Monica Brown March 17, 2016 0 Comments

Care and Cleaning of Jewelry and Watches

General Care and Cleaning of Jewelry and watches is given from the Avon guide to taking care of Avon jewelry and watches.

• For fashion and costume jewelry, wipe pieces with a clean, damp cloth, then dry with a soft, clean, absorbent cloth. Only use jewelry cleaners specifically designed for fashion/costume jewelry such as the Avon Jewelry Cleaner. Hot water or other chemicals should be avoided with cleaning costume jewelry. Avoid soaking for prolonged periods in water or exposing to extreme heat, steamers or ultrasonic cleaners.
• Ingredients commonly found in hairspray, mousse, lotions, perfume, makeup, shaving cream, and soap can leave behind a residue and create a dull film that is difficult to remove. To prevent buildup and avoid damage, remove all jewelry before bathing and grooming and avoid bringing pieces into contact with beauty products. Do not wear jewelry in chlorinated water or when working with household chemicals.
• Ensure that any jewelry is completely dry before storing. Store each piece in a cool, dry place in its own container or compartment to avoid scratching. Store sterling pieces preferably in a tarnish-preventative bag or wrapped in a soft piece of felt or cloth. Make sure your sterling silver is not exposed to air and light during storage which can cause silver to tarnish.
• Clean sterling jewelry with a mild soap and water solution, allowing the water to bead up, then pat dry with a soft cloth. for more stubborn dirt or tarnish, use a jewelry cleaner designed for use with sterling silver. Do not rub sterling silver with anything other than a polishing cloth or a fine piece of felt.
• To maintain the luster of your luxury pieces, a soft chamols cloth is an effective way to keep your pieces lustrous and shiny. You can remove tarnish on gold pieces with a jewelry cleaning agent or simply by using dish soap and water (mixed with a few drops of ammonia). Avoid full strength ammonia as this can cause cracking. Carefully brush with a soft bristle brush or old toothbrush. After brushing, rinse with lukewarm water and allow to dry.
• For certain gold jewelry, an ultrasonic cleaning machine may be appropriate. However, such machines can damage some jewelry, especially pieces containing pearls and certain colored gemstones. Seek a jeweler’s advice if unclear.

General care and cleaning of watches:

• Always store your watch in a dry place away from dust and chemicals that may cause discoloration on metal. In the evening, always store your timepiece.
• Before storing a timepiece for an extended period of time; clean the piece with a slightly damp cloth and dry.
• Do not store a mechanical watch near any appliance components; such as motors, loud speakers or television screens.
• Quarts watches need little servicing just battery changes. The batteries in quartz analog watches last approximately 2-3 years. Dead batteries left in a watch can leak or corrode so it is best to replace them before they expire.
• Automatic and mechanical watches should be taken to a specialist for servicing every 5-8 years.
• If your watch is not water resistant or you are not sure; do not immerse your timepiece in water. If you own a water resistant watch (.50 meters) worn regularly when swimming, diving, fishing or other activities involving water; you should have its water resistance checked annually to ensure that water will not leak into the watch and cause damage.