Pearls

The luster on pearls can be easily damaged from contact with chemicals, lotions, or other gemstones and cannot be restored. Just like diamonds which are the hardest substances known to man, they can also be damaged under certain condition. Here are a few ways you can protect your pearls so you can enjoy them for years to come and pass them on.

• Keep Them Separated

Rather than throwing your pearl earrings or ring into a dish with your other jewelry or watches at the end of the day, protect your pearls by storing them separately in pouches made of natural fibers, such as silk or cotton, and avoid putting them in a jewelry box touching other gemstones.

• Avoid Harmful Chemicals

Pearls are very vulnerable to damage from chlorine bleach as well as lotions, perfumes, oils, and hairspray. After each wearing, wipe off your pearls with a soft and clean cloth. 

• Be Sure to Have Them Restrung

Pearl cord can stretch, become weak, or soiled through wear. By having them restrung it will prevent breakage and potential loss or damage to them.

Taking Care of Your Diamond Jewelry

Between visits to the jeweler, you can test the prongs on your jewelry yourself to see if your diamonds are loose. Simply, take off your jewelry, hold the stone up to your ear and shake it. If something is loose, you will hear it moving and you should get it repaired right away.

If you receive a new piece of jewelry for the holidays, Valentine’s Day, or other event, we’ve got a few tips to ensure that you can enjoy it for many years to come.

Storing Makes All the Difference

When you’re not wearing it, you may want to keep your fine jewelry in a bank safe deposit box or an in-home safe if you keep it at home. Be sure the safe has a tool and torch resistant ranting of 30 minutes or more, and is bolted to the floor or the wall and hidden from view. Let someone else know the combination besides yourself in case you can’t open it or forget what it is. The first-place burglars look is on top of the dresser, inside drawers, and in the master bedroom. Find another more unusual place to store your jewelry.

Do You Know it’s Value?

It’s always prudent to know what you have. Seek out a professional certified jewelry appraiser who can appraise your jewelry and tell you the value of your pieces. To find a credentialed appraiser in your area check American Society of Appraisers or the International Society of Appraisers.

Get It Insured

Homeowner’s insurance does not always fully cover expensive jewelry from all hazards. To give you peace of mind, consider purchasing a personal articles floater policy that provides all-risk protection, as well as automatic coverage for loss or theft. Be sure to read your policy when you get it to be sure you know what you are and are not covered for. When buying jewelry online, it is wise to proceed with caution and make sure your purchase is legitimate as represented and arrives in your hands in good condition. Photos can be manipulated online to change the actual look of the jewelry in real life, so remember to check the return policies of the online vendors. Before purchasing online do the following:

• Check Who You are Buying From                                                                                                                                                                                          Do research on the vendor, how long they’ve been in business, their reputation, how many and what reviews they have and if they have satisfied customers.
• Check the Policies                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Check the privacy policy to see if they share your email or contact information with anyone else. Read their exchange and return policy as well, to be sure if you’re not happy with what you received, or it comes damaged, you will have some recourse. Always use a credit card to purchase online and never send cash, checks, or wire money until you have checked out your merchandise.
• Read All the Information and Certifications on the Jewelry                                                                                                                                              Request a photo of the signature or metal purity stamp on the piece, or any documents supporting its clarity and identification. If buying a diamond, ask for a GIA Diamond Grading Report from The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) because they have recommended and consistent standards for diamond grading and identification. For colored gemstones, the go-to labs for grading include AGL (American Gemological Laboratories), Gubelin Gem Lab, SSEF (Swiss Gemologist Institute) and GRS (GemResearch SwissLab).
• Check its Condition                                                                                                                                                                                                              Make sure the jewelry was packaged well and not damage during transit. If it is damaged, report it right away and save the packaging it came in to show the shipper.
• Be Sure its Insured                                                                                                                                                                                                             Be sure the package is insured by the shipper in case something happens in transit.