Avoid making these six common jewellery mistakes if you want your pieces to last

Let’s be honest, we all have - at one point or another - kept our jewellery on in the shower, while cleaning or applying fragrance.

Maybe not. But the better the quality, the more sturdy those pieces will be to everyday things like perfume, makeup, tan etc.

Jewellery experts at LibertyLondon.com have listed the six most common mistakes people are likely to make when caring for their timeless pieces - and how badly they affect them.

Spraying products directly

They’ve warned that perfumes, beauty products, and lotions can dull, tarnish and deteriorate metals and gemstones.

So next time you’re getting ready, be sure to make precious pieces the finishing touch.

Wearing jewellery when swimming or household cleaning

We use all sorts of sprays, gels, and polishes at home when we’re cleaning.

But things like chlorine, bleach and even laundry detergents can discolour and disintegrate metals and gemstones.

So before you get stuck into your next big clean, remove all jewellery.

Wearing jewellery during hands-on activities

Whether you’re heading to the gym, doing some redecorating or just the odd bit of manual labour around the house, be sure to take your pieces off.

Precious metals like gold and silver are relatively soft and susceptible to damage – especially rings – before cooking, gardening, working out or doing anything that might scratch, knock or break your jewels.

Wearing jewellery to bed

This is a similar warning for removing your makeup; no matter how tired or lazy you’re feeling, you need to remember that it’s easy to snag bracelets, tangle chains and bang watches (usually on the side table) while sleeping. 

So to prevent any jewellery-related bumps in the night, remove them before bed.

Storing jewellery in extreme environments

Never leave your jewellery in a box on the window sill, or wherever it can get direct sunlight.

Similarly keep it out of the bathroom, or other areas of high humidity.

Jewellery seriously dislikes extreme conditions, so keep all unworn pieces in a dark and dry location.

Speaking about this advice, one of the experts at Liberty said: “Jewellery, especially plated pieces and those encrusted with organic gemstones do not react well when wet, spritzed with perfume or put into contact with chemicals.

"So while it can be tempting to quickly pop in the shower with your favourite chain still clasped around your neck and easy to forget about your rings when you've got metres of surfaces to bleach, always make the effort to first remove all jewellery beforehand. 

“If you do, expect your pieces to remain shiny, strong and have a longer lifespan.”

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