All jewelry no matter the price tag needs some love, care and attention to be kept at its sparkling and proud best.
To keep your Irish jewelry looking as good as new we recommend some simple steps.
We believe you can get the most out of your collection through proper storage, gentle cleaning, and understanding your jewelry a bit more.
The following steps are the top tips that we think you should follow in order to make your jewelry look brand new and feel brand new for longer.
1. When should I remove my jewelry?
No matter what materials or gems are involved, jewelry is delicate. We feel you should always remove your jewelry when working with your hands or engaging in activities that involve chemicals for example.
For any of the following exercises or activities you should remember to remove your jewelry when;
- Swimming in chlorine-treated water
- Cleaning your home with detergents and chemicals
- Working in the garden – it’s very easy to bang your jewelry off something and damage a clasp
- Playing sports, especially contact sports
- Before going to sleep
2. Don’t be afraid to clean it yourself
You don’t need a professional every time you need to clean each piece of jewelry you have.
We recommend regular cleaning with a jewelry polish cloth. The kind available from almost any retailer or department store will do. This is the simplest cleaning step to do, but pretty much all jewelry should benefit from it. You might find it’s all you need to do for many pieces.
You can use this cloth or soft-bristled brush/toothbrush to help get grime and dirt out of any crevices.
3. Getting ready – put your jewelry on last
When you are getting ready for work, for the day ahead, or for a night out it’s tempting to put your jewelry on as you get dressed. Our tip here is to, however, wait until you’re completely ready before putting your jewels on. Whether you’re wearing diamonds, rhinestones or anything in between, the chemicals from make-up, hair products, and perfume can damage your precious pieces. Think of your jewelry as the finishing touch for your look. Adversely, take your jewelry off first when you are getting ready for bed.
Browse all of our jewelry here.
4. Jewelry should avoid the Sun
Much like your skin, did you know your jewelry can get too much sun?
It’s best not to keep your jewelry in a place that the sun can get to it because sunlight can have an effect on some of pieces. The color of some gems can be altered if it’s constantly left out in the sun. It can cause silver and gold to tarnish which you don’t want.
5. When cleaning remove all jewelry
We recommend that you take no chances here and remove all your jewelry when using household cleaners, detergents, perfumes or chemicals which can discolor metals and gemstones. For even the smallest job around the house we feel it’s best to be safe and remove your jewelry.
6. Check clasps are working before wear
As you wear and store your jewelry, it’s easy for pieces to get dirty and damaged, even by the faintest knock, much of which you will not see under the naked eye.
Before you put on a pair of earrings or a necklace, try take a good look at the item with a focus on the clasp. Then you can identify those pieces that need cleaning or repair work.
Some questions to ask yourself:
- Does your piece have a clasp, if so is the clasp secure?
- Are the stones set solidly in the piece? Do they move at all or have they moved since you got the piece?
- Are there scratches or other areas of damage?
7. Allow Your Jewelry to Dry out
This is an important one. If you do clean your jewelry, it may seem enough to pat it dry with a cloth and then store it right away. However, small amounts of moisture left over from cleaning can begin to destroy your collection without you realizing it. If you can wait at least an hour after cleaning any piece before you put it back in your jewelry box or case. This will give the moisture enough time to fully evaporate and not affect your jewelry.
8. Storage matters
No matter how careful you are when wearing your jewelry, it can also sustain damage during storage. Often, this comes from pieces knocking together or getting tangled up. Vulnerable materials include pearls, wood, plastic, precious metals, and some gemstones. The best way to solve this problem is to store your items separately so they can’t touch one another.
Did you know that our precious jewelry comes in a presentation gift box? We suggest that you keep your jewelry in that when not wearing it.
Here are some jewelry storage ideas:
- A jewelry tree for necklaces and earrings
- Separate cloth pouches for precious or vintage items
- Individual jewelry cases for your most valuable items