Protect Your Jewelry from Chlorine—and Other Summer Warnings

As we keep our distance and sanitize constantly, we’re around more bleach and caustic chemicals than in the past. I’ve got an important message for you:

Chlorine is your jewelry’s worst enemy.

And it’s not just in your pool…it can be in your sanitizing solution. It can damage, corrode, and discolor the mounting of your platinum, gold, or white gold wedding band/engagement rings. It’s also dangerous for pearls and for colored stones like emeralds, rubies, lapis lazuli, and jade, which may have been heat-treated.

Be especially careful of chlorine wipes and sanitizers. Some sanitizers, like Purell, don’t have chlorine, but if you see the word “bleach” keep it away from your rings and bracelets.

Other possible dangers to rings, bracelets, watches, and necklaces

• Bright sun: Some gemstones can fade and/or lose color—amethysts, ametrine, aquamarine, citrine, rose quartz, smoky quartz.
• Lotions: Suntan lotions, bug spray, and oils can damage treated stones, making them dull and dingy. Lotion can also get into the crevices of neck chains and gemstone prongs, damaging them.
• Salt water can damage silver—as can sweat when you’re working out.
• Cold water can cause your fingers to shrink, causing your engagement ring and wedding band to slip off.

Summer safety tip: Leave it at home

With all the dangers to jewelry, your best bet’s not to wear it out for a day in the sun. That way, you won’t have to worry about damaging it.

The other thing you should do to protect your jewelry is have the proper insurance in case something does happen. And for that, you need an up-to-date appraisal. Summer is a great time to take care of it, while you have the time. Start by calling me at 617-304-0174 or email me at aimee@ambappraisal.com.

Wishing you a happy, healthy summer, Aimee