Owning jewelry is awesome. Not only can it be a creative outlet that can make you feel stylish and put together, but a quality jewelry collection can become an asset that appreciates over time. So, it’s important to know how to properly store your jewelry as poorly stored jewelry is prone to things like rust.
Here are four tips to help you do just that.
Clean Them
The first step to storing jewelry properly is to clean it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s pearls from a grandparent after a particularly fruitful visit to their senior living facility or gold earrings from your husband on an anniversary trip, all jewelry should be cleaned before being stored.
When jewelry is not cleaned before storage, the dirt, sweat, and oil that has built up on it will become trapped and cause the jewelry to tarnish faster regardless of how well it’s stored.
There are different ways to clean jewelry, usually depending on the type of jewelry. For example, while gold jewelry can be cleaned with solutions like lemon and soap, pearls should not be cleaned with any harsh solution as this will damage the delicate surface of the pearl. Instead, they should ideally be wiped down with a damp cloth.
Buy a Jewelry Box
It can be tempting to want to throw your jewelry into a drawer or simply leave it out on your dresser, but this is one of the worst things you can do for your jewelry.
Not only will it become tangled and damaged from being jostled around, but it’s likely to tarnish much faster when left out in the open.
Instead, invest in a good jewelry box. Look for one that has multiple compartments, both large and small, as well as a lined interior. This will help to keep your jewelry organized.
Keep Them Separate
When storing your jewelry, it’s important to keep different pieces separate from each other as damage can occur otherwise. This is why you should buy a jewelry box with different compartments as mentioned earlier, it’s not just to be organized.
For example, storing your gold necklace in the same compartment as your diamond earrings is a good way to have the diamonds damage the gold necklace. With a Mohs score of 10, diamonds are hard enough to scratch the other jewelry.
Keep Them Away from Sunlight
Sunlight can cause jewelry to fade, so it’s best to store it in a dark place. Keep your jewelry box away from windows, and if you don’t have a designated place for your jewelry box, consider storing it in a closet.
You can take things a step further and wrap your more delicate pieces of jewelry in acid-free tissue paper before placing them in your jewelry box.
Your jewelry are assets. By following these tips, you can be sure your jewelry will stay in good condition for years to come.
Comments are closed.