If you love using accessories to add detail and spruce up your outfits, then you likely have a collection of party or costume jewellery in addition to the more expensive pieces that you no doubt save for special occasions.
Using costume jewellery for day-to-day wear is a good way to preserve your truly priceless pieces, there’s no doubt about that. But is there something else you can do to make sure your delicate necklaces Australia and other similar pieces retain their high quality and last as long as possible? Let’s take a look at some of the best tips to care for your jewellery.
Clean Jewellery Regularly
It’s not just air and dirt that can affect your necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings; sweat and body oils can dull metal, too. This is particularly true of necklaces, since practically the whole surface is in contact with your skin. So make sure you clean your necklaces after using them. All you need is some warm, soapy water and a soft toothbrush. Once done with a piece, lay it on a paper towel or a face towel to dry.
Invest in A Good Jewellery Case
Jewellery should be kept in a clean, dry place; a jewellery case that’s fabric-lined and has different compartments is the best choice, but you can make do with one of those plastic storage boxes with multiple sections. The idea is to cushion each piece and prevent them from scratching each other. After all, lots of little scratches can mar the beauty of a necklace as much as discolouration can.
While you’re at it, get a good case to store your jewellery in whenever you travel. After all, you wouldn’t want those delicate necklaces to get tangled in your bag or fall out of an outside pocket of your carry-on luggage, right?
Look Out for Signs of Loose Stones and Other Possible Damage
For necklaces that have a centre stone, be on the lookout for a prong that appears shorter than the others, or else a prong that’s missing or bent. These are signs that the gemstone is coming loose. A stone that doesn’t seem to be in the centre anymore is another warning sign.
Keep an eye out for stretched strands on your elastic necklaces, too. You can usually tell you’re facing this problem if the necklace hangs lower than usual. For necklaces held closed with a clasp, take note if the clasp seems loose, or if you need to fiddle with it a bit more to set it right. If so, don’t take the chance and wear the necklace, unless you’re fine with losing it.
If you spot any of these signs, bring the affected pieces of jewellery to get them fixed. It won’t be free, but you’ll certainly spend less on repair than you would on replacing the piece if it gets lost or damaged beyond repair.