Seven steps to best maintain your gold jewellery

It is in the interest of anyone who purchases gold jewellery to maintain it as best they can. Most of the time, people leave gold to their children as heirlooms, and sometimes they sell it if they get a good resale price. But the attraction of gold lies in its lustre. So, people who own gold jewellery should make sure that it does not lose it. Here are some do’s and don’ts that you should follow to ensure that your gold jewellery is

kept in good condition:

DO’S

1. Always keep gold jewellery in a box lined with either suede, satin or velvet.

2. If you store more than one gold jewellery item in a box, wrap the smaller items in tissue paper to protect them against scratches.

3. Wipe the jewellery with cotton or a very soft cloth every day to prevent dust accumulation.

4. Polish your jewellery with special polish, especially if the gold item is worn regularly, so that it does not lose its lustre.

5. When cleaning gold jewellery, use lukewarm water, a mild detergent and a brush with soft bristles, especially for items with detailed designs.

6. You can also clean gold jewellery by dropping it (one item at a time) into boiling water and adding a pinch of baking soda. Leave it in for only half a minute, take it out and wipe it immediately.

7. Take rings off before applying hand lotion and cream to avoid getting oil on the rings, and subsequently, the dirt the oil attracts.

DON’TS

1. Do not keep your gold jewellery in pouches because the pieces will rub against each other and wear away over time.

2. Do not wear gold jewellery while having a bath. Water beating down on it will cause chains to stretch. Some soaps can be harsh and cause a film to appear and build up on stones, and they will lose their lustre.
3. Never wear gold jewellery while swimming. Chlorine erodes this soft metal. It is also a risk because diamonds and other stones can easily fall out of their settings.

4. Do not let household cleaners or other harsh chemicals come into contact with your gold as they reduce the shine of the yellow metal.

5. Avoid wearing perfume when wearing gold jewellery, especially if it has pearl insets.

6. Avoid wearing fine jewellery when gardening or doing housework.

7. Do not wear gold jewellery to sleep. Tossing and turning can cause chains to stretch and break, and prongs on rings to catch and possibly break.

If you follow these tips, you will have gold jewellery that will not lose its lustre and even years from now, will look as beautiful as it was on the day you bought it.