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Friday, December 12, 2014

HELPFUL TIPS FOR JEWELRY CARE & STORAGE:


Hi to all,

I know that some of you ladies will be receiving jewelry for Christmas, and I thought it might be good to give you some tips on keeping your jewelry looking beautiful.  (...so that it can keep YOU looking beautiful!)  And, if your special someone needs any last minute Christmas gift ideas for you, direct him to my Etsy Shop   https://www.etsy.com/shop/RebeccasJewelryBox 

CLEANING YOUR JEWELRY

If you have fine jewelry (14k-24k gold, sterling silver, platinum, etc.) with diamonds, or no precious stones in them at all, then, they can go into the jewelry cleaner with a very mild solution.  Diamonds are as tough as, well diamonds, and can take a beating.  Other stones, however, are very temperamental and don't like heat, chemicals, or the vibrations of a jewelry cleaner. Certain stones can even change color when exposed to heat or chemicals.  When you buy something new, you can always ask the jeweler if there are any special care instructions.

Clean any beaded jewelry items with a clean, soft jewelry cloth, or a VERY SOFT clean dry toothbrush (one that is not used on your teeth!)  Do not brush your beaded jewelry with any coarse or hard brush, as this may damage the finish. With pearls, you should just only use a soft jewelry cloth.  A brush might damage the pearl's finish.  I don't recommend commercial silver polishes; over time they only cause more tarnish, corrosion and damage.

For sticky spills (coffee, soda, etc.,) quickly rinse with cool water and dry immediately with a clean dry cloth. If the stickiness remains, you could try a putting a drop of lemon oil into a small cup of water. (Do NOT soak jewelry in cup!) Dip a soft washcloth in the water and gently wipe the jewelry.  Dry off excess with a paper towel. Allow to air dry completely before storing.  For a gummy, stuck on mess, try a drop of vegetable oil on a paper towel, (and a wooden toothpick, if needed) to remove it.  Wipe off excess oil with a clean dry cloth.  Do not use anything abrasive, like a scouring pad or any kind of pumice to clean beaded jewelry.  This is especially important with any items made with pearls, as it will take the finish off completely.

Here's an especially juicy tip: If your item was a new gift of unknown origin or an heirloom item, you can take it to a friendly looking sales person or assistant in your favorite jewelry store. Visit the store when they aren't busy.  And, it's always a good idea to wear at least one piece of  jewelry that you've purchased at that store.  Mention it in conversation and tell them how much you love shopping there. Politely ask if they could clean, evaluate, or even appraise, the item you've brought with you.  Often, if you are a customer in good standing, they will professionally clean your item and even make minor repairs or adjustments, for little or no cost to you. At the very least, they can tell you about the stones, cut, quality, etc.  If it's an heirloom item, they may even be able to tell you little about where and when it might have been made.  Again, it helps to visit the store when it's not already crawling with customers.  The salesfolk will be more likely to help you, especially if they're bored and looking for something to do.  Be sure to thank whomever helped you and pick up a couple business cards to give to your friends.  Also, while you're waiting, pick out something nice for yourself and ask if you can make a wish list to put it on. When Christmas or your birthday gets closer, the store will send a note to your special someone, reminding them of your choices.  The store helps you, you help them, everybody wins!

STORAGE

Do NOT wear your jewelry while sleeping.  If the components are very delicate, they can become broken, bent or damaged.  Beaded jewelry can come apart and have you wake up in a bed full of beads.  Also, if the jewelry is especially strong and has NO give to it at all, wearing it while asleep is a really good way to accidentally stab or strangle yourself. It's not a warm fuzzy thought, I know, but it's the truth. STORE your jewelry when you're not wearing it.  It keeps it clean, and protects it (and you) from damage.

Store your diamonds separately, since they are the hardest stone of all.  They are hard enough to scratch any other kind of stone or metal in your jewelry box!  More fragile jewelry components like pearls and shells, can be easily damaged or even crushed if heavy things are stored on top of them. They rest nicely by themselves in a small drawer, in a cloth bag, in the boxes they came in, or hung up on a hook.  Also, certain stones may fracture if they bang against harder stones or surfaces.  Amazonite, Fluorite, Opal, Garnet, Sodalite and anything in the Quartz family, would fall into this category. They are best kept in a their own little jewelry box, cloth jewelry bag, or hung up.  I use the cloth bag that my ear buds came in for large pearl drop earrings. If you treat your beaded treasures well, they will bring you joy for years to come!  Check out Pinterest for some fabulous storage ideas!

WATER and FIRE

Your beaded jewelry should never be submerged in any water or cleaning liquids, as this may weaken or corrode the wire and other metal components. Using harsh chemicals will weaken the wire, and could damage the natural stones, or dull the finish. Do not use jewelry cleaners or other mechanical devices to clean your beaded jewelry.

Do not wear your beaded jewelry while swimming, or in the shower.  Take your bracelets off when you cook or do the dishes.  Do not expose your beaded jewelry to direct heat sources, such as open flames, ovens, stovetops, the inside of microwaves, blow torches, or flame- throwers!  Doing so may alter the chemical composition of certain stones and change their color, and metallic components might weaken, break, melt, or weld together.  Keep your jewelry looking beautiful, and it will do the same for you!

I hope you found these tips helpful and entertaining. Don't forget to check out my Etsy shop, Rebecca's Jewelry Box!  You can cut and paste the link at the top of the page.  If you have any jewelry questions, feel free to ask!   Or if there's anything you'd like me to blog about, just say the word!

Be thankful, be generous, stay safe, choose to be positive, and have fun this Christmas season, and always!

Don't forget to visit my Etsy Shop!:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RebeccasJewelryBox
Or check out my Pinterest pages!
https://www.pinterest.com/rebeccashelhart

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