After you have purchased that beautiful piece of jewelry you should get on a routine inspection schedule. As a rule twice a year is standard. Most all jewelry is made of precious metals. Many pieces also have gemstones in them. Metals like silver, gold, palladium and platinum start to show wear. Things like jump rings, end tabs, links, prongs, clasps all wear, As they wear they get thin and Jewelrywill break easily causing you to loose the piece.