When I first saw my ring in the jewelry showcase I fell in love with its brilliance and fire.  Today my ring looks dull and lifeless. What happened?

1. Lighting – Jewelers pay lots of money to have lighting experts make their jewelry sparkle and glow. Ask to see it outside before you buy it, preferably in the shade or on a cloudy day. This is what your ring really looks like when it is clean and polished. This is what it will look like when you are having coffee at an outdoor cafe. Do you still love it? If you can’t walk outside prior to purchase, don’t buy it without a moneyback guarantee (not a store credit). Then look at it outside.

2. Dirt – If your jewelry looked good outside on the day you bought it and today it looks dull, the most common reason is that grease, soap scum and dirt have accumulated underneath your gemstones. Home cleaning will often restore the original beauty, provided you have been advised by a knowledgeable professional and you have the proper equipment. For example, emeralds, pearls, opals, tanzanite’s and other gemstones are sensitive to heat and/or cleaning solutions. Although you can put your diamond in pure acid, the metal holding your diamond, might deteriorate in certain cleaning solutions. Ask your jeweler if they provide free jewelry cleaning – if they do, take all of your jewelry in. Do it today and in most cases the improvement will be remarkable.

3. Scratching – Possibly your jewelry has become scratched and abraded. Diamonds are the hardest substance and they will scratch everything. Do not throw your jewelry in a pile – lay each piece individually or put each piece in it’s own baggy. Scratches can also occur during daily wear. Do not wear fine jewelry when working in the garage. Scratched gemstones and metals can be polished and usually restored to their original beauty. Often the gemstones must be removed, polished and then reset. Discuss these options with a skilled professional.

The bottom line: You pay a lot for jewelry, make wise choices and then protect the beauty and the investment.