Jewellery has always been an ally while making a fashion statement. With the rise of online shopping, and access to style-specific jewels, whether minimalistic or ott, buying our favourite jewelry pieces, is just a blink away. While purchasing them is a piece of cake, the tougher task is to preserve these jewellery items just as they are originally.
The jewellery care may seem burdensome, but it's quite an easy job if you know the right trick! Here are few tips to make your imitation jewellery collection long-lasting:
1. THE STORAGE
Never underestimate the power of choosing the right storage for your jewels. Always keep your jewellery away from moisture in any form - Water or Air. Keep your jewels either in a zipped PVC pouch bag or an airtight box, as shown in the picture. These storage boxes / zippers allow only a minimum quantity of moisture to get to the surface of the jewel, and therefore increase the shelf-life to many folds.
These pouches and boxes are easily available in any local market, and can also be ordered online. You can also order customised boxes for storing jewellery through different online portals, just make sure it keeps the jewellery covered.
2. THE PAPER MAGIC:
In case of delicate jewellery, never shy away from using parchment paper as a cover. It works like magic for jewellery that contain crystal or stone elements. To keep the shine alive on your cluster jewellery or delicate ornaments, try wrapping them with a parchment paper, before placing them into the jewellery box or pouch. It's an old man trick that does wonders!
3. TALC IT BABY:
For sterling silver jewelry, or any other lustrous jewel piece, add a small amount of baby talc, or chalk powder into the storage container or pouch. These are helpful in absorbing moisture, and keep the jewellery item safe. At time of usage, simply wipe off the powder with a soft dry piece of cloth.
4. SILICA GEL:
Silica gel has been the go-to rescue item for fashion accessories lately. Proving itself to be among the best choices for moisture prevention, silica gel pouches can be easily used for jewellery care, by placing it within the boxes and pouches.
5. SPREAD, DON'T HANG:
Always store your necklace in a spread fashion, and avoid hanging them, especially in the case of heavy bead necklaces. Hanging the heavy necklace may cause pressure on the necklace string, thus can do an early damage.
6. THE RESCUE POWDER:
Are you tired of throwing away your tarnished metal jewelry?
Worry no more, for we have the ultimate rescue powder - Colgate - the powder, not the paste. The white dental powder has multiple usages, one of which can be applied for jewelery care. To get away with the oxidised layer of your metal jewelry, and bring back the shine again, simply rub a pinch of Colgate powder over the damaged portion using a dry cotton cloth. This trick is useful on most of the German Silver, copper and brass jewellery, but may be a bit restricted in case of an iron based jewellery item. For carved pieces, use a dry toothbrush instead of cloth.
Another must-try shine powder for jewellery is Pitambari. This shine powder is a boon for brass and copper jewellery. Dusting the ornaments made with these alloys with Pitambari brings back their lustre like nothing else.
Both Colgate and Pitambari are easily available online as well as at local shops.
P.S. - This is not a paid promotion :)
7. JEWELS ARE SHY:
Consider the jewels to be shy and always place them in separate storage units. This helps in avoiding two different materials of jewellery to react with each other, and also avoids tangling, and keeps the jewels more organised, as in case of necklaces.
8. TREAT THEM AS REAL:
Imagine throwing your gold or diamond jewellery on the side-table as soon as you return from the party, and not picking it up before two days pass -- Well! the truth is --You simply can't!!
If you can't with the gold and the diamonds, please don't with the imitation jewellery, for they are equally precious - if not in monetary terms, but definitely in terms of fashion. Haven't they been to rescue at the sudden plan of date nights and get-togethers? So, try being more gentle and kind while you take care of your artificial jewellery. Take extra care of their storage by placing them in a cool and dry place. Always wear your jewellery piece at the last to make minimal amount of contact between jewellery items and chemicals like perfumes and other cosmetics.
Remember, you are a fashion forward if you have all the trending jewellery added to your collection, but you are undoubtedly a fashion icon if you know how to manage and maintain the collection while adding more charms to it. Moreover, it never harms to keep your budget intact, and still make a fashion statement ;)