Tips to Keep Gems Glowing - Ladies Special

EVERY woman loves her jewellery. But even precious ornaments need proper care. Here are some pointers on how you can keep them shining forever.

WHEN YOU BUY:

• Don't accept jewellery in pouches. They will cause gold pieces to brush against each other and result in scratches.
• Try and get a cleaning cloth, synthetic chamois or chamois leather to clean gold or diamond jewellery.
• Invest in a cleaning liquid.

WEAR IT RIGHT

• Try and sit on a sofa/bed while wearing jewellery.
• Earrings with complicated links should be worn in front of a mirror.
• Put on your make-up before wearing your jewellery, because a coat of powder or rouge could dull your gold jewellery.
• Protect your jewellery from hair spray, perfumes and nail polish. Pearls should be kept a mile away from nail polish as the acetone in polish could wipe out the outer coat of the pearl, thus reducing its value.

MAINTENANCE

• While cleaning jewellery, use a soft cloth, chamois leather or a cleaning liquid. You can even clean gold or diamond jewellery (open settings, only), by dropping it into a beaker of boiling water into which a pinch of soda bicarbonate has been added. Leave it for half a minute, till the grease and grime fall away, and remove it. Wipe it with a soft cloth.

DO

• Keep jewellery in a box with a soft velvet or satin lining.
• Keep your items separate from each other in the box.
• Wipe each piece of jewellery before and after using it, with a clean cloth.
• It you preserve your gold jewellery in your locker, wrap it up in cellophane before wrapping it in cloth and then place it in a box. The cellophane will protect the piece from the iron oxide materials of the locker.
• You can bathe with your jewellery on, but after some time, the soap and water can coat it with a thin film, leaving your gold dull.

DON'T

• Jumble jewellery in small containers. Never, ever mix costume jewellery with 22k gold jewellery or 22k jewellery with 24k pieces.
• Boil close set jewellery, 'kundan' jewellery and heirloom pieces. Use only a soft cloth to clean them.
• Use detergent/soap/ powder/toothpast e to clean gold jewellery.
• Use force while putting jewellery like rings or bangles onto children. As far as possible, pick up adjustable jewellery like bracelets for children.