| Taking Care of Your Gold Jewelry | | | | harsh chemicals found in some common household |
| Whether bought for yourself or as a gift, gold | | | | cleaning solutions can weaken your jewelry or |
| expresses love, permanence, individuality and style | | | | damage its finish. So it's best to cover up rings |
| more eloquently than words could ever do. | | | | and bracelets with rubber gloves while doing |
| If treated carefully, the gold jewelry item you | | | | heavy-duty cleaning. Or better yet, take them off |
| purchase today could last a lifetime and might | | | | altogether. |
| even be handed down to future generations. So | | | | Gold can lose its luster over time if repeatedly |
| here are some tips that will help preserve the | | | | exposed to dust, moisture, perspiration and |
| beauty of your gold jewelry. | | | | makeup. So make sure to clean your jewelry |
| First of all, gold is lasting and durable but can get | | | | regularly. You can use a cleaning solution of sudsy, |
| scratched or dented if treated roughly. This is | | | | lukewarm water, or bring it to your local jeweler |
| particularly true of items worn on the hands like | | | | and have it professionally steam-cleaned. After |
| rings and bracelets that are prone to a lot of | | | | cleaning and rinsing, always dry and polish jewelry |
| knocks. So remove these pieces before any type | | | | with a chamois or soft cloth to avoid scratches |
| of strenuous activity. | | | | and bring out its shine. |
| Second, beware of chemicals. Gold's worst enemy | | | | Proper storage is as important as cleaning. Protect |
| is chlorine. Repeated exposure can weaken gold's | | | | your gold jewelry by storing it safely in a jewelry |
| structure, eventually leading to breakage. So keep | | | | box or keeping it wrapped in a soft cloth when |
| your gold jewelry away from chlorinated cleaning | | | | not being worn. Furthermore, keeping pieces |
| products and out of swimming pools and jacuzzis. | | | | stored separately will prevent them from getting |
| On a related note, acids, abrasives and other | | | | tangled or scratching one another. |