Even if you procure expensive, high quality fashion jewelry, a general rule of thumb is that no costume jewelry will be as long-lasting and reliable as fine jewelry. Having to spend hundreds of bucks on fine jewelry may cost you a big hole in your pocket, but on the contrary, costume jewelry allows you to follow the newest trends without letting much amount from your wallet. However, it is not rational to expect costume jewelry to last without letting up; for even fine jewelry will not look new forever.
Nevertheless, you can draw out the life of your jewelry with proper usage and care. When you are cleaning your fashion jewelry, you ought to ensure that the solution you choose to clean must not contain ammonia, vinegar, or any other acids or alcohols. Before buying the cleaner product, read the label and make sure you are using a cleaner safe for whatever material your costume jewelry is made from, say for instance, silver, gold, brass, bronze, copper, chrome, stainless steel, aluminum, pearls, opals, marble and any gems. Avoid using soap and water, because almost all soaps will leave a line of sediments on the metal and make the stones look dull, similarly, Windex can damage delicate stones and finishes, and even Vinegar is harmful to the gemstones. So always use a very soft cloth to clean the surface of stones and gold or silver, using a bit of water carefully to clean your fashion jewelry rather than dipping them entirely.
As far as possible try to keep your fashion jewelry away from things like water, lotion, perfume, or other harsh chemicals. Indeed perspiration will also cut down the life of your jewelry. Avoid using soap, water or a jewelry cleaner on Rhodium Plated Silver and Vermeil Jewelry to clean as the soap will leave a film clouding your jewelry. Even though, this plating is known to prevent tarnishing but can certainly be compromised when exposed to harsh chemicals, so instead, a soft jewelry cloth should do just fine! Soon after you have cleaned your jewelry, you must make sure that whether your jewelry is completely dried before wearing or storing them.
In general, any tremendous change in the temperature can have an effect on your stone settings and glue. Being the nastiest foe of imitation jewelry, not only can the moisture destroy the foil backing of rhinestones; it can also damage the metals used. These jewelries must be kept separately with care and not allowed to be rest on top of another piece or be jostled together, because this can lead to dislodge or scratch on stones.
It is advisable to store fashion jewelry, crystal jewelry or fashion rings in zip lock bags, metal drawers, plastic boxes, soft cloth and curio cabinets to prolong its usage.