by Jesús Zabala - 5 min read
Is Any Special Care Needed for Thick Chain Necklaces?
Caring for your necklace is crucial if you want to give it that extra shine and extend its lifespan. Dust, dirt, and external influences can reduce the quality of the metal and cause it to break. So, is any special care needed for thick chain necklaces?
Stay with me to find out all the details and get useful tips on how to care for thick chain necklaces.
Is Any Special Care Needed for Thick Chain Necklaces?
Yes, several tips can help you keep the shine of your necklace. In the following sections, I will present you with some of them.
Avoid wearing your necklace during exercise and daily activities
Leaving the necklace at home is best if you exercise regularly or are involved in any physical activity. Wearing a necklace while exercising can cause it to rub, tangle, and tear. By doing so, its durability and quality can be reduced.
The same goes for domestic activities like showering or sleeping. Also, remember that sweat, perfume ingredients, and beauty products can contribute to the tarnishing of the necklace. In addition, they can also damage the gemstone if it is in the necklace assembly.
Wipe the necklace after wearing it
Necklaces, especially a chunky chain, often accumulate sweat, dead skin cells, oil, and dirt. Therefore, you should pay particular attention after wearing it. Before putting it in the jewelry box, it is good to clean it with an anti-tarnish cloth, which will keep the shine and quality of the jewelry.
Keep the necklace in a special place or in an airtight bag
Caring for your jewelry when you're not wearing it also affects its quality. It can get scratched or tangled if you are not careful where you store it. Therefore, it is best to store your necklace in a separate place or use an airtight bag if you have one. In this way, you will slow down the tarnishing of the metal and keep the shine for a longer time.
Keep the necklace away from chemicals
If your necklace is exposed to chemicals, it can easily damage and discolor metals like gold, silver, or platinum. These chemicals can be integral to perfumes, lotions, hairspray, and other products. Additionally, if you plan to swim in the pool, it's best to leave your jewelry before diving in.
A chlorinated pool can be one of the causes of damage to your jewelry. Additionally, everyday cleaning products contain chemicals that can damage your jewelry. For example, ammonia in many cleaning products can adversely affect precious stones or old jewelry.
Detailed cleaning
In addition to choosing a suitable place for storage and disposal, you should also pay attention to deep cleaning. Depending on the material of the necklace, you can use different cleaning liquids in combination with a soft brush or microfiber cloth.
If you have more jewelry, make sure that you pay special attention to each piece of jewelry.
Caring for Different Types of Necklaces
Necklace cleaning and maintenance mainly depend on the material and how often you wear it. So, is any special care needed for thick chain necklaces made of different materials? For this purpose, check out what guidelines you should take to maintain different types of necklaces.
Gold necklace
If you have a simple gold necklace without details and precious stones, its maintenance is relatively easy. All you have to do is to place the gold necklace in warm water and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid.
It is best to rub it with your fingers and not use agents that can damage or scratch the material. If the necklace has specific details or areas that can’t be cleaned, you can use a brush with soft bristles. Unlike metals cleaned with baking soda, these agents shouldn't be used in gold necklaces as they can damage the material.
After washing it thoroughly, let the necklace dry on a dry cloth. At the same time, the cloth should not contain a lot of fibers that can get stuck in the necklace.
If you want your thick gold chain necklace to have an extra shine, you can polish it. However, you should consider the manufacturer's recommendations before purchasing a polishing paste.
Silver necklace
Silver necklaces exposed to environmental conditions are more susceptible to tarnishing. Therefore, this material requires special care and dedication. Namely, there are several ways and materials that can be used to preserve the shine of the silver necklace. One way is to get a silver polishing cloth or a tarnish remover.
In addition, if you have a thick necklace with details that are difficult to clean, you can use a soft brush and toothpaste. However, if you decide on this option, consider the brush type and toothpaste. When it comes to the toothbrush, it should have soft bristles so as not to damage the metal. The same applies to the paste. Some types of pastes are pretty abrasive and can damage the necklace.
Another option is to put the necklace in a mixture of warm water with salt and baking soda. Leave it for a while until the stain dissolves, then rinse with water and dry with a towel.
Gemstone necklaces
Precious stones are a detail that can be an integral part of a gold or silver necklace. Therefore, just like metal, you should pay attention to the cleaning products and techniques you use.
It is best to avoid highly abrasive products that can damage the gemstone. In addition, solvents, heat, and ultrasonic cleaners can adversely affect the quality of the gemstone.
The best technique often used for cleaning gemstone necklaces is dishwashing detergent. For this purpose, fill a bowl with water and drop a few drops of dishwashing detergent. Find an old soft toothbrush and gently scrub the gemstone. After removing the dirt, rinse it with clean water and let it dry for a while.
Conclusion
If you were wondering whether is any special care needed for thick chain necklaces, I hope I’ve helped you. A necklace is an exceptional piece of jewelry that gives a memorable impression and sets you apart from others. Therefore, its daily care and cleaning will contribute to maintaining its shine and extending its life.