It's that time of year again where the sun is out and summer is here! And if you're lucky enough to be jet-setting into hotter climates, you're going to want to know how to look after your jewellery. We've put together some top tips on how to keep your precious pieces in their best condition.
Storage
When you come to store your jewellery ready for your trip, make sure you have something to keep your jewellery in so all of your items are safe. The Caroline Zip Up Jewellery Case is perfect as it has separate compartments so that jewellery doesn't get tangled together.
Swimming
When it's too hot and you want to get cool from a dip in the pool, do you know what jewellery is safe to swim in? Yellow gold and platinum jewellery with precious gems like diamonds and sapphires are more than likely going to be ok but more porous gemstones like opal, turquoise and pearl can change colour or even be permanently damaged. Silver jewellery is often unpredictable as the chlorine levels can make the silver oxidise and appear darker. Most of the time it can be removed by a good silver cleaner.
Salt water can often be corrosive so we do recommend rinsing your jewellery with fresh water after it has been in contact with it.
If you're planning on going to the beach, be aware that sand can scratch precious metals and gemstones. We would recommend that you avoid wearing your most treasured pieces if you're planning to be by the sea.
Pearls
Pearl jewellery can be affected by many different substances such as perfume, fake tan, sun cream and body creams. They all contain chemicals that can dissolve the nacre of the pearl and make them dull and lose their colour. When you go to use any of these products, avoid spraying any of them directly onto any pearl jewellery, but if you forget, make sure you wipe your jewellery with a mild cleaning product. We would suggest avoiding swimming in a chlorinated pool and even salt water, just in case.
Watches
When it comes to watches, most modern ones are labelled as water resistant. This means that it will be able to withstand sweat, raindrops, humidity and the occasional splashes. However, it won't be ok if you go swimming, shower or immerse your timepiece in water.
If your watch has a water resistance measurement, take a look at this list so you know how much water it can withstand:
3 ATM / 30m: Splash proof and waterproof in small amounts of water.
5 ATM / 50m: Can be submerged in water. Suitable for shallow swimming.
10 ATM / 100m: Suitable for swimming, snorkeling and water sports.
20 ATM / 200m: Ideal for scuba diving.
30 ATM / 300m and over: Professional and deep sea diving.
If you have any more questions about looking after your jewellery or your watch, feel free to email us at [email protected] or call us on 0161 205 3575 and we will be more than happy to help, and have a great holiday!
