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In India, gold and diamond jewellery usually goes beyond aesthetics. It is considered an investment – something to be passed down through generations and cherished. Therefore, ensuring proper, adequate care is imperative. However, how do you do that at home? Here are some tips to ensure your jewellery sparkles eternally and stays in top shape.

Proper Storage: The First Line of Defence

Often, people store their gold and diamond jewellery in a common box. But such a traditional approach can damage delicate gold and diamond ornaments. It is because gold chain designs is relatively soft and can easily suffer scratches. On the other hand, diamonds, being the hardest of substances, can damage other stones or jewellery.

So, how do you store your jewellery? The answer is to store each piece individually. You must use soft-line jewellery boxes with exclusive compartments or velvet pouches. Furthermore, you can wrap heavy pieces or delicate heritage jewellery in a soft, lint-free tissue paper or cotton cloth. Such a caring approach will prevent chains from tangling and stones from clashing against each other. 

Last On, First-Off

Beauty routines or rituals are amongst the greatest of all enemies of your gold mangalsutra design and diamond jewellery. Particularly when the order is incorrect. Many people wear their jewellery first and then wear makeup, spray perfumes, lotions and hairsprays. However, a practice like this hurts your jewellery as these elements contain chemicals that can create a film on the jewellery surface, making it look lacklustre over a period.

The best way to avoid this is to wear your makeup, apply the lotions, sprays, etc., you intend to, let them dry and then wear your jewellery.

Next, at the end of the day, remove your jewellery first and then your makeup to keep your ornaments away from sweat and skin oils.

Avoiding Jewellery While Working

In many Indian households, people wear jewellery while working in the kitchen or performing cleaning chores. This can simmer down trouble for the gold jewellery!

It is because cooking involves the use of various ingredients, oil, and vapours that can damage delicate jewellery and tarnish it. Similarly, soap residue, kitchen grease and harsh cleaning agents can also damage your jewellery by settling into the setting of a diamond bracelets, staining its fine finishing and regal appearance.

To avoid this, make it a point to remove your rings and bangles before you begin cleaning, gardening or working in the kitchen. While protecting the metal, a prudent practice like this can also prevent accidental loss down the drain or breakage.

Gentle Cleaning

Your jewellery also deserves a gentle, loving spa treatment every few weeks. The good thing is, you can give your jewellery the very treatment it needs, at home!

So, how can you do that? Thankfully, you don’t have to be an expert to clean your gold and diamond jewellery at home. All you have to do is give it a gentle bath by soaking it in warm water with a few drops of mild, phosphate-free dish soap. Keep it soaked for 10-15 minutes. Then, clean it with a soft brush to clear the crevices. Further, you can give it a gentle scrub to remove trapped dirt. Next, rinse it with clean water and pat it dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Nevertheless, you must avoid using harsh chemicals and clean your jewellery with a simple approach. Also, refrain from using lemon juice and vinegar for cleaning gold, given their highly acidic and unsafe nature that can hurt your jewellery.

Careful Handling

Often, people hold a diamond ring by its stone to put it on or while removing it. It is a traditional practice. An instinctive one. But this can damage your jewellery as the oils and dirt from your fingertips can penetrate the diamond, affecting its shine and aesthetics in the long run. To avoid this, you must hold your rings by the metal band and earrings by the post or wire. A simple practice like this can help keep the stones cleaner for longer.

Visual Inspections

Don’t wait for a major spot to appear and signal a potential concern. Ensure you look at your favourite pieces every month. Now, what should you look for particularly? Check if a diamond looks slightly loose or if the prong appears bent or snagged. On the other hand, if you notice a stone wiggling or a clasp loosening, avoid wearing the piece. 

If you notice these signs, see your trusted jeweller for them to do what’s necessary. This will avoid significant damage and preserve the long-term value of your jewellery.

Final Words!

Proper, regular and delicate care is crucial to maintaining the jewellery’s longevity, looks, and, of course, its sentimental value. After all, jewellery means more than just beauty to Indians. It is a valuable medium of passing down values, emotions and eventually, heritage, which is above everything and therefore, priceless!