Jewelry Care Essentials

General Care
Your jewelry is built to be durable and should be worn and enjoyed. However, gold and platinum and even diamonds can be damaged and will experience some level of wear and tear. Here are some common sense rules to help protect your special treasures:

Avoid wearing fine jewelry while engaging in activities likely to cause excessive wear and tear such as working out at the gym or doing heavy yard work. Exposure to harsh chemicals such as those found in household cleaning products and some hair care products can be harmful. Chlorine in a swimming pool can degrade gold alloys. Jewelry items should be stored carefully when not in use to avoid contact with other jewelry as diamonds can scratch anything, including other diamonds.

Inspection
Check your jewelry regularly for any problems such as loose stones and broken, very worn, or lifted prongs. If your ring is catching on clothing, feels rough to the touch or there is air space under the prong tip, then attention is needed. Have your jewelry inspected by a professional once a year or whenever you detect a potential problem.

Metals
Gold and platinum are both susceptible to scratching and abrasion during normal wear. 14k and 18k gold products are actually harder and more scratch resistant than platinum, even though platinum is more durable in the long run. Depending on thickness, gold and platinum are susceptible to bending. Rings can sometimes get out-of-round from the pressure of gripping action, especially thinner rings.

White gold products are almost always plated with rhodium to give them a bright white luster. Depending on wearing conditions, lifestyle and body chemistry a white gold product may need to be periodically re-plated to regain top luster.

Small Diamonds
Jewelry designs featuring multiple small diamonds, such as pavé items, are susceptible to having small stones come out. Extra care and consideration should be given to these more intricate and delicate styles.

Cleaning
To keep your jewelry looking fabulous, regular cleaning is recommended. Precious metals, gemstones and diamonds will pick up oils from your hands and dirt from the environment causing a buildup of film that will diminish luster and sparkle. There are several excellent jewelry cleaning products and systems commercially available. A Whiteflash representative is always happy to provide recommendations.

A simple, safe and effective method for cleaning diamond jewelry is to soak the item in a dilute solution of 1/3 household ammonia and 2/3 warm water. After soaking for an hour or so (longer for heavy buildup), you can use a toothbrush to remove the softened dirt and film. Rinse with clean water being careful not to do so over an open drain! Stones can come out during cleaning (small ones are especially prone to this), in which case you have averted a loss by proactively maintaining the jewelry in a controlled way.

Insurance
For many customers protecting their fine jewelry investment with a personal jewelry insurance policy makes sense and gives great peace of mind. While Whiteflash does not sell insurance, we do recommend Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co., a leading specialist in the field. Their policies are all-risk, covering theft, loss and damage. Our clients can get quotes and apply for coverage conveniently through a link on our website.

Whiteflash is a full manufacturing jeweler and can perform any service you may need to maintain or repair your fine jewelry. If we can be of assistance please call us toll free at 877-612-6770.