This summer, I have had the pleasure of educating a couple of people who made complaints about their fine jewelry pieces. I asked them one question: How often did you get into water with your jewelry on?
A lot of us are unaware of the effects chlorine, salt water and even some household cleaning agents have on our jewelry pieces. Here's an article I found, that can help educate you better.
Enjoy the read....:)
The Effect of Chlorine or Saltwater on Jewelry
Precious
metal and gemstone jewelry are often prized possessions and are usually
carefully cared for by their owners. Unfortunately, there may be
environmental influences that can damage precious metals and gemstones;
often without the wearer of the jewelry being immediately aware of the
damage. Once serious damage to the piece has occurred, it is often
impossible to repair the jewelry and it must be repurchased or
recreated. This can be devastating to the owner of the jewelry,
especially if the damaged jewelry was an heirloom piece.
Before you dive into any body of water while wearing your jewelry, take chlorine and salt water into consideration.
Chlorine and Gold Jewelry
One
chemical that is often found in daily life is not usually thought of as
harmful or destructive to something as solidly built as jewelry.
Chlorine, whether it is found in chlorine bleach used for cleaning, in
the swimming pool or in the hot tub
can degrade gold jewelry to the point of disintegration. The actual
damage to the jewelry piece is due to something commonly called stress
corrosion cracking. Whether there is already stress in the joints of the
jewelry or it has been repaired, these existing stress points cause a
failure in the integrity of the jewelry when exposed to chlorine. A gold
ring, placed in undiluted bleach, can disintegrate within minutes of
exposure. The higher the karat of the gold in the jewelry, the longer it
takes for the chlorine to cause stress fractures.
Chlorine and Gemstones
It
is generally recommended to have all jewelry cleaned professionally or
clean pieces at home with warm water, a soft bristle brush and very mild
detergent soap. Gemstones, including amethyst, tourmaline and turquoise
are very susceptible to discoloration when exposed to harsh chemicals.
It is always good practice to remove jewelry prior to cleaning the
house, performing any household chores requiring the use of chemicals,
swimming or soaking in the hot tub. Some gemstones require special care,
depending on the hardness of the gem and the actual cut of the
gemstones. For example, an amethyst necklace
with a princess cut should not be piled in with a diamond necklace
which could chip the corners of the gemstone and dull the finish.
Saltwater and Precious Jewelry Metals
Saltwater
is another corrosive substance that can cause significant damage to
jewelry. Due to the harsh nature and salt content of sea water, exposure
to salt water can erode the soldered joints of custom jewelry. Most
gold and platinum rings are made with mounts soldered to the main band
with white gold or silver. These solder joints take the most wear in any
situation; however, saltwater can erode the joints and cause mounts and
settings for gemstones to fail. Platinum and titanium are sterner, more
durable metals and can withstand some light exposure to saltwater or
sea water. It is recommended by most jewelers and jewelry care
professionals to remove any precious metal jewelry prior to swimming in a
saltwater pool or the ocean.
Saltwater and Gemstones
As
with chlorine and other harsh chemicals, saltwater can cause
significant damage to gemstones in jewelry settings. Along with
degrading the mounting joints, which can potentially cause the gemstone
to be lost, the saltwater can also damage the facets and appearance of
the gemstone itself. Even a simple jewelry piece, such as an amethyst
necklace, can be damaged beyond repair by saltwater. It is recommended
by jewelry manufacturers to leave jewelry at home if going on vacation
or removing all jewelry prior to entering a saltwater swimming pool,
saltwater lake or the ocean. All of the oceans and many inland seas
contain significant amounts of salt that can cause irreparable damage to
precious jewelry.
Caring for jewelry and precious gems
All
precious metals and gems require specific care to keep them clean and
in original excellent condition. Any cleaning with chemical cleaners,
exposure to household and pool chemical or exposure to saltwater
situations can cause irreparable damage to precious jewelry pieces. With
the overwhelming majority of jewelry, simple cleaning with warm water, a
soft bristle brush and a very mild detergent will keep jewelry well
maintained and in excellent wearable condition. A large number of
jewelers recommended home cleaning be done with the softest bristle
toothbrush available. Gemstones should only be polished with soft felt
cloth or jeweler’s cloth in order to keep from scratching gemstones. As
with gemstones, precious metal jewelry should also be polished carefully
in order to prevent etching marks in the metal. Any precious jewelry
piece should be periodically inspected and professionally cleaned by a
jeweler.
Source: www.hubpages.com. (2010). Saldie Valentine
