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How to Care for Your Gold Jewelry
By Susan Omlin
Gold is a very versatile metal and in most cases can be worn on a daily basis. However, there are some "do's" and "don'ts" when it comes to gold.
"Do" take your gold jewelry off when you take a bath or clean your house. Even though soap will not hurt your gold jewelry it will leave a fine scum on it which will make it appear dull. This film can be cleaned off, but removing your gold jewelry will be a lot easier!
"Don't" wear your gold jewelry, especially white gold, if you plan to go swimming or get into that hot tub that contains chlorine. Chlorine can permanently change the color of your gold. It can turn white gold yellow. Remember to also be careful when using those household products containing chlorine bleach.
"Do" keep your gold jewelry clean. You can purchase a commercial cleaner or you can clean your gold by soaking in a solutions of one part ammonia and six parts water. Soak for about 1 minute then use a small soft brush, like a toothbrush to scrub lightly. Rinse in warm water and dry with a soft cloth or chamois. (Soaking in a glass of water with a denture tablet works well also.)
"Don't" use harsh or abrasive cleaning solutions on your gold jewelry. Gold can be fairly soft and may get scratched.
"Do" take your gold jewelry off when taking antibiotics. Strange as it seems some prescription drugs can alter the chemical properties of your sweat and cause tarnishing.
Got a knot in your gold necklace, gold chain, or gold bracelet?
Here's a trick - lay your gold necklace, gold chain, gold bracelet on a plate or piece of wax paper. Apply a drop of household or salad oil on the knot and use two straight pins to pull the knot out. Need to get the oil off? Dip your gold jewelry in some rubbing alcohol, rinse with warm water, and dry with a soft cloth or tissue.
"Do" look for the basics when beginning to buy gold jewelry. You want to buy the quality that you can afford. Start out with the simple solid gold chain necklace, classic gold earring hoops or studs, and a solid gold link bracelet. You can add to these later to change the look and style. A pendant can be added to the chain. Drops can be added to your earrings.
"Do" buy solid gold whenever you can. Generally speaking 14k gold is very versatile and affordable. With good care it will last a lifetime. Avoid buying gold plated, gold washed, or gold flashed jewelry. These have very thin coatings of gold (7 to 100 millionth of an inch) and do not last long.
About the Author
The author is the owner of an online jewelry store at http://www.bellezajewelry.com that specializes in the sale of solid gold jewelry at affordable prices. We pride ourselves in customer satisfaction.
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/43011.html
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