Fine jewellery is a gift of nature and the jeweller’s art. Regular care and cleaning thereof will ensure a lifetime of pleasurable wear.
STORAGE
Diamonds may be the hardest natural substance, but can still be scratched by another diamond or chipped and abraded if subjected to blows. Thus, do not jumble jewellery together. Separate them and store in soft pouches or different compartment of a jewellery box.
NORMAL WEAR
During normal wear jewellery comes in contact with things harder than the metal it is made of, and the extent and speed at which it abrades depend on how it is handled and cared for. If it is worn during gardening, mountaineering, sporting activities, working with hand tools, gym exercises, even washing of steel cutlery, it will scratch and will wear away over time.
A strong knock may break claws on a ring, or bend a thin band, causing gems to fall out. A blow can damage diamonds with a very thin girdle, while in those of poor clarity, a pre-existing crack may get bigger.
If especially chains and bracelets, are not kept clean, dust and creams combine to form a scouring paste that will clog moveable links and grind them away.
When jewellery accidently comes in contact with mercury, wipe the item clean and contact Prins & Prins. Chlorine, bleach or other chemicals can cause pitting in metal.
or discolour mountings. Remove all gold jewellery before showering – soap dulls gold.
Put on jewellery after you have applied make-up or perfume.
Do not clean Tanzanite, opals and some other gems by steam or an ultra-sonic cleaner.
Clean item regularly with a cleaning fluid obtained from a jewellery store.
PEARLS
Do not use steam, an ultra-sonic cleaner or toothbrush to clean pearls. Neither use detergents, baking soda or ammonia-based cleaners.
Do not store pearls near heaters, in direct sunlight or sealed plastic bags – they will dry out and crack. Keep them in soft jewellery pouches to prevent abrasion.
It should be strung with a knot between each pearl to prevent loss if the string breaks.
After wearing, wipe with damp cloth and a mild soap foam.
Pearl necklaces stretch with wearing, and the string becomes dirty and weak. They should be cleaned and restrung professionally about once a year if you wear them regularly.
Visit Prins and Prins for professional jewellery repair, cleaning and pearl stringing.