By Tracee M. Herbaugh
Jewelry can sparkle like it’s invincible, but treat it roughly and even the hardest baubles may break.
Whether it’s gemstones, metals or a family heirloom, a piece’s shine can fade and its value diminish over time if it isn’t cared for properly — a particular risk as the value of gold surges and people look to cash in on their jewelry or acquire new pieces as investments.
“Jewelry is similar to cars,” said Heather White, a jewelry designer, metalsmith and professor at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston. “Both require constant maintenance and special storage.”
Leave your earrings on the bedside table? Easy to lose. Take your ring off to wash your hands? It could slip down the drain. Toss everything into a single catch-all? You’re almost guaranteed tangles or scratches.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to jewelry care, because not all pieces are made — or
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