Fashion n Style: Caring for your Jewellery

Jewellery is one of our most intimate and prized accessories.An elegant pair of pearl and platinum earrings, for example, makes an individual statement, nestled against the skin and resplendent in lustrous light. Yet, according to experts, chemicals found in everyday substances like hairspray, lotions, perfumes, or other cosmetics can permanently damage the nacre of your dazzling pearl , and can corrode the alloys in that shiny setting. Understanding how to care for your treasured jewellery can make a world of difference in maintaining its beauty and keeping its heirloom quality sparkling for generations to come. Gad Majoro a jewellery expert working with ‘Royal Jewels’ in Kigali; gives us advice on how to keep our jewels safe. According to him, poor jewellery storage is often the cause of jewel damage. “Jewellery should never be tossed into a drawer or on top of a dresser, that’s a recipe for scratches and fractured gems. Most jewellery pieces come in a box or pouch from the store, which is a perfect place to keep them. Sterling silver, for example, should be kept in an anti-tarnish bag or cloth.” He advises. Excessive heat and sudden temperature changes may also fracture the gem. Heat can easily remove the natural moisture some gems need to keep their beauty. Pearls, for instance, can dry out, crack and discolour. Opals will turn white or brown, develop tiny cracks, and might lose their play-of-colour. Exposure to chemicals can damage and discolour precious metals, gold, silver, and platinum may harm some coloured gems. Fine jewellery should be removed before diving into a chlorinated swimming pool, or before using household cleaners. Many of these cleaners contain ammonia, and are only safe for diamonds and the more durable coloured gems. Chlorine bleach, another common household solvent, can pit gold alloys. Gad Majoro recommends cleaning most coloured gems with warm water, mild soap (no detergents), and a soft brush. A pulsed-water dental cleaning appliance and a soft, lint-free cloth can also be used. Soft gems, such as pearls, on the other hand, can easily be scratched. Gad suggests using an unused makeup brush instead, and warm, soapy water. Lay the pearls on a towel to dry. The wet string can stretch and attract dirt so don’t touch a string of pearls until they are completely dry. Jewellery boxes that feature individually padded slots for rings, and posts for hanging necklaces and bracelets, are also ideal. Like pearls, opals draw moisture from the air. When travelling with jewellery, protect the pieces from scratches or other impact damage by padding the jewellery.You can slow tarnish building up on the surface of your jewellery simply by wearing it frequently. The action of your skin or clothing moving against it and in some cases the metal moving against itself will help remove the tarnish on an ongoing basis. If you aren’t going to be wearing a piece for a while, then the best thing is to try to keep it isolated from too much fresh air and moisture. Ziplock plastic bags do wonders, especially if they’re as small as possible for the piece. If your jewellery is delicate, be careful not to store it with heavier items on top of it or in a place where it might get broken or bent against another surface. And of course don’t allow it to rub up against harder metals or other surfaces. The most important general care instruction I can give is to simply not think of your jewellery as being invincible! I’m sure it’s common sense to know that it can and will get damaged, perhaps irreversibly if certain considerations are not taken. martin.bishop18@yahoo.com