do not wear jewellery when doing housework, hard or dirty work, in a dusty environment or in an environment producing vapour as the jewellery surface may become damaged by abbrasive substances. take your jewels to a jeweller, who will clean them professionally and restore their original shine.
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- but you can clean them on your own. add soft detergent, rather alcaline, not a neutral one, to lukewarm water. an alcaline detergent will restore the shine of your jewels, because it neutralises the remnants of acids, salts and chlorides. dip the jewels into the solution and clean them using a soft brush. afterwards, rinse them in clean water and gently, but perfectly, dry them using a soft cloth. it is also possible to use preparations available in drugstores (cotton wool, auron solution, silver cleaner, etc.).
- jewels decorated with pearls, stones and other non-metal elements should not be dipped into hot water; in addition, avoid contact with acids (vinegar, etc.).
- if you have bought or been given an 18-carat golden jewel (750 units of gold per 1,000 units of the total jewel weight), you should not have any problems with it. this alloy contains a sufficient amount of noble metal whose properties have a positive influence on the quality and durability of the jewel. if the purity is lower, the jewel also contains zinc, copper and silver, which may lead to oxidation and loss of shine.
- if a silver jewel is in contact with chemicals, it goes black; therefore, do not wear it when doing the laundry or washing up. do not keep your jewellery near items containing sulphur, for example, things made of rubber or poor quality cardboard. a jewel may unexpectedly turn black quickly (even a gold jewel may oxidise) if you use certain drugs because the jewel is in contact with chemicals secreted in sweat.
- keep every piece separately, wrapped in fine fabric to prevent scratching. do not expose your jewels to make-up, perfumes or hairsprays. these substances may react with the metals contained in the alloy (which is the case with low-carat jewellery).
- if you have a flat, cut necklace, do not bend it sharply, and be especially careful when putting it away. flat necklaces must not be worn when sleeping.
- as regards more valuable jewels with brilliants and other gemstones, we recommend that the gemstones are regularly checked by a specialised company, preferably once a year, or even more often if you wear them every day.
- pearls should be the last thing to be put on, after applying your make-up, perfume and hairspray.
- do not expose them to chemical substances (including detergents), high temperatures, shower or steam, and do not bathe with them.
- protect them against mechanical damage – keep them in a soft fabric, avoid damaging them with other jewellery (for example, it is not recommendable to use a pearl necklace and a metal one at the same time).
- it is not suitable to keep pearls on a windowsill in direct sunlight (high temperatures).
- pearls should “breathe”. do not put them into a hermetically closed jewel case.
- after using them, wipe pearls gently with a moist soft cloth.
- occassionally, rinse them using a mild solution of soft soap (also when it is necessary to wash them).
- if you wear them more often (several times a week), have them restrung once a year.
- there should always be small knots between the individual pearls – they prevent the pearls from getting lost when the string is torn and from getting mechanically damaged by one another.