SIX TIPS FOR MAINTAINING YOUR JEWELRY

This is information based on an article in September 2007 House Beautiful by Eve M. Kahn.
The author interviewed Earl Kahn (no relation), owner of Murrey's Jewelers in New York City.

1. There are basic rules for storing jewelry. Keep each piece in a separate box, tissue paper or fabric drawstring pouch. Gold and silver will scratch and stones can chip, especially soft stones such as emeralds, opals, and aquamarines. The best is recloseable clear plastic bags that also help by keeping silver from oxidizing. (You can buy them at chiswick.com. Don't totally seal the bags for strung beads, as the silk will gradually dry out.

2. To clean jewelry, mix boiling water in a pot with clear non-sudsy ammonia (two cups of water per capful of ammonia). Brush the jewelry with a toothbrush dipped in this solution and then rinse with clear, warm water. Use cold water only on emeralds, aquamarines and opals as they are heat sensitive. Don't put anything strung in water as the silk will rot.

3. Clean pearls when they are being restrung and off the silk. Get pearls restrung if you notice signs of the silk fraying or stretching or any place you can see dirt where it will rot the silk.

4. Do not use vibrating machines to clean your jewelry. if you must, use only ultrasonic commercial units purchased from jewelry stores. Do not attempt to clean a watch. You can have the band cleaned separarately when you get the watch serviced. Do not store your watch anywhere damp and keep the original box as it maintains the resale value.

5. Don't wear your rings to the gym or when gardening. It is not safe for your hands and abuses the jewelry. Don't expose your pearls to any chemical with an alcohol base that could take off the luster permanantly. Let perfume and hairspray dry completely before you put on any pearls.

6. Don't wear jewelry and watches to the beach. Salt water is corrosive and anything that falls in the sand is lost forever. Suntan oil will leave film on your jewelry.

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