How to take care of your jewellery

A clean piece of jewellery is a piece that will last you a lifetime or more. Here's how to make yours look great forever.

• Remove all jewellery before taking a shower or cleaning. Soap can cause a film to form on jewellery making it dull.
  
• There are many commercial cleaners available to clean jewellery at home. You will find a soft chamois cloth an effective and inexpensive way to keep your jewellery lustrous and shining.
• Be careful of chlorine. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures can permanently damage and discolour your jewellery. Do not wear gold while using chlorine bleach or while in a pool or hot tub.
• You can remove tarnish with jewellery cleaner or by using soap and water. After brushing simply rinse with lukewarm water and allow to dry.
• Grease can be removed from plain gold jewellery by dipping it in plain alcohol.

How to store your jewellery when not in use

• When not wearing jewellery store it in soft cloth pouches , soft cloth wraps and plastic ziplock bags.
  
• Chains should lie flat to avoid kinks.
• Gold is strong but can still be scratched. So avoid placing pieces atop each other in a jewellery box or drawer.
• Store your ornaments in a dry place. Avoid extreme temperatures.
• Always store jewellery in separate pouches or wraps. Don't stuff them into your jewellery box. Overcrowding could mean misplaced gems or lost jewellery if a small piece falls unnoticed from the case. You could even inadvertently bend a fragile piece or chip a delicate stone.
  

When you travel for your honeymoon

• Don’t pack jewellery in bags that you wont be carrying yourself.
  
• Never leave jewellery in a hotel room. Keep it in the hotel's safety deposit box when you are not wearing it.
• Use a body pouch under your clothing if you must carry a valuable piece of jewellery.
• Never go sightseeing with valuables in your purse or pocket.

Do's and Don'ts for jewellery
Do

• Keep your jewels clean. Care for them at home as well as take them to the jeweller for periodic cleanings.
  
• Check all clasps and prongs for gemstone security. Check gemstones themselves for any damage that may warrant recutting or repolishing.

Don’t

• Leave earrings, gold chains or pendants on the rim of a sink or edge of a bathtub, they can easily slip down the drain.
  
• Wear makeup and hairspray over jewellery. Chemicals can damage it.
  
• Don’t wear coloured gems in sunlight, rose quartz and amethyst they may fade.
  
• Never use toothpaste to clean jewellery.