GOLD
Gold expresses love, permanence, individuality and style more eloquently than words ever could. If treated carefully, the gold jewelry you purchase today could last a lifetime and might even end up as a family heirloom passed down from generation to generation.
Cleaning Your Gold Jewelry
Remove all jewelry before showering or using cleaning products. Soap can cause a film to form, making gold appear dull and tarnished. By preventing the formation of this film, you can reduce the frequency of servicing required to maintain luster. Polish silver or gold with a jewelry polishing cloth for best results. Do not use tissue or paper towels as the fibres in these can cause scratches. You can purchase commercial cleaners from a jeweler or prepare a mild cleaning solution using rubbing alcohol. Avoid bleach as chlorine can corrode gold beyond repair.
Maintaining Your Gold Jewelry
Ideally, you should have gold ornaments inspected and cleaned by a jeweler annually and have them steamed and buffed until they’re super shiny. A professional jeweler will address signs of damage or loose gemstones and will prevent further damage or loss, keeping all of your pieces in excellent shape for years to come.
Storing Your Gold Jewelry
Your jewelry should be the last thing you put on in the morning and the first thing you take off at night. That way, your necklace won’t get spritzed with perfume and your earrings won’t get caught in your clothes. Store your jewelry in a container that prevents pieces from moving around. While fabric-lined jewelry boxes are ideal, this can be as simple as using a shoebox with pieces of fabric. Sometimes, gold jewelry tarnishes when not worn. To maintain the luster of your jewelry, place silver anti-tarnish strips in your storage container to absorb the oxidants that discolour and tarnish jewelry. Travelling can be tough on jewelry, so it is wise to use a travel case to protect your favourite pieces. Traditionally made of fabric or leather, a jewelry travel case can carry jewelry of all types and easily rolls up to a size that’s easily stored in most suitcases, makeup cases or business attaches. Clearly, a case like this is a good investment to protect your jewelry when on the road.
Diamonds
Diamonds are one of the hardest substances on earth and are uniquely resistant to damage by heat or scratching. However, diamonds are not indestructible. They can chip and break and are especially vulnerable at the girdle. Having diamonds set in a relatively protective setting, it can help keep them safe. When wearing your diamond, you should be conscious of it on your finger, removing it when performing any type of activity that might expose it to a rough substance or a hard blow. This might include gardening, doing the dishes, intense exercise, etc.
Cleaning Your Diamond
During the course of ordinary wear, a diamond is exposed to dirt, dust, perspiration, makeup, and natural skin oils, as well as household chemicals like chlorine and hairspray. Over time, these materials build up on a diamond, dulling its natural beauty. We recommend having your diamond professionally cleaned and inspected once every six months or if it undergoes some form of trauma, such as being dropped or hit against a hard surface. These inspections help prevent the loss of your diamond solitaire in the event your ring has been inadvertently damaged.
Storing Your Diamond Jewelry
Because of their hardness, diamonds can scratch other diamonds, gemstones and jewelry metals. This is one of the most common ways jewelry is damaged. For this reason, store all jewelry, especially diamond jewelry, in individual soft cloth pouches when not worn.
Insuring Your Diamond
Because unforeseen accidents do happen, we strongly recommend that you insure your diamond against loss, theft, and damage.