With the proper care and attention, your precious jewellery will stand the test of time. Read our guide to how to keep your jewellery looking good for years to come.
Gold & Silver jewellery
Do not bring gold in contact with Chlorine/ Bleach/ Make-up/ Hair spray/ Perfume. (This may cause Permanent damage Or Discoloration)
Polishing Silver Jewellery
While sterling silver is highly durable and maintains a striking luster, it is prone to tarnishing and dulling because of chemical reactions with the air. Regular polishing with a silver polishing cloth will prevent a build-up of tarnish and preserve the silver’s beautiful high shine, but it won’t remove any scratches.
Cleaning Your Jewellery
One of the safest and easiest ways to clean most jewellery is with mild liquid soap and lukewarm water, using a small, soft brush. Toothbrushes are ideal and get into hard-to-reach areas. If the jewellery is very dirty, leave it to soak for 10 minutes before rinsing with clean water and patting dry with a soft, clean cloth.
Silver Polish And Dip
Silver polishing liquids and silver dips are not recommended for jewellery cleaning as they can destroy even the smallest amount of residue inside locks and chains will eventually cause deterioration.
Oxidised Sterling Silver
Aggressive polishing should be avoided on oxidised silver as it wears away the vintage finish and design details. Silver polishing liquids, silver dips or ultrasonic cleaning are not suitable for oxidised sterling silver and silver with oxidised details. Over time, the oxidised effect will naturally diminish but can be restored by a goldsmith.
Plated Jewellery
Plated jewellery should be wiped gently with a clean cloth to maintain its surface coating. Aggressive polishing, silver polishing liquids and ultrasonic cleaning will damage plated jewellery, and contact with abrasive or rough surfaces should be avoided. It is normal for plating to wear away over time but re-plating can be done at Swarna.
Protecting Your Jewellery
Wet, humid and warm conditions as well as perspiration create jewellery corrosion, which is why it’s best to avoid wearing jewellery in the bath, sauna or during swimming and sports. Similarly, make-up, creams, hairspray, perfume and household chemicals can speed up the tarnishing process. A good rule of thumb is to put on jewellery last.
Jewellery Storage
To avoid scratches and damage, jewellery should be stored separately in tarnish-resistant pouches or in individual compartments inside jewellery boxes. Please note that Swarna boxes are not tarnish-proof as they are not airtight. Use zip lock bags inside these or add silica gel packets or anti-tarnish strips to absorb moisture and slow down tarnishing.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
Ultrasonic cleaning should always be done carefully, using the right cleaning solution and temperature. It’s ideal for most plain metal jewellery except oxidized silver and plated jewellery. If a piece contains stones, always follow the instructions for the stone.
Ultrasonic cleaning Services are available at all Swarna Showrooms.
Home Remedy Cleaning
It may be tempting to use home remedies such as toothpaste, baking soda or similar for jewellery cleaning purposes, but it is not recommended as this can cause lasting damage. For example, toothpaste is abrasive and baking soda is acidic; both will harm the surface of precious metals.
Stone & Pearls:
Pearls/ opal/ turquoise/ amber can discolor easily when in prolonged contact with sweat/ oil/ soap/ perfume/ chlorine/
Do not wear stone studded jewels while caring out household works.
Never expose to extreme heat or sudden changes in temperature.
Cleaning:
Harder Stones: Soak for a little while in clean water & scrub off the deposits with soft bristle brush.
Caution with sterling silver dips: May remove the tarnish but they might rub off the color too.
Clean silver tarnishs periodically with mild soap solutions.
Storing:
Do not heap up while storing. Preferably into separate pouches / compartments.
Especially stone jewelry in separate padded compartments to prevent scratching/ chipping/ entanglement.
Store Silver in an air-tight seal plastic bag preventing it from tarnishing by the Sulphur in the air.
Periodical Check-list:
Look for Loose Links or Damages & get it fixed at our Special Customer Privilege.
Restring your pearls & other loose studs strung into a thread at our Special Customer Privilege.
Clean your jewelery in lukewarm water. Make sure wipe it dry after cleaning with a soft lint-free cloth.
