Just Ask Leslie: Jewelry Tips

When speaking with friends and acquaintances, I’ve noticed that many women are unaware of how to properly care for their gold jewelry so I decided to post a few pointers.

Fist of all, it is important to know when to take it off. I know women who never remove their wedding rings, no matter what the circumstances. This is misplaced sentiment, however, as many activities such as sports, housework and gardening are likely to bring the ring into contact with destructive chemicals which will eat away at the gold and eventually make it unwearable. Additionally,chlorine and other disinfectant chemicals found in hot tubs and swimming pools can react to the alloys in gold and result in discoloration.

When you do remove your gold jewelery, you should wrap it in a soft cloth and keep it away from both costume jewellery and sunlight as sunlight can dim the gold’s glow.

Gold jewellery should be cleaned with a soft, non-abrasive material and soft, lint free cloth. There are cleaning solutions available which I would recommend for delicate or intricately carved gold pieces.

As a final word of advice, I would recommend occasional (once every year or two) visits to your local jeweler for a professional cleaning and inspection. With the proper care, your gold can last a lifetime.

Dear Leslie,
I recently noticed that two of my gold necklaces are no longer shining the way they used to. Why is that and what can I do about it?
Starr in Batan Rogue

The most likely reason why your necklaces have lost their shine is that gold often develops a film build up of oils from lotions, powders, soaps, and natural skin oils which dim its luster. In addition, chemicals in the air can slightly oxidize the gold depending on the karat grade used.

There are a few ways in which to remove the oils and give the gold back its shine. The first is by giving the jewelry a detergent bath. This is done by preparing a small bowl of warm suds using any mild liquid soap found in your home and then brushing the pieces with a soft toothbrush while they are in the bath. Remove the jewelry with a thin strainer, such as those used to strain tea, and rinse them under warm running water. Pat the necklaces dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

The Cold Water Soak

Make a solution out of 50% cold water and 50% household ammonia in a cup. Soak the pieces for 30 minutes. Lift out gently clean with an eyebrow brush or toothbrush. Swish in the solution once more and let the jewelry drain on tissue paper.

Another option is using an ultrasonic cleaner

This is a small machine that will clean any piece of jewelry that can be dipped in a liquid in a matter of minutes. There are many varieties of ultrasonic cleaners, but they all consist of a metal cup that you fill with water and detergent. When the machine is turned on, a high-frequency motion creates the cleaning action. Since each machine is slightly different, read the instructions very carefully before use