Nobody knows winter like Winnipeg, and few things feel winter harder than your jewellery. Every January, our repair benches fill up with the same preventable damage. Here's what minus 30 actually does to your pieces, and the simple habits that prevent 90% of the repairs we see.
The minus 30 to plus 21 problem: thermal shock
Walking from a frozen parking lot into a warm mall swings your jewellery through a 50-degree temperature change in seconds. Metal contracts in the cold and expands in the warmth, and over a season that can subtly loosen stone settings. Porous gems like opals, pearls and turquoise are worst affected and can develop hairline cracks from sudden shifts.
The fix: keep delicate pieces under your layers rather than exposed on top of them, and have prongs checked once a year. We inspect settings free of charge at all five locations.
Mittens beat gloves (your rings agree)
Pulling tight gloves on and off is the #1 way rings snag, scratch and slip off. Prongs catch on knit liners; loose rings come off inside the fingers of a glove and get lost in a snowbank. Mittens are warmer and far gentler on your hands' passengers.
The fix: remove rings before gloves, or wear mittens. And if your ring spins freely in January, read on.
Cold fingers shrink, up to half a size
Fingers constrict in the cold, which is why so many rings are lost in winter. If your ring rotates easily or slides past the knuckle with no resistance when you're outdoors, it's a candidate for resizing or a temporary sizing bead.
The fix: we do same-day ring resizing at Swift Quartz. A small adjustment now is much cheaper than a lost heirloom.
Furnace air is a silent tarnisher
Winnipeg indoor humidity in February can drop below 20%. Ultra-dry air speeds up tarnish on sterling silver and dehydrates organic gems. Pearls, in particular, want a little moisture. They're happiest worn, not boxed away all winter.
The fix: store silver in anti-tarnish pouches away from heat vents and windowsills. Never store jewellery in the bathroom.
Road salt is not your friend
Salt spray and slush are mildly corrosive to precious metals and murder on watch straps and plated pieces. Salt also dulls diamonds faster than almost anything else.
The fix: a quick rinse in lukewarm water and a soft-cloth dry after salty exposure. Bring pieces in for a professional ultrasonic clean. It takes minutes and the before-and-after will shock you.
Watches: mind the crown
Condensation inside a watch case is winter's classic watch injury. Before heading out, make sure the crown is fully pushed in or screwed down, and avoid leaving watches in a freezing car overnight. Extreme cold thickens lubricants and strains the movement.
The fix: if you ever see fog under the crystal, bring it in the same week. Caught early, it's a minor service; left alone, it can corrode the movement.
Your free winter check-up
Every winter we offer free inspections: we'll check your prongs, clasps, and watch seals, and give everything a professional clean while you wait. No appointment needed at any of our five Winnipeg locations, or book a time that suits you.