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5 tips to take care of your jewelry

person learning how to clean jewelry

Jewelry is a wardrobe essential. From meaningful anniversary gifts to dazzling statement pieces and everything in between, jewelry carries a lot of value. To preserve both the value and the sentimentality of your pieces, it’s important to keep your earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and watches in good condition. There are a lot of ways your jewelry can get damaged with everyday wear. Between tarnishing, scratches, loose prongs, dullness, and damage, these delicate wardrobe pieces can have a short lifespan. A jewelry extended warranty can save you from heartache and expensive repairs down the road.

When you subscribe to Mulberry Unlimited, you can get coverage for all your jewelry items under the same product protection plan, for an affordable monthly price. That means you're covered in case of scratches, cracks, breaks, drops, and more, complete with unlimited claims and access to 24/7 customer support for the ultimate peace of mind.

Whether or not you have product protection for your jewelry, it's still important to properly care for your valuable pieces to ensure they'll sparkle and shine for years to come. Here are 5 jewelry care instructions to help your jewelry look its best.

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1. Keep your jewelry clean and dry

Cleaning is one of the most important places to start when it comes to jewelry care, so you can restore shine and remove any oils or dirt build-up. But if you’re cleaning a gold necklace or cleaning diamond earrings, you may need to use different tools for different materials. Look for the cleaning tips specific to your jewelry.

To maintain your pieces, remember a few things:

  • Many jewelry types can be cleaned using homemade jewelry cleaner made out of warm water and a mild dish soap. Be careful to use a gentle cloth or brush for cleaning, especially with soft gems like pearls that are easy to scratch.
  • Avoid any cleaning products not specifically designed for jewelry. Many cleaners can contain harsh chemicals that can damage gems or metals.
  • Put water into a separate bowl to rinse jewelry rather than over the sink, where it’s easy to lose a piece down the drain.

2. Keep it out of the gym and spa

As a general rule, if you’re going to swim, sweat, or steam, don’t bring your jewelry with you. It’s common for people to keep a pair of earrings on in the pool or wear a ring in the shower. But moisture, as well as the pool chlorine, (and even the pH of your sweat) can discolor your jewelry. Additionally, it provides plenty of opportunities for your favorite items to get lost or broken. Here are some ideas:

  • Keep a small cloth jewelry bag in your gym or swim bag to have a safe place to store your jewelry before workouts.
  • Place a ring bowl by the bathroom sink to remind you to remove your jewelry before showering or washing your hands.
  • Wear your pieces only during dry activities and dry places—that means taking them off when gardening, cooking, playing sports, and cleaning.

3. Avoid contact with lotion or perfume

Precious metals, colored gems, and pearls are very sensitive to chemicals. That can include even the products you put on your skin. If you’re applying perfume, make sure to do so before putting on your jewelry rather than spritzing afterwards. The same goes for any sort of makeup setting spray, lotion, or skin refreshing spray. Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Be careful, especially of pearls and porous gems—they can have permanent surface damage from some cosmetic chemicals.
  • Make sure that your skin is completely dry after applying any sprays before putting jewelry on.
  • If your precious metals become exposed to any chemicals, immediately rinse and wash off any residue with a gentle cloth.

4. Get a protection plan

When investing in a new piece of jewelry, make sure you understand what the jewelry warranty covers. Jewelry repairs and replacements can be expensive. An extended jewelry warranty, also known as a protection plan, provides you with coverage to replace or repair any defects or breakdown that comes from wear and tear.

What should be included in your extended warranty? Look for the following:

  • Rings. Coverage for broken, bent or worn prongs, and coverage to reset any gemstones. If a defect occurs in the setting that results in a cracked diamond or lost gemstone, see if you are eligible for a stone replacement. This can be a big money saver.
  • Necklaces and bracelets. Coverage to restring stretched pearls, repair or replace chains with knots or broken links, and repair or replace broken clasps.
  • Earrings. Coverage for broken or lost earring posts and earring repair.
  • Watches. Coverage for damage to all of the components, including crown, stem, and band. Coverage should include mechanical failures and battery replacements (especially when it comes to smart watches like an Apple watch).

You can subscribe to Mulberry Unlimited for your watches and jewelry when you shop online. You'll have access to longer-term coverage available at the lowest prices on the market.

5. Store your jewelry properly

When you're not wearing it, keeping your jewelry in careful storage can help prevent damage and discoloration. Storing jewelry together can get them entangled with one another, which risks scratches on soft gems or broken links on necklaces. Here are some jewelry storage tips:

  • Keep padded boxes or cloth bag pouches that new jewelry comes in.
  • Look for jewelry storage that allows you to have some separation between pieces to avoid tangling or damage, such as with a wooden jewelry box or padded ring box with individual slots.
  • Use a padded box or cloth bag to keep pieces separate from other items when traveling.
  • If keeping pieces in long-term storage, seal them in vacuum storage pouches to keep moisture and air out.

Care for your jewelry to save money

High-quality jewelry that is meant to last often comes with a hefty price tag. Whether you have your eye on a Kendra Scott necklace or a Van Cleef bracelet, you can save money by finding deals for your initial purchase, and avoid the cost to replace or buy new pieces down the road by properly following the tips in this jewelry care guide and protecting it with an extended warranty.

When you subscribe to Mulberry Unlimited, you'll be able to cover all your jewelry items and online purchases under the same product protection plan, so you're never left out in the cold.

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Kim Miller

About the author

Kim Miller is the Head of Marketing at Mulberry. She is passionate about building products and brands that make consumers happy, save them money and make their lives easier. Have an innovative idea for Mulberry you'd like to share? Give her a shout! She'd love to chat about anything from fintech and UX to gardening and antiquing.

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