CARE GUIDE FOR GOLD JEWELRY AND PRECIOUS STONES

CARE OF GOLD AND PRECIOUS STONE JEWELRY

Since your jewelry is made of precious materials, it deserves care and attention. Basic care will help you preserve and protect your gold and gemstone jewelry forever.

CARE OF GOLD JEWELRY

Gold is a precious metal known for its radiant yellow hue. Gold jewelry has always symbolized elegance, luxury, prestige, and other attributes linked to gold pieces. Moreover, gold maintains its appearance indefinitely due to its stable nature. This metal resists chemicals and does not tarnish, making it an excellent choice for jewelry designed for everyday wear and lasting beauty. Additionally, gold's value appreciates over time, making it one of the most secure investments.

To clean your gold jewelry, follow these simple steps:

Soak the jewelry in warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap. Let it sit for a few minutes.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean the jewelry.
Rinse the jewelry with lukewarm water to remove any soap residue.
Dry the jewelry with a microfiber cloth and polish it to enhance its luster.

If your gold jewelry shows slight scratches over time, you may consider professional polishing. At Di Meco Jewelry, we offer comprehensive gold jewelry restoration services. Contact us to restore the brilliance of your jewelry and make it look as good as new.

White gold

White gold jewelry is radiant and elegant, offering an alternative to wearing yellow gold jewelry. White gold pieces are plated with rhodium to provide a bright, white finish. With daily wear or exposure to household chemicals, the rhodium plating will gradually wear away over time, revealing the natural white-yellow tone of the underlying metal. Many people continue to wear white gold long after the rhodium plating has faded, but you also have the option to have your jewelry professionally replated to restore its brilliant white color. At Di Meco Jewelry, we offer this service. Contact us to restore your white gold jewelry with rhodium plating and make it look as good as new.

Enamel

Enamel is a creative way to add colors and designs to gold jewelry and should not be exposed to temperatures above 122 degrees Fahrenheit or strong chemicals (acids, amines, mercaptans, and bases). You can clean your enameled jewelry using the same method suggested for cleaning gold jewelry.

DIAMONDS AND PAVÉ SETTING

Diamonds are the hardest substance in the world. Their composition ensures that no other existing material can scratch or break a diamond, and they can resist thermal assaults and temperature changes without sustaining any damage. In fact, a diamond can only be cut and polished using another diamond. Despite these impressive qualities, diamond jewelry is not entirely indestructible.

The choice of the setting is crucial; while the diamond is indestructible, its setting is not. To preserve the gemstone and prevent loss, it's important to choose a protective setting. When wearing a diamond, avoid exposure to sweat, chemicals, and activities that could damage the setting. Diamond jewelry can scratch other gemstones, so it is important to wear them in a way that they don't touch each other and to store them separately. Pavé settings are very delicate and require proper care to maintain their longevity. To minimize the risk of losing a pavé-set gemstone, avoid wearing jewelry in situations where friction or abrasion can wear down the metal prongs holding the stones in place. Avoid applying strong pressure or scratching the pavé settings. Inspect pavé-set jewelry at least every six months and immediately after any impact, scratch, or damage to identify loose stones. You can clean your diamond and other gemstone jewelry using the same gentle method recommended for cleaning gold jewelry.

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Emeralds

Emeralds are among the most beautiful and sought-after gemstones, with their green hues ranging from pale to vivid. However, emeralds require special care and should be handled and worn gently. It is advisable to remove your emerald ring when using soap, such as in the shower or while washing dishes. Do not clean the ring with strong soaps and detergents, steam cleaners, acetone, jewelry cleaners, or other cleaning agents. It is best to avoid wearing your emerald ring alongside other rings or during activities where you might grip hard objects, bump the ring against other items, or put pressure on your hands. These activities may include weightlifting, rock climbing, cooking, cycling, and yoga.

To clean your emerald, use lukewarm running water, mild hand soap, and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Gently brush the underside of the emerald repeatedly to remove dirt and oil. Finish by drying the ring with a soft cotton cloth.

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SAPPHIRES, RUBIES, AND OTHER PRECIOUS STONES

The vibrant, deep blue of a sapphire, along with its other colors, and the fiery red of a ruby, as passionate as the stones themselves, make these gems among the most coveted in the world of jewelry. They are incredibly rare and exude an extraordinary energy. Many precious stones exist in jewelry, but the care, maintenance, and attention required for these stones are similar to those for emeralds. These precious stones are not only beautiful and hold significant economic value but are also delicate. Using harsh chemicals or soaps can cause the stones to lose color and luster because they are natural and more delicate than diamonds.

Regularly inspect your jewelry to ensure that the setting is secure. Worn prongs are particularly vulnerable and may loosen when snagged or struck against a surface. Loose prongs can lead to loose gemstones or even the loss of a gemstone. Professional inspections are recommended every six months and immediately after any damage, impact, or unusual scratches to ensure all gemstones are secure and the structure remains intact.

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Wearing jewelry

Wearing jewelry is one of life's most precious pleasures. It expresses who you are, your tastes, and your personality, highlighting your beauty and bringing you happiness and sparkle. Each of us wears our jewelry as and when we prefer, but there are small precautions to avoid damaging your pieces when wearing them.

Protect your jewelry from impact against hard surfaces during sports or manual activities. Avoid contact with abrasive surfaces and shield your jewelry from harsh chemicals like chlorine and household bleach. Limit your jewelry's exposure to extreme temperatures, perfumes, cosmetics, and household chemicals that can damage white gold or precious stones. Do not wear rings and necklaces with overlapping gemstones that might rub against each other, as this could cause scratches and loss of precious stones. Avoid wearing rings when gripping objects with force, such as bicycle handlebars or weights, as the pressure can cause gold rings to bend or break.

HOW TO STORE

Having a dedicated space in your home for your jewelry is wonderful—a magical place, perhaps in your closet or makeup drawer, or even a safe. The choice of where to keep it is yours, but how do you store it?

Store all jewelry in a cool, dry place. Make sure your jewelry is dry and clean before storing it. Keep each piece of jewelry separate to prevent scratches and damage.

It is advisable to store each piece in its luxurious case provided by us with every purchase.

Alternatively, you may use a jewelry organizer to keep your collection neatly stored.