Jewelry Care

Jewelry Care & Handling – Wholesale Guidelines

Maintaining Presentation Quality from Delivery to Display

At New Deal NY INC, we’re committed to delivering jewelry that meets high visual and structural standards. As a wholesale partner, your handling practices—from storage to display—play a key role in maintaining that standard until the jewelry reaches the end customer. Below are care recommendations specifically curated for experienced professionals.

 

Inventory Handling & Storage: Small Details, Big Impact

  • Store pieces in non-reactive, anti-tarnish materials (like unbleached cotton or suede) to prevent chemical reactions from treated cardboard or foam inserts—especially with 14K gold over long durations.
  • If storing inventory long-term, rotate items every few months. Lack of airflow or trapped humidity—even in temperature-controlled environments—can accelerate tarnishing or soft buildup under settings.

Unboxing Protocols: Avoiding Invisible Abrasion

  • Micro-scratches during unpacking are common and often go unnoticed until pieces are under showroom lighting. Always use powder-free nitrile gloves or soft cotton gloves when handling high-polish surfaces, especially mirror-finish pieces or pavé work.
  • Remove protective films carefully. Stretching adhesive film across a polished surface (rather than lifting it cleanly) can cause micro-abrasion, particularly on flat gold surfaces.

Cleaning for Display: What the Ultrasonic Doesn’t Catch

  • While ultrasonic and steam cleaners are great for hard buildup, they often miss the thin film left by skin oils and airborne particles. A jeweler’s polishing cloth with a tiny bit of rouge (on metals only) brings back showroom-level shine without risking over-cleaning.
  • Avoid over-relying on ammonia-based solutions, especially on pieces with rhodium plating or delicate prong work—these cleaners may weaken solder joints or cause rhodium to wear unevenly with time.

Advanced Diamond Considerations: What’s Often Overlooked

  • Fluorescence Sensitivity: Pieces with medium to strong fluorescence may appear hazy under certain lighting conditions—particularly LED lighting common in showrooms. Be aware of this if pairing diamonds in a set, especially with G-H+ color ranges.
  • Pressure-Induced Feathering: Diamonds with small internal feathers near the girdle are more vulnerable to thermal shock during steam cleaning or aggressive ultrasonic use, especially when mounted in tension settings or ultra-thin prongs.
  • Grease Magnetism: Even VS+ diamonds can look dulled if not properly degreased. Use a degreasing soak (e.g., diluted alcohol or professional-grade diamond cleaning solution) before high-profile events or photography—this restores full brilliance that cloth wiping alone won’t achieve.

Display & Visual Standards: Long-Term Showroom Strategy

  • Avoid placing jewelry on LED-lit risers without a buffer or tray liner. LEDs emit heat over time, and repeated exposure can affect glue or resin-based stone settings, particularly in flexible bracelets and enamel accents.
  • For photo or reel content, always clean behind the stones—not just the table. A lens will catch grime trapped between the culet and the setting, especially in halo or basket styles.
  • In Closing

As an industry professional, you know that the difference between a sale and a return often comes down to presentation and preservation. These elevated care practices ensure your inventory looks pristine in every interaction—whether it’s a wholesale showcase, a trunk show, or client preview.