Written by: Claudia Martínez Bueno.
1. Clean Your Jewelry Regularly
The first step to keeping your gold jewelry shiny is regular cleaning. While gold is a resilient metal, it can lose its shine due to exposure to dust, dirt, and the natural oils from your skin.
How to do it?
Prepare a solution using warm water and mild soap, such as fragrance-free hand soap. Soak the jewelry in the mixture for about 15 minutes, then gently scrub with a soft-bristled brush to remove any dirt that has built up in hard-to-reach areas. Finally, rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry with a soft cloth.
Recommended frequency: Clean your gold jewelry every two to three weeks to maintain its natural shine.
2. Avoid Contact with Chemicals
Direct contact with chemicals is one of the biggest enemies of gold. Substances like perfumes, lotions, cleaning products, and detergents can damage the surface of your jewelry, dull its appearance, and accelerate tarnishing.
How to avoid it?
Apply your beauty products and perfumes before putting on your jewelry. This minimizes contact between your pieces and harmful substances. It’s also essential to remove your jewelry before swimming, as chlorine in pools can corrode gold over time.
3. Store Your Jewelry Properly
How you store your gold jewelry can significantly impact its longevity. Storing it improperly can lead to scratches or tangles, especially if you have several pieces together.
Practical tip: Store your jewelry separately in individual compartments or soft fabric pouches to prevent scratching. Velvet-lined boxes are ideal for keeping your jewelry protected from bumps and exposure to air, which can also speed up tarnishing.
4. Avoid Wearing Gold Jewelry During Physical Activities
Physical activities like exercising or doing household chores can expose your jewelry to scratches, abrasions, and harsh chemicals. Additionally, sweat can affect the shine of gold, making it appear dull over time.
Recommendation: Before engaging in physical activities or manual work, remove your gold jewelry and store it in a safe place. This will protect it from unnecessary wear and prevent dirt buildup.
5. Get a Professional Cleaning Once a Year
Despite your best efforts to clean your jewelry at home, it’s a good idea to take your gold pieces for professional cleaning at least once a year. Jewelers have specialized tools to polish gold, remove tough stains, and inspect for any loose stones or damage.
Benefits of professional cleaning:
An annual inspection ensures that stones are securely set, preventing the loss of valuable gems. A jeweler can also detect early signs of wear and make repairs before it’s too late.
6. Give Your Favorite Jewelry a Break
Wearing the same gold jewelry every day will likely cause it to wear out faster due to constant use. Even high-quality gold can show signs of wear if it’s not given a break.
Solution: Rotate your gold jewelry. If you have several pieces, switch them up to avoid wearing out just one piece more than necessary. Giving your favorite jewelry a break not only keeps it in better condition but also allows you to experiment with different styles.
7. Protect Your Jewelry from Extreme Temperature Changes
Gold, being a metal, can expand or contract with sudden temperature changes. Although this doesn’t happen quickly or visibly, over time it can cause gemstones to loosen or lead to deformation of the jewelry.
Everyday care: Avoid leaving your gold jewelry in places where they’re exposed to extreme temperatures, like near radiators or in direct sunlight. Additionally, if you live in a climate with drastic temperature shifts, be sure to store your jewelry in a stable, moderate environment.
Conclusion
Proper care of your gold jewelry is essential to keep it as dazzling as the day you bought it. By following these 7 essential tips, you’ll be able to maintain the shine, beauty, and durability of your pieces for much longer. Remember, jewelry is not only an investment but also a reflection of your style and personality, so it’s worth dedicating the time to care for and preserve them.
If you need further assistance or have any questions about maintaining your jewelry, at Pons Fine Jewelry, we’re here to offer personalized advice. Your elegance is in the hands of PONS!