Gold Jewelry Station

With gold being a precious metal, gold jewelry is pretty expensive.  Therefore, you should take good care of pieces that you already own to keep them at their best.  Read this article for some tips on maintaining your gold jewelry in mint condition.

Pure gold is rarely used for jewelry purposes because it is too weak to withstand normal wear and tear.  Your jewelry is actually made up of an alloy from the mixture of gold and other metals.  Pure gold is designated as 24 karat (karat is distinct from the carat used to measure diamonds).  22 karat is 75% gold, with the remaining 25% made up of other metals.  Jewelry is more commonly made up of either 18k, 14k or 10k.  The higher the karat, the higher the gold content.  It is necessary to use an alloy to dilute the properties (and cost) of gold.  Pure gold is very soft and malleable.

There are many variations of color, such as white gold, pink gold and green gold.  To achieve white gold, yellow gold is mixed with either nickel or palladium.  Most people have allergic reactions to nickel content in jewelry, so the more expensive palladium is often a popular choice.  Pink or rose gold is derived by mixing gold with additional amounts of copper.  Meanwhile, a green tint is achieved by adding silver to yellow gold.

Gold does not tarnish and simply has to be kept clean and sparkly.  Gold can be cleaned using a jewelry cleaning solution that can be bought at most jewelry stores.  However, some pieces that are embedded with gemstones are not recommended to be cleaned through this method.  In such instances, warm water mixed with some shampoo is sufficient.  Simply soak the piece in the water and shampoo solution for a few minutes, brush with an old toothbrush and wipe clean.

It is not a good idea to wear your gold jewelry at all times, especially when they are going to be exposed to rough activities such as gardening, sports, or cooking.  For one thing, safety concerns prompt the removal of any accessories than can get caught in equipment or machinery.  Second, gold itself is easily scratched with contact with other metals or hard surfaces.  Third, dirt and debris can get trapped in small hard-to-reach places such as underneath prongs and in between links.  Fourth, too much stress placed on locks or links can cause them to weaken and break.

Make it a practice to only wear jewelry when you are not engaged in any activity that could damage them.  When not being worn, jewelry should be stored properly in a jewelry box or inside a soft cloth pouch.  Ideally, bracelets and necklaces should be stored in such a way that they will not tangle or knot.  Pieces with gemstones should be kept from touching to avoid scratching and scuffmarks.  Inspect your jewelry on a regular basis for any loose locks, weakened links, etc.  It is a good idea to bring them for professional evaluation at least once a year to have an expert assess whether or not they have sustained any damage that might need repairs.

Blog writer Joana Chrystal Ventura-Moises is also an expert on plumbing and shower screens. She writes articles for Plumbing Point and the Hubpages.