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The below article, taken from The Kingswood Company’s blog, provides useful tips for keeping your jewelry sparkling during the holidays. For nearly 60 years, The Kingswood Company has been the leading innovator in high-quality, private-label jewelry care products. Look for their proprietary jewelry cleaning products at your favorite jewelry stores across the country.
It’s time to get out the good stuff. While we are proponents of wearing your favorite jewelry all year long, the holidays offer the opportunity to pull out statement pieces that might seem over-the-top at your everyday business or PTO meeting. When you reach into your jewelry box to grab your emerald earrings, diamond necklace or even a larger-than-life fashion piece, be sure to leave some time to give it a good cleaning. That statement piece won’t be speaking to anyone if it’s dull and dirty.
Cleaning Diamond Jewelry
Diamonds, whether they are worn every day or only for the most special of events, can lose their shine due to exposure to body oils, lotions, hair spray and more. To keep them sparkling, clean them with a fine jewelry cleaning formula. Simply immerse them in the cleaner for a couple of minutes and blot dry. If there is a build-up of grime, you can use a small jewelry brush as well.
Other harder gemstones can be cleaned in the same manner, including amethyst, aquamarine, garnet, ruby, sapphire and tourmaline.
Cleaning Emerald Jewelry
Celebrities have really been rocking the emeralds of late (see Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence at recent red carpet events). If you are fortunate enough to have your own emerald bling (color us green with envy), you will want to clean it with a gentle non-ammoniated jewelry cleaning formula. Again, simply immerse the piece in the cleaner for a couple of minutes and blot dry.
Other beautiful but softer gemstones that require a gentle touch include pearls, opal, coral, amber and turquoise. A gentle cleaner is also safe for sterling silver pieces, including those with designer antiquing or set with gemstones. If you have a piece with mixed stones, such as diamond and emerald, you will need to use the cleaning formula that is safe for the softest stone in the piece. Ask your jeweler, if you are unsure.
Cleaning Fashion Jewelry
Some of your most beautiful and impactful pieces may be fashion jewelry. Fashion pieces can also be layered with fine jewelry to make a real statement, but they should be cleaned before the big night as well. You can soak the piece in a gentle jewelry cleaning formula and blot it dry, or you can wipe it down with a professional polishing cloth.
Be sure to ask your jeweler for recommendations for the right cleaning formulation for your piece. Jewelry cleaner and polishing cloths also make great stocking stuffers or hostess gifts, so stock up for yourself and your friends and family.
