Jewelry Tips EVERY Woman Must Know Before and After a Jewelry Purchase.

Control moisture and humidity around your jewelry.

Moisture & humidity create an environment for tarnish to thrive especially around silver and copper-based metal jewelry (this includes brass).

Make sure you remove your gold plated jewelry when you exercise or doing anything requiring heavy work and before getting into a swimming pool or the ocean at the beach.

To help control moisture & humidity, next time you purchase a new pair of shoes or a new handbag, do not throw out the little packs of silica gel packets. Instead, put them in an airtight container or jewelry box alongside your jewelry to absorb any moisture. Silica gel packets help absorb moisture slowing down the tarnishing process.

Store your necklaces flat

Jewelry hooks and armoires work really great for metal chain necklaces or bracelets but not so great for pieces that are strung, e.g pearl or other kinds of beaded jewelry. The prolonged hanging position of such neckpieces can weaken or stretch the silk or wire over time and one day, they would all come crashing down and you begin to wonder if you were scammed by the store or your jeweler.

 Last On, First Off.

The last on, first off tip reminds me of my tech days programming and just as it applies to software programming, it also applies to having longer lasting jewelry! So what does it all mean?

Hairsprays, makeup, water, lotions, makeup, makeup removers, perfumes and other chemicals can build up on your jewelry making them dull and even eat away at your finishes over time. To prevent this, put on all your jewelry AFTER you finish getting ready and take it off first thing before you begin retiring for the day.

To help you always remember the order, use its acronym, LOFO! #LOFO anyone?

Store like items together.

If you have gold and silver plated jewelry, do not store them together in the same box. The different metals could cause each other to tarnish, fade and/or turn colors. Have different storage places for different colors of metals like gold, silver and rose gold.

Cleaning Tips

After every use, clean your plated jewelry with a cotton ball or a very soft cloth to remove any dust and dirt. Gently rubbing the surface of your gold plated jewelry using a soft jewelry cloth, helps restore shine. 

Do not use a polishing cloth as this will strip away the plating. Instead use polishing cloths for items such as silver, brass and karat gold.