Gold jewellery should be removed when washing or bathing. Soap can cause a film to form on the gold, making it appear dull and dingy. Do not wear gold jewellery while using chlorine bleach or while in a swimming pool, spas, Jacuzzis or hot bath tub. Bleach can permanently damage or discolour your jewellery.
Since gold is a natural element, it can lose its luster over time if repeatedly exposed to dust, moisture, perspiration and makeup. Acids, abrasives and other harsh chemicals such as chlorine found in some common household cleaning solutions can weaken your jewellery or damage its finish. So, avoid wearing jewellery when undertaking manual activities such as gardening, cleaning of the house & other common tasks, household cleaning, etc. to prevent it from contact with sweat and perspiration.
Chemicals in cosmetics, colognes, perfumes, hair sprays can often damage your jewellery. Exposure to these chemicals often discolour precious metals like gold & silver and also damage the gemstones. Putting jewellery after using these materials can help reduce the potential risk of damaging your precious jewellery.
Jewellery may also get entangled with other objects which can cause it to snap / break, thereby damaging the jewel. It is recommended to remove and keep all your jewellery aside when you shower and sleep, while cooking, cleaning or any strenuous/heavy work, before exercise and other physical activities to avoid unnecessary wear and tear.
Like all other Jewellery, gold should be periodically cleaned and checked for wear and breakage. Pay particular attention to clasps (to ensure they catch easily but are still secure); prongs (to ensure they haven't cracked, bent or loosened, which could cause the stone to fall out); bracelet and neck-chain links (to ensure they don't kink or bend); pin backs and earring posts (to see if they are bent or loose); and wedding bands, pendants and charms (dangling pieces and items worn every day for a long period of time) are subject to wear and can thin out and eventually break. Around every two years, get white gold re-plated, platinum re-polished and prongs re-tipped, to maintain original condition.
Always inspect your gold jewellery for weakness or damage and bring it to a professional jeweller you trust for immediate repair. A professional jeweller is best to take care of high value gold jewellery studded with precious and semi-precious stones. Your jeweller will be able to handle these and many other repair jobs and ultimately ensure that the jewellery is clean without causing any damage to the stones and ensure that its sheen is not lost.
Kundan Jewellery Care:
Here are some tips on how to take good care of your Kundan Jewellery.
- When replacing the jewellery after use, wipe it with a suede cloth to restore its shine.
- If space is an issue, place the jewellery in between layers of cotton wool and seal it in a good plastic bag.
- Do not clean the jewellery with soap and water.
- Keep a pouch of desiccant with the piece to protect it from tarnishing due to excessive humidity. Dampness causes the silver in the setting to tarnish and the enamel to crack.