Priyanka Chopra swears by this trick to avoid ruining her jewellery: ‘You don’t want aerosol on it’

Taking care of your investments is not just about polishing your pieces every few years. Real jewellery care is in the everyday choices you make. Saurabh Khandelwal, owner, Dhanvi Diamonds, told indianexpress.com that taking care of jewellery is an art and “it calls for a proper understanding of metal, stone and the precious elements it is made of”.

Wearing jewellery and then applying makeup

Always wear your jewellery after applying makeup, said Khandelwal, stressing that doing it the other way increases the chance of chemical reactions, which may damage the polish of your jewellery. “Makeup and other cosmetics can contaminate jewellery, so let all of that dry before you wear your jewellery. This is because the chemicals in these can cause discolouration,” he said, adding that one may also experience skin allergies. “Remember to avoid spraying perfume around your necklace or earrings because it may damage the precious stones encrusted in your piece.”

Segregate and store

Not properly storing them can ruin your jewellery in the long run. Often in a rush, we store our jewellery in lockers made from metal, without properly covering or protecting it. Khandelwal pointed out that “metal lockers are highly reactive, as they use spray polish and when jewellery pieces are kept inside, the moisture in the air reacts with the metal, resulting in damaging your precious jewellery.”

Deepshikha Gupta, VP Designer, Melorra advised that jewellery pieces must be stored separately to avoid scratches or breakage. “You can store them in soft-lined compartments and away from direct sunlight, dampness, or even extreme temperatures. Often, it is better to store them in the boxes they come with,” she said, adding that you can also wrap gold and precious/semi-precious stones in acid-free tissue or cotton to ensure they don’t catch dust or moisture.

Right paperwork is as important for precious jewellery as for anything else that you own.  (Source: Instagram/@priyankachopra)

Clean them gently

There are a few jewellery pieces like nose rings and studs that we wear every day, and they come in contact with dust, bacteria and sweat. These pieces require regular cleaning just as your body. Khandelwal suggested cleaning them at least on a weekly basis.

“Make sure to regularly and gently clean all your jewellery for removing oil, dust or other kinds of contamination. You can use simple things like soap and water and a soft toothbrush to clean them. However, do not rub or handle them roughly,” he said. Take a jeweller’s advice if you are unsure of how to clean them. There are special jewellery cleansing materials available for gold.

Buy certified jewellery

Right paperwork is as important for precious jewellery as for anything else that you own. “This will ensure that you can get the pieces rectified in case there is damage. Keep all the certificates with you, especially in the case of diamond jewellery,” said Gupta.

“Lightweight gold jewellery is for any time, anywhere. Hence, caring for them is as important as servicing your car or any other household item. This will make sure that your jewellery retains its shine and is always ready to wear. Following these tips can help and also ensure your jewellery game is always on point,” she added.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.