy Facets – Everyone’s Private Jeweler
Indy Facets seamlessly blends the expertise and full service of a traditional jewelry store with the value and convenience of a personal jeweler experience. We give you the face-to-face interaction with an expert that you deserve, in a private setting where you can relax and feel comfortable. Owner/Designer Shaun Goodyear and his team have earned an excellent reputation as everyone’s private jeweler for engagement rings, custom design, investment grade diamonds, luxury Swiss timepieces, estate jewelry, jewelry repair and the highest level of customer service, available to you from an onsite, state-of-the-art Custom Design Studio and Gemological Laboratory by private appointment only. You are guaranteed a unique, fun and exciting experience without the hype, pressure, judgment or uncertainty associated with other jewelry shopping options. We schedule appointments at your convenience, and are usually available evenings and weekends, too. Call 317-810-1665 for your private appointment or schedule online, IndyFacets.com/schedule/.