Let’s get real a minute about jewelry care.
I’m not talking about methods to clean your jewelry (although that is super important), but rather day-to-day activities that wear heavily on your jewelry.
We all lead busy lives right? It can be hard to remember to take off your necklace before doing this or your ring before doing that. Especially when you are running full steam ahead juggling work, family, and friends.
Lucky for you, I’m here to remind you to slow down and take some extra care with your special jewels. They will be much happier in the long run!
1. Watch out for the beauty products…
There you are, all dressed up and ready to go out for a night on the town. You just need one more hit with the hair spray to make sure your style holds all night. Just like that your diamond earrings are covered with a coat of hairspray, dulling the brilliant shine of the stone.
This is just the type of thing you want to avoid!
I have seen so many women with hand cream gooped up around their wedding rings, making them look dirty and dull.
Do yourself a favor and make sure you are free of jewelry when using beauty products. It will keep your jewelry much cleaner.
Also, keep in mind that there are chemicals in many beauty products that could damage certain gemstones. Opals, for instance, are porous and exposing them to chemicals can increase the risk of cracking and discoloration. Remember to take off your opal necklace when spraying on your favorite perfume!
2. Cleaning house and wearing jewelry don’t mix.
What I just said about opals applies here too.
Chemicals in cleaning products are bad for gemstones, so it is best to go jewelry free when you are on your spring-cleaning binge.
Also remember to take off your rings when you are washing the dinner dishes every night. You may be using a mild, organic dish soap, but you will still be banging around your pots, pans, and plates. You could potentially crack a stone, loosen a setting, or even worse, knock a stone out of a setting. No one wants to be feeling their way through dirty dishwater trying to fish out a tiny gemstone.
3. Take off your jewelry when you sleep!
This is sort of a no-brainer. Who want’s to sleep in earrings? So uncomfortable!
However, I know there are those of you out there who never take off their wedding rings. Your marriage is forever and so are your rings.
I don’t want to break your sentimental hearts, but you really should take off your rings when it’s time to tuck in.
This will keep you from scratching your hubby when you snuggle, and from inadvertently snagging your stone setting on linens during the night.
Also, taking off your rings helps your skin on that ring finger. Ever heard of contact dermatitis? It can be caused by an allergy to metal, but also by the buildup of moisture or products like soap under the ring.
It’s good to give that skin a break, so do your finger a favor and let it go commando every night.
4. Say no to jewelry when playing sports and at the gym, spa, or beach.
Removing rings before playing sports keeps you from chipping or cracking your stones.
But wait, you say, what about my engagement ring? Diamonds are the hardest gemstone.
Yes, they are, but that doesn’t mean they are invincible. They can crack and chip. So can those tiny prongs that hold diamonds so delicately in place.
Anyone’s hands swell when working out? I know mine do! It is super uncomfortable to have on a ring when your fingers swell.
Do yourself a favor and leave the rings at home when you hit the gym.
The reverse is also a problem.
Say you are at the beach and want to jump into the ocean for a quick dip. That cold water can make your fingers shrink and your rings to loosen. If that precious ring falls off in the ocean it is gone forever.
What about the pool, or relaxing in the hot tub at a beautiful spa?
Well that sounds lovely, but don’t forget about the chlorine. It’s not great for jewelry, because as I’ve said, chemicals can damage gemstones.
I once had a client wear a blue topaz ring in a hot, salt-water spa. Did you know that when exposed to concentrated heat for a period of time, certain topaz gems can loose their color? Guess what happened to that client’s ring? The blue color of the topaz started to fade to white because it had basically been submerged in a bath of hot chemicals.
5. Do not shower in your jewelry. I repeat, do not shower in your jewelry.
Soap scum builds up in your shower and will build up on your jewelry too. Not only is this kind of gross, but it will deteriorate your jewelry over time.
Additionally, the last thing you want is to be lathering up your hair, and accidentally pull your diamond stud out of your ear only to watch in horror as it goes down the drain. Worst. Nightmare.
Save your self the trouble and remove your jewelry before showing.
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So there you go!
I truly want your jewelry to be beautiful for years and years. With the proper care (and loving words of adoration) it totally can!
Thanks for reading!
~Claire