PBA tip of the Day brought to you by Scott Zychowski with Andrew Z Diamonds and Fine Jewelry 623-551-6892.
Cleaning your gemstones after they get dirty is only part of proper care. Pre-use care is also important. Apply your perfumes, colognes, and hairsprays before you put on gemstone jewelry. Not only will these chemicals reduce gem brilliance, the ability to return light, they can be highly destructive to some gems, such as pearls, which react violently to acid and alcohol.
If possible, wear your perfumes and colognes in areas that won’t come in contact with your gems. In the case of pearls, try to keep them out of contact with skin, whether you’re wearing perfume or not. Perspiration is inimical to pearls. If it’s impossible to keep your pearls away from your skin (if they’re on chokers or bracelets, for example), wipe them clean with a damp cloth immediately after wearing them. For more information on jewelry care, contact Scott today!
