There is no denying that we love the whimsical winds and snowy sights of winter, we forget to acknowledge the fact that winter poses great dangers to our jewelry pieces. From your necklaces snagging to your sweater to your rings slipping out of your fingers, the list of potential damages is endless. Since prevention is better than cure, here are 5 effective jewelry care tips to beat the cold and have a woe-free winter.
Keep Your Jewelry Dry
First and foremost, keeping your jewelry dry is one of the best ways to care for your winter jewelry. Exposing your jewelry to water and moisture is one of the biggest causes of damage to your accessories. Therefore, be sure to remove your accessories before you go hot-tubbing, swimming, or any water-related activities. If you do get your jewelry pieces wet, dry them thoroughly with a soft cloth before putting them away for storage.
Watch Out for Your Sweaters
Face it: who doesn’t love wearing soft, knitted sweaters during wintertime? While pairing your jewelry with knitted sweaters may look good, they don’t always complement each other. Jewelry like rings and necklaces are prone to easily snag against the knitted fabric. This could lead to your favorite sweater being ruined or cause your ring gemstone to slip off. You don’t have to completely skip the sweaters, but you should be mindful of the mishaps and avoid wearing jewelry with your knitwear.
Safe Storage
One of the key tips in wintertime jewelry care is to store them safely and properly. Delicate jewelry pieces require extra care during cold seasons. Avoid storing your accessories in damp or humid places as this will cause damage over time. Instead, store your jewelry in someplace cool and dry. Consider using a soft pouch or a jewelry box lined with felt or velvet for an extra layer of protection against elements like moisture.
‘Last On, First Off’ Principle
The cold weather often means taking care of your dry skin with moisturizer, lotion, and other skincare products. It is highly recommended to keep your jewelry away from your skincare products. These products often contain chemicals like sulfur that tarnishes your jewelry easily. With that being said, always make sure your jewelry is the last thing you put on after applying lotion, and the first thing you take off after returning home.
Keep Away from Temperature Changes
Putting cold metal against your skin isn’t the most pleasant, but your jewelry can also be damaged when exposed to extreme temperature changes. Ideally, keep your jewelry away from sources of heat like stoves and fireplaces. Additionally, avoid storing your jewelry in places that might be exposed to cold temperatures. For instance, avoid leaving your jewelry locked in your car when you’re in slope-like areas.
Winter season poses many challenges and if you're a jewelry lover, you have to appreciate this and take extra care of your accessories. Avoid exposing your jewelry to moisture and clean them regularly. Most importantly, be mindful when layering up to avoid damaging your jewelry pieces. Keep these precautions in mind and you'll have a woe-free winter.
