Jewellery is a beautiful family heirloom, and by passing down these pieces, we can feel connected to our relatives. But have you thought about how to take care of these irreplaceable items? Here, Jack Jahan from Ramsdens Jewellery, shares how to keep these pieces like new.
Family heirlooms are a wonderful way to honour our loved ones and keep their memory alive. They are also an invaluable part of our family history. Jewellery is often one of the most treasured heirlooms, and kept in the right conditions, it will remain beautiful and wearable for many generations to come.
Inheriting a piece of heirloom jewellery is an exciting moment, but how can you look after it so that it remains in top condition? Here, we'll show you how to care for these pieces so that they will remain the stars of your jewellery collection for many years.
Keep jewellery away from chemicals
As much as you can, keep your jewellery away from abrasive chemicals, such as those in cleaning products and perfumes. In particular, the most damaging chemical your heirlooms might encounter is chorine, so make sure that you take your jewellery off before you go swimming. You can keep them inside a small, waterproof bag or purse compartment and store them inside a locker, so you know they are safe when you return.
You should also try to minimise contact between your jewellery and any lotions or body sprays. A good strategy for this is to apply any skincare lotions, body sprays and perfumes before putting on your jewellery, so that all the products have had time to soak in. The chemicals in these products can damage previous metals over time, causing them to lose their lustre. So, it's worth taking a bit of time out of your routine to avoid this.
Wear silver jewellery regularly
One of the easiest ways to keep silver pieces looking their best, is to wear them. This is because the friction created on rings, necklaces, earrings and watches helps to prevent it tarnishing. The tarnish that you see on silver is a layer of oxidation building up, so when we wear jewellery frequently, this layer is rubbed off before it can change the colour of the pieces.
However, you should still try to keep silver jewellery away from cleaning products, chlorine and other chemicals. If the jewellery gets wet, make sure to dry it off quickly, as leaving it damp can cause it to tarnish faster.
Store heirloom pieces carefully
Careful storage is the best way to prevent damage to heirloom pieces, many of which will be delicate. You can prevent scratches by wrapping each piece in a soft cotton cloth before placing it in a jewellery box. This is particularly important for diamond jewellery, as the stones can be easily scratched over time if not stored correctly.
You should also store the jewellery in a place where the temperature won't vary too much. Extremes of hot and cold can both affect jewellery, particularly diamonds. Keeping pieces in a closed jewellery box or case away from sunlight will also help, as sunlight can speed up tarnishing.
When storing watches, ideally you should keep the watch in the case it came in, as this can add to the value as well as helping to protect it. However, this is often not possible with heirlooms as the case may have broken or gotten lost years ago. So, a good option is a case specially made for storing watches — these are available either for single or multiple watches. The hard outer case and the cushion inside will keep your heirloom from being damaged.
Use jewellery cleaner to keep pieces polished
It can be tempting to clean your jewellery with whatever you already have available, but this can shorten the life of the pieces, especially if they are older and more delicate. So, give your heirloom jewellery some special treatment.
Clean it with specialist formulas and look at the directions on cleaning products before you buy them to ensure they are appropriate for the type of metal your pieces are made from. This way, you can keep your items sparkling without using harsher chemicals on them that might strip away the finish on the metal. You can also gently buff the pieces with a dry cloth to keep tarnishing at bay.
Insure your jewellery
Lastly, it's always important to ensure your jewellery pieces, especially when they are heirlooms that are potentially quite valuable. Of course, nothing can replace the pieces, or the personal stories attached to them, but having them insured will mean that you don't need to worry about a financial loss if they go missing.
Some insurers also require that you get your pieces appraised and checked professionally on occasion. This can be useful to alert you to any problems, such as a loose fitting or cracked gemstone.
It's wonderful to receive a family heirloom, and you'll want to keep your heirloom jewellery pieces in top condition so that they can be passed down for generations to come. So, use these tips as a starting point, and make sure that your pieces are kept safe, and ready to wear for many years.