antitarnishstripsSome jewelry boxes claim to come with anti tarnish linings in their drawers and compartments. In reality, this is an unnecessary feature because it is simple to get anti tarnish strips and place them in each compartment of your jewelry box.

What is important is that you tend to your jewelry collection regularly and follow these simple instructions for cleaning:

Wash your silver jewelry with a very mild detergent and rub in smooth up and down lines after drying it with a soft cloth.  Buy a silver polishing cloth from a jewelry shop.  For a small sum you can get the same polishing cloth that is used by the experts.  Forget about toothbrushes if you wash it occasionally and polish with the proper cloth.  If you have let it go and not cleaned it for a good while then you might need to use a soft brush and a stronger detergent and warm water, but remember, while these are clearing away the grime they are abrasive and corrosive too.

Since gold does not tarnish, it requires less care other than washing and drying.  It is a soft metal however, so you should be careful about what other materials you store it with. Diamonds, for example, and other jem stones can scratch a gold surface easily.  While gold cannot be damaged by exposure to the air, discoloration can occur from contact with sulphites in human sweat and some perfumes found in lotions and soap. Alloys in gold and soldered areas are weakened by chlorine, so it’s best to remove jewelry when swimming in a pool or house-cleaning with bleach solutions.

Dust gold lightly with a clean, dry cloth. Clean tarnished gold with an all-metal cleaner. Scrub jewelry lightly with a soft brush and rinse under warm water to remove dirt and lotion build-up from hard-to-clean areas. When not in use, wrap gold jewelry in a chamois cloth or acid-free tissue.

Appreciate that your silver jewelry is soft and will, without doubt, scratch and become a little dull.  Care for it by proper washing, sensible wearing and proper storage.  Take it to your jeweller for a buffing and polish occasionally to keep it at its peak.  jewelry is for wearing so enjoy it by wearing it and look after it when you’re not.

Top recommendation:  Gaze at some beautiful leather jewelry boxes at Smythsons of Bond Street