Sparkling ideas

Call them pearls of wisdom or a gem of a plan - but you need to look after jewellery with regular care. Even when you're just storing them away, they could get damaged if not put away properly. The jewellery you wear everyday - do you take them for granted? Or do you take a few precautions to preserve them well? Let's look at a few simple ways to preserve our treasures and keep the shine on.

Did you know that moisturisers, hand lotions, detergents, chlorine and even perfumes could dull your diamonds? Avoid direct contact. Either remove your diamonds and other precious stones when handling these substances - or wear gloves as a precaution.

Your jewellery has helped you look good for the occasion that you have worn them to - and now it's your turn to return the compliment. When you remove your jewellery, wipe them carefully with a soft, moist (but not wet) cloth before you put them away. This will help clean away the sweat and dust collected - and preserve the radiance of the gemstones.

Soft pouches or jewellery boxes are the best things to preserve jewellery in. If you put more than one piece in the same pouch ensure that they are all individually wrapped in tissue paper. This prevents the metal and gemstones jostling one another and causing scratches.

Don't wear jewellery when you are cooking. Exposure to a lot of heat or cold can cause some of the gems to crack and break.

Emeralds, opals and a few other gems are better-preserved if not worn everyday. These gems are brittle and are more prone to wear away.

Contrary to popular opinion - soaps and detergent can cause gold to tarnish. This is because they cause a filmy layer form on the metal. Chlorine is especially harmful and can cause permanent damage to gold. Regular housework can thus spoil the quality of your jewellery. Why not remove them at such times?

Silver jewellery should be polished only with a polishing cloth - or any soft lint free cloth. Even tissue paper and paper towels can cause scratches on silver.

Pearls are delicate gems and should be taken good care of. Using hair spray, moisturiser or perfume with your pearls on - would only cause lasting damage to them. Keep your pearls clean of any synthetic substance. Polish with a soft cloth - and enjoy their luminous beauty.

Ideally, pearls should be restrung once a year. All jewellery should be checked once a year by jewellery to prevent loose stones from falling off.