General Care for Fine Jewelry at Bel Jewelers in Philadelphia
To ensure that your fine jewelry from Bel Jewelers lasts a lifetime, proper care is essential. Here are some tips to keep your precious pieces looking their best: Treat all fine jewelry with care. After wearing your jewelry, gently wipe it with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth to remove dirt or cosmetics. Store each item individually in a soft pouch or cloth to avoid scratching.
Avoid exposing your jewelry to salt water and harsh chemicals, such as chlorine or detergents, as they can damage gold and gemstones.
Refrain from sleeping in your jewelry to prevent any damage.
When traveling, pack your jewelry carefully using protective soft rolls and pouches.
Special Care for Gemstone Jewelry from Bel Jewelers
Gemstones from Bel Jewelers in Philadelphia often undergo treatments to enhance their natural beauty. With proper care, your gemstone jewelry can last a lifetime. However, it is essential to take extra precautions:
Avoid exposing your gemstone jewelry to salt water, chemicals, perfume, or hairspray, as these substances can erode the finish and polish of the gems. Do not subject gemstone jewelry to sudden temperature changes. Opals, emeralds, and tanzanite require extra care. To clean these gems, do not use commercial cleaning solutions, ultrasonic steam cleaners, or hot or cold water. Instead, use a soft cloth and lukewarm water. Opals are particularly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, which can cause cracking. Remove your opal jewelry before washing dishes, handling frozen foods, or in extremely cold weather. Store your gemstone jewelry in cotton, never plastic. Keep each piece separate, as these gemstones can easily scratch other pieces.
Special Care for Diamond Jewelry at Bel Jewelers
Diamonds are incredibly durable, but a strong blow can still chip them. Avoid wearing your diamond jewelry from Bel Jewelers in Philadelphia while doing rough work.
Though chemicals like chlorine won’t harm your diamond, they can damage or discolor the mounting. Always remove your diamond ring before using any chemicals.
For everyday light cleaning of solitaire jewelry, use a toothbrush and warm slightly soapy water in a bowl (never over the sink). Rinse thoroughly with cool water and pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth.
Store your diamond jewelry individually, as diamonds can scratch other diamonds and jewelry pieces.
Special Care for Gold & Platinum Jewelry at Bel Jewelers
For light cleaning of your gold or platinum jewelry from Bel Jewelers in Philadelphia, soak the jewelry in a bowl of mild liquid detergent and lukewarm water. Brush lightly with a toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly with warm, then cool water to remove dulling residue, and dry with a soft cloth. To remove heavy grease or oil, dip your precious metal jewelry into plain rubbing alcohol, then follow the directions above. Remove jewelry before bathing, swimming, gardening, or exercising. Exposure to chemicals such as chlorine or cleaning solutions can damage your jewelry. Hairspray, perfume, or perspiration may also dull the finish of precious metals.
Special Care for Sterling Silver Jewelry at Bel Jewelers
Silver naturally tarnishes when exposed to air and light. Depending on the finish, silver may require special care. Sterling silver from Bel Jewelers in Philadelphia is often plated with anti-tarnish coatings which may eventually wear off. Use a cloth or mitt designed for silver and silver polish to clean older sterling silver pieces. For silver with anti-tarnish coatings, use a soft jewelry polishing cloth only. Lightly wipe or clean these pieces as you would gold jewelry, and avoid using silver polish. Never wear your sterling silver jewelry while swimming in chlorine water, as it may cause discoloration. As with other fine jewelry, exposure to chemicals may damage the finish.