Jewelry can be a considerable investment, both financially and emotionally. Unfortunately, many everyday substances can cause significant harm to these delicate pieces. Understanding what your jewelry should never touch is crucial for its longevity and brilliance. Here are 5 things your jewelry should never touch, helping you preserve their beauty and value for years to come.
High Temperatures
High temperatures and direct sunlight can harm certain gemstones and metals. For instance, excessive heat can cause gemstones to crack, while prolonged exposure to sunlight can fade stones like amethyst and topaz. Even diamonds, the hardest of all gemstones, can be affected by high heat, which might weaken the metal setting. Store jewelry in a cool and dark place when not in use to keep it safe from heat damage.
Sanitizing Your Hands
Just like taking a shower, you would think putting on hand sanitizer would be harmless to your jewelry. In reality, letting your jewelry come directly into contact with an excessive amount of hand sanitizer can impact your sparkly pieces. Over time, the hand sanitizer will break down your brilliant gemstones and metals. Therefore, be sure to remove jewelry from your hands before you sanitize, or simply avoid putting them on your pieces.
Exercising
Exercising is a great way to keep your body fit and healthy, but that doesn't mean you should work out while wearing your jewelry. Exercising will cause sweat and grease to build up over time and will cause your jewelry to become dim and dull. Ideally, you should always keep your jewelry off when working out to prevent any potential breaks, splits, and loss of stones.
Cosmetic & Skincare Products
While skincare products keep our skin feeling smooth and smelling great, they can cause buildup on jewelry, especially on delicate gemstones and porous stones like pearls and opals. Lotions, perfumes, and even sunscreen can leave a residue that’s difficult to remove, diminishing the shine and sparkle. To avoid this, follow the ‘Last On, First Off’ method. Apply your skincare products first to give them some time to absorb into your skin before putting on jewelry.
Sleeping
While jewelry is made to be worn, you should never go to sleep while wearing them. Sleeping with your jewelry on can increase the chances of wear and tear. For instance, your necklaces can easily get tangled in the bed sheets or even your hair. Rings are prone to snagging against the blanket and your gemstones could loosen from their settings. Therefore, it is important to remove any jewelry before turning in for the night. Learn more about the disadvantages of sleeping in your jewelry here.
Keeping your jewelry away from these damaging substances and situations is a simple yet effective way to preserve its shine and value. Regularly cleaning and properly storing your pieces will also help in maintaining their condition. With these practices, your jewelry will not only look its best but also continue to hold its sentimental worth for generations.
