Caring For Your Pearls
Caring properly for your pearls will ensure they stay in perfect condition for many decades, in some cases they can survive for over 200 years in their original fabulous quality, so it is worth putting the effort in, especially if you plan on passing them on to your children.
The most important, yet also most basic, step in caring for your pearls is to keep a soft cloth by your jewellery box and each time you remove them wipe them gently yet thoroughly to remove any dirt or natural oils. This will ensure that your pearl is sparkling and glowing always
When it comes to storage you will want to keep the pearls in a separate compartment of the jewellery box, or if you keep them on a dresser or nightstand it is worth investing in a small pouch. This is to prevent the pearls from getting scratched, either by other pieces of jewellery, or simply from getting knocked down. Pearls are easily damaged and it’s important to care for them accordingly.
Due to their sensitivity it is also vital that you keep your pearls away from makeup, hair spray, body spray, nail polish remover and perfumes. When getting ready in the morning, it is vital that you finish applying cosmetics and doing your hair before putting your pearls on.
If you follow these basic steps you can protect your pearls and ensure them a long life, free of scratches, stains and discolouration. After reading the simple guide, you should have an idea on how to take care of your pearl jeweleries
Anti Tarnish Jewelry Box Review
Do you need an Anti Tarnish Jewelry Box?
Your method of storing silver jewelry is very important.
Sterling silver jewelry should be kept in a dry place away from daylight and heat. Silver must be kept where each separate item has space for itself without other jewelry under or on top of it. This allows for the air circulation as well as shielding it from scratches and other harmful action.
Do not encase your silver in card, paper, plastic or cotton as these contain compounds that will tarnish your jewelry quickly. Rubber of any description, even rubber bands, will tarnish silver at a rapid rate.
Contrary to popular opinion, you do not need a “tarnish proof” or “anti tarnish jewelry box” to look after your jewelry in.
Personally, I will never have a jewelry box with an artificially protective lining. Why? Anti tarnish fabrics like the ones employed in jewelry boxes are generally coated in chemicals. As with all painted linings, these coatings wear, erode or evaporate over time. What concerns me is that these substances layer the jewelry you wear in your ears, on your hands or around your neck and a portion of that coating is certain to be passed on. to your skin. Even if it is just a tiny amount, who can say that you are not allergic to that particular chemical or can be made ill by it. For cooking items and cutlery these treated linings are fine because you wash the compounds away before using them. Worst still, some linings can essentially cause tarnish. They carry sulphur and chloride and can do your jewelry more harm than good. Most don’t but, how you store and care for your jewelry makes a difference.
So where does that leave you?
Well, some anti tarnish jewelry boxes are not chemically handled. There are a few materials that contain minute specks of silver in them that absorb the sulfur gases and will protect silver for a lifetime. If you know that the lining is not chemically treated but still anti tarnish then great. Don’t know? Then there are other options that most people are not aware of and the greatest part is tha you aren’t restricted to style, make or color of jewelry box to use these products. Your precious silver can be protected while you have the jewelry box that you desire, without any compromise at all.
How to create an “anti tarnish/ tarnish resistant” storage environment for silver:
Follow the rules above and use one or 2 of the ideas at the link below for anti tarnish storage of your precious jewelry. All are typically available online, or from a local jeweler, pastime shop and some are even free. Also all are safe and do not emit fumes, chemicals, gases or vapors.
Causes of tarnish and corrosion in Jewelery:
Exposure to humidity, naturally emitted sulfur from silver, chemicals in clothing, food (onion, egg, oil based products, salt, milk, vinegar, acidic foods ) wool, felt, rubber based products(rubber bands), latex, skin oils, makeup, perfume and hair products (gel, hair spray, hair color) and more.
Go here for the anti tarnish jewelry box storage guide
