Diamonds
Even though you may wear your diamond engagement ring 24 hours a day, you
should still give thought to its care.
Do not wear it when you're doing rough work. Even though a
diamond is durable, it can be chipped by a hard blow.
Do not let your diamond come in contact with a chlorine bleach
when you're doing household chores. It can damage and discolor the mounting.
Do see your jeweler at least once a year and have him check your ring and
other precious pieces for loose prongs and wear of mountings. He'll usually
give them a professional "shine-up" too.
Putting Diamonds Away -- When you're not wearing diamonds and precious jewelry,
they still require attention. Keep your precious pieces in a fabric-lined jewel
case, or a box with compartments or dividers.
lf you prefer to use ordinary boxes, wrap each piece individually in tissue
paper.
Do not jumble your diamond pieces in a drawer or jewelry case,
because diamonds can scratch other jewelry-and can even scratch each other.
Traveling With Diamonds -- The packing of your diamonds and other precious
pieces for travel should be given care.
There are many types of carry-alls, especially designed for jewelry travel,
available in all price ranges. They come in all sizes, shapes and patterns.
Most have velvet pads inside to attach pins and earrings,and special compartments
for bracelets and necklaces. Pack a small plastic bottle of prepared jewelry
cleaner with your cosmetics. Then you can give your precious pieces a quick "shine-up" any
time.
Do not leave your ring on the rim of a sink when you remove
it to wash your hands. It can easily slip down the drain.
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Cleaning Your Diamonds
Diamonds get smudged and soiled and dusty. Lotions, powders, soaps, even
the natural skin oils, put a film on diamonds and cut down their brilliance.
Chemicals in the air can discolor the mounting of precious jewelry. Clean diamonds "glow" because
the maximum amount of light can then enter and return in a fiery brilliance.
It takes just a little care to keep them that way. Here are four ways to clean
diamonds. One of them is pretty sure to fit the time, place, and the job.
Detergent Bath
Prepare a small bowl of warm suds with any of the mild liquid
detergents used in the home. Brush the pieces with an eyebrow brush while they
are in the suds. Then transfer them to a wire tea strainer and rinse them under
running water. Pat dry with a soft lintless cloth.
Cold Water Soak
Make a half-and-half solution of cold water and household ammonia in a cup.
Soak the pieces 30 minutes. Lift out and tap gently around the back and front
of the mounting with an old soft toothbrush. Swish in the solution once more
and drain on tissue paper.
Quick-Drip Method
Buy one of the brand name liquid jewelry cleaners, with its kit, choosing
the kind most useful to you. Read the label and follow its instructions. Do not
touch your clean diamonds with your fingers. Handle your jewelry by its edges.
Ultrasonic Cleaner
There are many types of small machines on the market that will clean, in
a matter of minutes, any piece of jewelry that can be dunked in a liquid. They
consist of a metal cup which you fill with water and detergent. When the machine
is turned on, a high-frequency turbulence creates the cleaning action. Since
each machine is slightly different, read the instructions very carefully before
use
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Gold
Always separate your gold jewelry in a compartmentalized jewelry box or keep
them individually wrapped. This protects against scratching.
Remove all jewelry before showering or cleaning. Soap can cause a film to
form on karat gold jewelry, making it appear dull and dingy. By preventing
the formation of this film, you immediately reduce the occasions your pieces
will need to be cleaned.
Cleaning your Karat Gold Jewelry
To clean your jewelry at home, you'll find many commercial cleaners available.
In addition, you will find a soft chamois cloth from any hardware store an
effective and inexpensive way to keep your pieces lustrous and shining.
For certain gold jewelry, an 'ultrasonic' cleaning machine may be appropriate.
The machine can be purchased in many retail outlets.
Remove tarnish with a prepared jewelry cleaner or by using soap and water
mixed with a few drops of ammonia.
Brush with a soft bristle brush. An old toothbrush is perfect. After the
soaping, simply rinse with lukewarm water and allow to dry.
Grease can be removed from karat gold jewelry by dipping the jewelry into
plain rubbing alcohol. Remove jewelry when applying makeup and face powder.
Wash hands after applying makeup and powder and before putting on jewelry.
Keep your jewelry in a dry place.
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Gemstones
Do wipe your precious gemstone jewelry thoroughly with a clean,
soft, damp cloth after wearing. This will enhance the luster and assure that
your jewelry is clean before being stored. Store in a soft pouch when not being
worn.
Do not expose your precious gemstone pieces to salt water
and harsh chemicals, such as chlorine or detergents. These chemicals may slowly
erode the finish and polish of the gems. Use of hair spray, perfume and the
presence of perspiration may cause jewelry to dull. Also, do not subject gemstone
jewelry to sudden temperature changes. There are so many different types of
colored gemstones, some of which require specific care and cleaning procedures,
it would be impossible to enumerate all in this text.
Buying a gemstone is your investment in lasting beauty. Treat
it accordingly. A gemstone's durability makes it capable of lasting for generations
- but it must be handled with care.
Keep your jewelry separated when you put it away. Never let
one item touch another, and always put it on soft fabric.
Apply your colognes and toiletries before you put on your
jewelry.
Clean your jewelry regularly. Ask your jeweler to recommend
the proper cleaning methods.
Bring your gemstones to your jeweler every year. He
can give them an expert cleaning, and also check that the stones are secure
in their settings.
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Silver
As with other precious metals, sterling silver will oxidize with time. Properly
maintained, silver improves with age and develops a lush patina. Treat your
silver well, care for it properly and it will reward you with a long life and
lustrous look.
Do clean with a mild soap-and-water solution, allow water to bead up, and
pat dry with a soft cloth. For more stubborn dirt, a jewelry cleaner labeled
for silver use is appropriate.
Store your silver in a cool, dry place, preferably in a tarnish preventative
bag or wrapped in a soft piece of felt or cloth. Store pieces individually
so that they Do not knock together and scratch.
Do not rub silver with anything other than a polishing cloth or fine piece
of felt. Use of tissue paper or paper towels can cause scratches because of
the fibers in these products.
Do not expose to air and light when storing because it will cause silver
to tarnish. And, Do not wear sterling silver in chlorine water.
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Pearls
Cultured Pearls are precious jewels and should be treated as such.
Do not toss them carelessly into a purse or jewel box where they can become
scratched by hard metal edges or harder stones.
Do not expose them to acid-based hair sprays, cosmetics, or perfumes.
Do not clean them with chemicals or abrasives.
Do treat pearls gently. Place them in a chamois bag or wrap them in tissue
when putting them away.
Do put on pearls after applying cosmetics, hair sprays and perfume.
Do wash your pearls with mild soap and water after taking them off. This
will remove all traces of perfume, cosmetics or hair spray from the pearls.
Do bring your pearls back to your jeweler for restringing once a year. Cosmetics
and ordinary wear weaken and stretch the nylon threads on which the pearls
are strung. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Do have pearls strung with a knot between each pearl. This will prevent loss
of pearls if the string should break
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