Care and Cleaning of Your Gold Jewelry

Keep your gold jewelry looking fresh and new every time you wear it by keeping it clean and cared for. Here’s how to keep your gold jewelry looking great for years to come.

Caring For Your Gold Jewelry

When properly cared for, your gold jewelry will last for years. Here are a few things to keep in mind while caring and wearing your gold jewelry:

Gold is a soft metal. This makes is susceptible to dings and scratches. Always remove your gold rings, bracelets and watches prior to any sports or outdoor activity.
Avoid chlorine. Don’t wear gold at all while swimming! Chlorine can weaken gold jewelry structure, leading to breakage.
Remove or cover while cleaning. Household cleaners can affect gold jewelry. Wear rubber gloves or remove your jewelry altogether when cleaning.
Put jewelry on last Makeup, hair products and perfumes all have chemicals that can harm jewelry and dull its finish. Always put your jewelry on last to avoid any damage.

Soak your jewelry. Use 10-parts warm water and 2-parts dish soap. Soak your gold jewelry for about 2-3 hours and hen scrub with a soft toothbrush. Blot dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Use a jewelry polishing cloth. After cleaning, a quick wipe with a polishing cloth will restore its shine.
Use jeweler-approved cleaners. Often, you can buy a jar of jewelry cleaner from your local jeweler. These cleaners are approved for cleaning many types of jewelry. Be sure to read the label thoroughly before using to avoid any type of damage.
Watch for damage. When cleaning your jewelry, be on the lookout for any loose stones, weak clasps and broken chains. Get your piece to a jeweler for prompt repair.
Get semi-annual inspections. Most reputable jewelers will clean and inspect your fine jewelry - even if you didn’t purchase it from them. Take advantage of these services, as jewelers are specially trained to look for weakness and damage and can offer assistance if you need a repair.

Storing Your Gold Jewelry

Gold is a fairly soft metal and deserves special care and handling. Proper storage of your gold jewelry is important to keep it looking shiny and new.

Use your jewelry box. Most jewelry boxes feature felt- or fabric-lined boxes that keep jewelry separate for storage.
Wrap special pieces. Lint-free cloths, like those used to clean glasses or computer screens, are perfect for wrapping special items in for storage.
Store pieces separately. To avoid nicks and scratches, store each piece of jewelry in a separate compartment or soft cloth.

When properly cared for, your gold jewelry will last for a lifetime!