Everyone is more confidence just after a beauty therapy. The same with all other materialistic object they too require periodic maintenance to last for generations as family heirlooms. Jewellery, estates, vintage cars, furniture, artefacts and so on appreciate only when well-maintained.

So, with that said, here is a listing of practices you may have been confused about or lack information regarding how to maintain your jewellery as they progress down the generations.

C. Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers have been customer-oriented and goes the extra mile to educate its clients on the needs of jewellery maintenance to give their precious jewellery and silverware a youthful life. The showroom boost of a repair section that offers a complimentary cleaning after a thorough check-up with appropriate action to help protect the life of your precious jewel. If any part, components, or additional leave-in service are required, they will be charged extra with your prior consent.

Most jewellery is sturdy enough to be worn throughout the day. However, being made from the softest of precious metals – Gold, Silver & Platinum these soft metals can get easily scratched. Numerous scratches will take the sheen away from them. 

Let us get wind of the basic steps to ensure their quality and safety and how to wear them, massage them, and store them safely.

The Basic Steps:

Decluttering

Jewels are often decorated with gems to enhance their beauty. Precious metal gold being soft, may get easily scratched by gemstones when they rub during contact. Do not “dump” one piece of jewellery on another place them with spacing in between, probably with soft fabric cushions.

Segregation

Gemstones vary in degrees of hardness, some of them are hard while others are soft. Looking in the order of hardness:

1. Diamonds are hard, but not tough. They can chip in corners if dropped.
2. Ruby and sapphire can get scratched when placed along with diamonds.
3. Emeralds are stunning with Jardin inclusions, do envelop them in soft fabric.
4. Opals and Pearls need aeration, do not seal them in closed containers.
5. Porous gems that include corals, turquoise, lapis lazuli, malachite, opals, and pearls need to be individually stored.

Storing of Jewel

Use a plastic box with a soft fabric inner lining to store your jewellery to prevent corrosion, label the jewel box for easy identification.

At C. Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers, every jewel is provided with protective velvety, soft interior boxes specially designed that snuggly fit the jewels. Use them as storage boxes to avoid abuse. When you plan to travel with your jewel, ensure that they are orderly arranged in the traveller’s jewellery box/jewel box, which has several compartments and rollers that avoid rubbing against each other.

Reviewing and Professional Cleaning

Inspect as you wipe them before and after wear and before placing them into their pouches/boxes for loosening stone, dull appearance, worn out links, fallen gemstones, clasp mechanism, worn out tassels and strings. 

Damaged jewellery needs attention, and we do advise you not to clean any damaged jewellery yourself. Book an appointment at your convenience to bring your jewellery over to C. Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers at least once a year or at the latest once in two years. For a professional ultrasonic cleaning and related cleaning, examination and if required further, cost jobs may be estimated appropriate to the context of the jewellery.

Cleaning Jewellery at Home

Jewellery cleaning varies for each type of jewel. We will get into detail about the proper methods to be adopted.

The Basic Cleaning Method

Certain jewels may be periodically cleaned at home by yourself. The effortless way is by giving them a gentle or firm rub on their surface with a soft- lint-free cloth. Ensure not to pull or rub vigorously over the setting portions, especially when they have prongs.

Apply a little cream to the silverware and massage them gently to bring back the lustre. Store them safely wrapped into Anti-tarnishing Storage Bags.

The Jewel Clean

Jewels that are frequently or daily used may need special cleaning liquids and small containers to hold them during cleaning. The compact mild, specially formulated cleaning liquid kits are customised to fit your dressing table. The process is simply placing the jewel inside the basket supplied and dipping it into the cleaning liquid, letting it stay for a few minutes, swirling to remove micro specs of dirt, and dust off with the soft brush provided. Rinse them well with clear water and gently dab with a soft cloth to bring back the lustre.

The Ultrasonic Cleaner

A compact home ultrasonic cleaning machine and cleaning solution are most desirable for stubborn dirt or residue that shakes them out from the unreachable location or cervical setting. Rinse them in a bowl of clean water and dry inside out using a soft cloth to see them sparkle again.

Caution: 

Ultrasonic cleaners are best for open-set jewellery and jewels studded with non-porous gemstones. Make certain that shaky gems, worn-out prongs, and weak settings should not be immersed in the ultrasonic cleaners, as microscopic bubbles produced can cause the fragile jewel settings to displace the gemstone. Porous and soft gems are not advisable to be used in an ultrasonic cleaner as they cannot withstand stress. 

C. Krishniah Chetty Group of jewellers have expert relationship managers who will guide and educate the functional aspects of these machines.

Tip: All cleaning activities of your jewels are apt to be done on a rubber mat and away from the open sink, as loose gemstones or weak settings may come out during cleaning, and you may lose them into the drain of the open sink.

Wearing Your Jewellery

Always make sure to wear your jewellery at the end before stepping out. That means jewels are the last to be worn after you make up your face, applied perfumes, colognes, hairspray and the like. Return them to the boxes by wiping them dry inside out to enhance the good life.

Take away your jewellery before taking a shower or going for a swim. Free-floating diamonds in their setting may fall off and wash down the sink, take precautions. Furthermore, soaps, shampoos, and conditioners may contain chemicals that may discolour or with regular baths, minute amounts of porous gems may erode. Soaps that contain oil may deposit a thin layer on diamonds and gemstones, making them appear dull. Chlorine released in swimming pools will reduce the life of fine jewellery.

Stay away from physical work if you wear jewellery, as this may eventually damage the jewel. Abstain wearing them while managing vibrating equipment, moderate or heavy tasks at the gym, sports, gardening and riding.

Did you know?

C. Krishniah Chetty Group extends a special privilege to every client for a free jewel care fortnight that concludes on the 28^th of September 2022. Bring in your unique design jewellery for maintenance and win a dinner for two.

We recommend you call us on +91 80 4100 1869 or +91 80 4000 1869 or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. Our trained staff at the showroom will ensure thorough checks, and appropriate actions will be discussed to help protect the life of your precious jewel. Do visit www.ckcjewellers.com/jewellercare for more information.

We hope these tips help you keep your precious jewellery safe for many generations.