Wondering why your jewelry items are deteriorating despite minimal use? While authentic jewelry pieces are quite expensive, they can also be stubbornly delicate. Lost stones, bent rings, and broken prongs are common problems burdening jewelry collectors. If you’re dealing with the same issues, it’s a clear sign you’re storing your precious jewelry items the wrong way.
Below is a roundup of the top jewelry storage mistakes both first-time collectors and long-time jewelry enthusiasts commit. Find out whether you’re guilty of doing any of them, too! Read on.
Common Jewelry Storage Mistakes to Avoid
- Storing dirty jewelry
What do you do after you take off your jewelry? Do you just toss them straight into their boxes and go on with your usual night-time self-care routine? While gemstones and gold aren’t vulnerable to sweat, cheaper materials, such as nickel or copper can corrode when exposed to sweat and other body oils due to chloride content. Naturally, if you have gold-plated pieces, it’s best to clean them up before tossing them in your jewelry box. Letting those sweat sit longer in your jewelry items can make them tarnish faster.
Other than your natural body oils, makeup, perfume, and lotion may also cause damage to your precious jewelry items. The chemicals in these products can leave permanent stains on your beads and gemstones and dull their sparkle.
You can clean your precious items by simply mixing a few drops of dish liquid with lukewarm water and then soaking your jewelry in the said mixture for a few seconds. Once done, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove dust and other dirt gently. Rinse them under running water and finish the task by buffing the items dry using a soft cloth. It’s also best to make it a habit to put on your jewelry last, specifically after you’re done with your makeup and other preparations. This way, you’ll have less dirt to remove during the cleaning process.
- Keeping different metals together
Gold and silver may look good together but try your best not to keep them in a single bunch. Different metals have different care requirements. Gold, in particular, is very malleable. It is easily bent and scratched. Keeping your gold items together with other hard gemstones, such as diamonds, can make them susceptible to dents and unwanted markings. Hence, it’s best to separate your gold accessories from the rest of your other jewelry items.
Silver sterling, on the other hand, can tarnish easily, especially when exposed to moisture and other harsh chemicals. You cannot just simply hang them in a jewelry holder along with your other precious items. At best, you must keep them in a cool, dark storage area. You may try placing them in their own bags with the excess air squeezed out. You may also invest in a jewelry box with an anti-tarnish cloth since it is the most ideal material used for storing silver.
- Tossing necklaces and bracelets in a bunch
Do you often catch yourself enthusiastically reaching out to your necklace collection only to find them in a tangled mess? When you’re not too careful or in a hurry, you may be tempted to yank the bundle off forcefully, only to end up with a bunch of broken chains and links. To avoid such a catastrophe, it’s best to know the proper ways of storing necklaces and bracelets.
Admittedly, both jewelry items are tricky to keep. Necklaces are often long, while bracelets are mostly big and chunky. Since most of these jewelry pieces are often sold with their own boxes, it’s best to keep them there. This way, you won’t have to worry about them tangling and twisting together. If some items don’t have a separate box, you may invest in a decorative jewelry tree or create a rack.
- Using whatever storage material is available
Another common mistake jewelry collectors often commit is using whatever box or bowl they come across to keep their precious items. If you’re doing the same, you’ll probably encounter many problems relating to the condition and quality of your jewelry. While being resourceful may help cut costs, this will eventually take a toll on your collection, especially if you use a material that is not compatible with your jewelry. Plastic bags, for example, emit chemicals that can damage your precious pearls.
To avoid any damage to your jewelry collection, it’s best to invest in quality storage materials specifically designed to keep precious items, such as gold, silver, and gemstones safe and secure.
Silver items are best stored in airtight bags or boxes that are preferably decorated with anti-tarnishing strips. Meanwhile, fabric-lined jewelry boxes are a good bet for gold accessories. Pearls, on the other hand, are compatible with silky pouches. It’s also a good idea to lay your pearl necklaces and bracelets on a flat surface rather than hang them since it may put excess strain on the threads and eventually overstretch them.
Want to Get Rid of Some of Your Jewelry Items?
Think your jewelry collection is now too big to handle? Maybe it’s time to give up some unwanted or unused items in your collection. You may sell some of your authentic jewelry pieces here at Biltmore Loan and Jewelry! We are a team of GIA-certified experts and appraisers interested in buying luxury items. Call or text us at 480-991-5626 or 480-705-5626 to know more.