Keep It Looking Good: Bracelet Care And Repair Tips
One thing is for sure -- if your bracelet represents a substantial financial investment, you want to keep it looking good, and in good condition. Because women's bracelets are made with so many different types of materials, and different designs, it isn't possible for us to give specific recommendations to cover every possible type. But there are some general bracelet care and repair tips that are suitable and recommended for just about any type of bracelet -- When to Wear Your Bracelet -- and Not to If you have a bracelet that you like to wear daily, be advised that there are certain situations where you should NOT where it. For example, don't wear your bracelet while doing household cleaning or chores. While that might seem like an obvious bracelet care recommendation, you would be surprised at the number of women who wear bracelets while they are doing housecleaning, the dishes, laundry, etc. In general, this should be avoided. Why? One reason is that while doing daily chores you may bump your bracelet, denting, scratching, bending, or even breaking the stones or the links. Another reason why you should not wear your bracelet while doing daily chores is because of the high probability that your bracelet will come in contact with harsh detergents, soaps or solvents -- all of which can damage your bracelet. Another bracelet care tip: remove your bracelet if it contains links or stones that have sharp edges or pointed, jagged surfaces when you wear clothing which has a loose weave or stitching near the cuffs. The reason for this is your bracelet can become caught up in the ruffles, frills, or knitted stitching -- you may damage your bracelet, or your garment, if it becomes entangled in the fabric. Again, to properly care for your bracelet you should not wear it to the beach, or while swimming, doing the dishes or while bathing or showering. If your bracelet is strung with thread or cord, it may be damaged or deteriorate due to the moisture. The salt -- or chlorine, if you will be in a swimming pool -- is hardly likely to benefit your bracelet, and soaps used while bathing can also have an adverse effect. Bracelet Care -- How Should They Be Cleaned? In general, I would recommend that you attempt to clean your bracelet as little as possible. Depending on the materials used in its construction, even using soap and water may be harmful. The same goes for using "jewelry cleaning solutions" such as you might use with rings. While some may recommend the use of a toothbrush or jewelry polishing cloth, again, that could cause damage to your bracelet -- so the best recommendation is to check with the manufacturer or crafter of your piece, they are in the best position to know the best way to clean your bracelet. If necessary, you can take your bracelet to your local jeweler for professional cleaning; in some cases the manufacturer may be willing to clean your piece if it is returned to them (usually for a fee). Bracelet Care Includes Proper Storage If you want your bracelet to look good, you need to provide proper storage for it. Of course, you can go all out for a wooden, felt lined jewelry case -- these are always acceptable for storage. Make sure, however, that your bracelet is not just thrown into your jewelry case with other items -- especially if your jewelry box is moved around (such as when traveling), your bracelet can jostle up against other items and be damaged -- particularly if your bracelet is made from sterling sliver or soft gold, as these metals can be easily scratched. A very important bracelet care tip is not to store a bracelet of any sort in a plastic box. Why? Because plastics can give off small trace amounts of harmful chemicals which, over time, can discolor or even permanently damage your piece. Here is what I do: I purchase small cotton or felt pouches to store my bracelets in. They will be protected from scratches that way, and will not be damaged by any other jewelry items in my box. After being put into their own cloth pouch, they can be placed into a larger jewelry case for storage with the other items. A cloth pouch will allow your bracelet to "breathe" naturally, while still providing protection. Just a Word about Doing Your Own Jewelry Repair -- Don't Over the course of time, your bracelet, like any piece of jewelry, will wear and may reach the point where it needs some repairs. Chains and links on bracelets can loosen or break, prongs or clasps may not function properly (or may snap off altogether), precious stones can become loose in their settings, gemstones can pop out of their settings altogether, charms on charm bracelets can become broken where they are soldered, and beaded bracelets can become unstrung. Should your bracelet require repair, don't panic. It won't necessarily cost a fortune -- remember you can take your piece to more than one jeweler to get a repair quote. The one thing you must NOT do is try to make repairs yourself at home -- you pay a lot for your bracelet, so this is something that needs to be handled by a professional. If your bracelet has become broken, or the deeds have become unstrung, gather everything up and package it securely -- even the broken clasps, links, chains -- you'd be surprised at what a good jewelry repair shop can do, even with the broken pieces. In some cases, the cost of the repairs may exceed your original purchase price or the present value of your bracelet -- in these cases a professional jewelry repair professional can discuss other options, such as transferring precious jewels to a new setting, etc.
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