Summer is a wonderful time of the year but it is HOT! This is a time of the year when you need to think about the care of your jewelry. We all think of diamonds and gold as invincible but in reality, your jewelry can be fragile and this season can do a lot of damage.
Keep your Jewelry Cool & Dry
Summer means lots of water. When it’s hot we all gravitate to swimming and playing in the water for hours at a time. If this sounds like your summer, think twice before wearing your jewelry if you are going to the pool or to the beach. High concentrations of either chlorine or salt can permanently damage your jewelry.
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In the hot summer heat, pools and the ocean provide welcome relief. Unfortunately, both have harsh contents that can be harmful to precious jewelry. Even pool water can damage your jewelry! Pool Chlorine is derived from bleach and bleach can eat away your gold and silver. If you were to put a gold ring directly into bleach, it can disintegrate within minutes of exposure. The higher the karat of the gold, the longer it takes for the exposure to cause serious damage.
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Chlorine and salt water can also erode soldered jewelry joints. Glues used in Fashion Jewelry are also at high risk. Going to the pool everyday can lead to very serious issues. Gemstones can come loose from their mountings and fragile pieces may even break. In some cases, pitting can occur, leaving a rough texture on the surface of the piece.
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Summer swimsuits and dresses look amazing with our jewelry and we all love the sun, but try not to wear your precious metals in the water this season, and if you forget, give them a thorough rinse afterwards to get rid of any unwanted chemicals and salts.
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Don’t Take Your Jewelry Off
The most dangerous thing you can do is take your jewelry off. Now didn’t you just read that you aren’t suppose to wear your jewelry in the water? How can you prevent water damage if you don’t take your jewelry off? Well this is a problem and there isn’t an easy answer to it.
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When you take your jewelry off, especially on vacation you are placing your pieces at risk. Vacations are especially concerning because you will be going to places and doing things that are outside your normal routine. Add in a little bit of relaxation and jetlag and you have a cocktail for ring disaster.
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It’s easy to take your ring off and forget to put it back on. When you do this at home it isn’t a problem, but when you do this on vacation you could easily leave you ring in last-night’s hotel or worse still, your ring could be stolen by someone who supplements their living praying on sleep deprived tourists. One woman I know who travels every summer has had her jeweler create copies of her favorite pieces just for travel so she doesn’t need to worry about her diamonds while she is on vacation. The relatively minor expense is well worth the worry.
Lotions are for Skin not for Diamonds
Summer sunscreen and lotions are a must in Summer. Unfortunately, creams can make your jewelry look terrible. Hand lotion and especially sunscreen can build up on the surfaces of your jewelry making your pieces look dull and lifeless. Getting the grease out of the small delicate spaces in jewelry is also a real chore. Instead, get in the habit of using lotions in the evening after you have taken your jewelry off. In the morning put on your sunscreen first thing and then wait 5-10 minutes before putting on your jewelry. You will see a difference in the sparkle of your favorite pieces.
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Goldsmith Jewelers wishes you a wonderful summer!
