Best Tips for Keeping Your Jewelry Beautiful

You step back from your final product, pleased with what you’ve created. It looks beautiful, staring back at you from your workspace or bead board. Now, how do you keep it looking as pristine as the day you finished making it? We’ve got a few tips for you.

Keep an eye out for worn prongs. These prongs, typically holding gems in place, can bend slightly or become worn. Without proper attention, your gems can come loose, damaging the look of your final product. Each time you wear a piece that features gemstones with prongs, take a look to ensure they’re not too loose or damaged. If something is displaced beyond your ability to repair, talk to a jeweler about repairing it for you.

Close or replace broken jump rings. These rings, designed to attach a clasp or fastener to your fixed piece, become loose or re-open often. By inspecting your pieces before and after wear, you can ensure that these fixes are made before it’s too late!

Look out for, and fix knotted chains. By storing necklaces and bracelets on hooks or rods, you can sometimes prevent these kinks and knots from forming, but, even with these precautions, knots can still form. However, you can rectify the situation with two straight pins and a bit of patience. Using the straight pins, rather than feeling for the kink with fingertips or nails, will allow you to remove the knot with more precision.

Clean gemstone jewelry with baking soda. Using a soft cloth and a paste of baking soda and water, you can remove much of the tarnish and discoloration that may be plaguing your jewelry. Once this is done, remove the paste with a lint-free cloth. This will preserve its shine without scratching or damaging it.

Creating a wearable work of art is an accomplishment, and you should be able to prolong your pride in it by keeping it looking shiny and new.

 What other jewelry repair issues are you seeing, and how have you fixed them? We’d love to know more in the comments.