What Not to Do with Your Jewelry

I've examined some of the most common jewelry care mistakes people make on a daily basis. For each mistake, I've offered some jewelry tips and tricks that will help you care for your jewelry in such a way that it will last for many generations to come.

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1
Wearing Your Jewelry All the Time
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Jewelry is usually so sentimental that we are tempted to wear it all the time, whether it is a necklace you received as a child or your engagement ring. Engagement rings are the most common offenders on this list, and in this case, it is because, by default, they are worn every day. Even though they are worn each day, it doesn't mean you have to wear them ALL the time.

Don't wear your jewelry while sleeping, washing dishes, painting, working with your hands, wearing latex gloves. Use your best judgment on this, but if in doubt, take your jewelry off. Keep reading to learn about the importance of where you store your jewelry.


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2
Showering or Swimming in Your Jewelry

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Not only shouldn't you wear your jewelry all the time, you should most definitely never wear your jewelry when swimming or showering. Water is a natural abrasive. Think of the rivers that over time have carved their way through canyons of stone. Overtime the same thing happens with your gold and other metals. Showering won't wear down your gold as quickly as chlorine or salt water, but it is best to use caution around any liquids.


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3
Storing Your Jewelry in Different Places

So you aren't supposed to wear your jewelry all the time, but when you aren't, where should you put it? It happens so often with my clients when they have a nice piece of jewelry that they have to take off for work or different occasions at home that they lose the jewelry! Why do they lose it? Because they put it in a different spot every time. Just like people have a designated spot for their car keys, you should always have a designated spot for jewelry that you wear often. When you come home at the end of the day, place your engagement ring and other valuables in this spot to prevent the chance of loss.

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4
Keeping Your Jewelry Out in the Open
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In an ideal world, having fine jewelry sitting on your kitchen counter in a jewelry dish shouldn't be a big deal. However, your jewelry storage spot should be in an inconspicuous and safe location. Unfortunately if you get robbed by a very skilled individual, there is little you can do to protect your investment, so it is always important to have jewelry insurance to help protect you in the event of theft.


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5
Cleaning Your Jewelry in an Ultrasonic Machine
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Ultrasonic machines are desirable because they thoroughly clean your jewelry. However, they are not suitable for all jewelry! You should avoid putting pearls, cameos, emeralds, opals, coral, and other soft stones in an ultrasonic machine.


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6
Submerging Your Jewelry in Cleaner for Too Long
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Those little containers with jewelry cleaner and a brush that you dunk your jewelry in to clean are great, but it's important not to submerge your ring in the solution too long. Prolonged exposure in a tarnish remover can make silver jewelry tarnish almost to a black color. Prolonged exposure with gold can discolor the gold as well as wear the gold down over time.


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7
Taking Rings off by Pressing on the Stones
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There is a right and a wrong way to take on and off a ring. It is so important that when you take your rings on and off, you pull from the sides of the shank. So many people, especially when the ring is too tight, have the tendency to remove the ring by pressing with one finger on top of the stone and the other on the bottom of the ring. Over time, this will loosen your stone and make it susceptible to falling out.

By Lauren Thomann