Diamonds
Diamonds may be the hardest substance known to man, but they can still be damaged or dulled. Your diamond jewelry will benefit from the following tips:
- Don’t jumble your jewelry around together or with other pieces, because diamonds can scratch other jewelry and each other.
- Keep your diamond jewelry in a fabric-lined jewelry case or in a box with compartments or dividers.
- Don’t wear your diamonds when doing rough work. Even though a diamond is durable, it can be chipped by a hard blow.
- Clean your diamonds regularly using either commercial jewelry cleaner, a mix or ammonia and water, or mild detergent. Dip the jewelry into the solution, and us a soft brush to dislodge dust or dirt from under the setting.
- Don’t let your diamond come into contact with chlorine bleach or other chemicals, because they can pit or discolor the mounting.
Christopher’s offers free prong and stone inspection and free ultra-sonic cleaning.
Gemstones
Gems are among the most durable of nature’s creations. With a little care, they will be
as beautiful for generations to come as they are today.
To keep your gems sparkling, clean them when dust and fingerprints have dimmed their brilliance. The best way to clean your gemstone jewelry is in a bowl of water with a few drops of ordinary dish detergent. Using an old toothbrush or other soft brush, scrub gently behind the stone where dust and soap can collect. Then just rinse and pat try with a soft cloth.
A home ultrasonic cleaner should be used with extreme caution. It can be used to clean ruby, sapphire, diamond, iolite, amethyst, citrine, garnets, iolite, chrysoberyl, and unadorned gold jewelry but it may damage gems like emerald, pink tourmaline, peridot, pearls, coral, lapis lazuli, malachite, turquoise, and any gem that has many inclusions. When in doubt, don’t use it.
Organic gems like pearls, amber, and coral require special care because they are porous. Make sure you don’t expose them to the chemicals in hair products, fragrances and cosmetics. Store them in a cloth-lined box or pouch and keep them away from other jewelry, which might scratch them. To clean them, simply wipe clean with a soft cloth. Strands of pearls should be restrung if the cord frays or stretches so that individual pearls move.
To keep your gemstone rings looking brilliant, remove them before vigorous exercise or working with your hands. Some gem varieties might be damaged with a sharp blow. When removing your rings, don’t pull them off by the gemstone: this won’t damage the gem but it can, over time, stretch the metal that holds it in place, making the setting less secure.
To protect the beauty of your gems and jewelry, make sure you store each piece separately. Gems may scratch each other or the metal in your jewelry. Avoid creating a tangle of jewelry by wrapping each piece individually or keeping it in its own compartment. Especially when you travel, make sure your jewelry pieces don’t jostle each other in one bag.
If you have jewelry, perhaps passed down to you, that has seen better days or doesn’t suit your style, consider resetting the gems into a modern piece. Gems should be worn and enjoyed, not kept locked away in a safety deposit box. The staff at Christopher's would be happy to help you select a new mounting.
Precious metals
Karat Gold Jewelry make up the majority of many fine jewelry collections. Gold comes in many styles and colors, but the care and cleaning procedure remains the same.
- Remove all gold jewelry before showering or cleaning. Soap can cause a film to form on karat gold jewelry, making it appear dull and dingy. By preventing the formation of this film, you immediately reduce the frequency with which your pieces will need to be cleaned.
- To clean your jewelry at home, you’ll find many commercial cleaners available. In addition, you’ll find a soft chamois cloth an effective and inexpensive way to keep your pieces lustrous and shining. Christopher’s carries cleaners and cloths.
- For certain gold jewelry, especially pieces that do not contain colored gemstone, an ultrasonic cleaning machine may be appropriate. Christopher’s can clean your jewelry for you.
- Be careful of chlorine. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can permanently damage or discolor your gold jewelry. Do not wear gold jewelry while using chlorine while using bleach or while in a pool or hot tub.
- You can remove tarnish with jewelry cleaner, or by using soap and water mixed with a few drops of ammonia. Carefully brush with a soft bristle brush. An old toothbrush can also be used. After the brushing, simply rinse with lukewarm water and allow to dry.
- Grease can be removed from karat gold jewelry by dipping the jewelry into plain rubbing alcohol.
Platinum is one of the rarest and most durable precious metals. It is resistant to tarnishing and discoloration from chlorine and other chemicals. These factors, along with its strength and white luster, have made platinum an increasingly popular choice for jewelry, either on its own or as the setting for diamonds and other precious gemstones. However, despite its durability, platinum jewelry needs to be properly cared for.
- Platinum jewelry can be cleaned in the same manner as other fine jewelry. A professional cleaning every six months will keep your platinum jewelry in great shape.
- Store your platinum jewelry separately and with care, not allowing pieces to touch each other, because even platinum can be scratched.
- Signs of wear, such as scratches, can eventually appear on platinum. However, due to the metal’s durability there is usually little metal loss from the scratch. If visible scratches do appear, bring it to Christopher’s to have it re-polished.
- If your platinum is set with diamonds or other precious stones, be especially careful, as these materials can be more susceptible to damage. Some fine jewelry pieces combine platinum with karat gold. Care for these pieces as you would your gold jewelry.
Sterling Silver, like other precious metals, can oxidize with time. But properly maintained silver jewelry improves with age and develops a lush patina. Treat your silver well, care for it properly and it will reward you with a long life and lustrous look.
- Clean your silver jewelry with a mild soap and water solution, allowing the water to bead up, and then pat dry with a soft cloth. For more stubborn dirt, use a jewelry cleaner designed for silver use.
- Store your silver in a cool, dry place, preferable in a tarnish-preventative bag or wrapped in a soft piece of felt or cloth. Store pieces individually, so they don’t knock together and scratch.
- Do not rub silver with anything other than a polish cloth or a fine piece of felt. Tissue paper or paper towels can cause scratches because of the fiber in these products.
- Make sure our silver is not exposed to air and light during storage – this can cause silver to tarnish. And don’t wear sterling silver in chlorinated water or when working with household chemicals.