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Jewelry Care

Jewelry Care

How to Care for Your Jewelry.

To care for your jewelry and keep it clean and ready to wear, gently wipe off excess make-up and skin oils after each wearing. Use a nub free, 100% cotton cloth and gently wipe the piece clean using only the soft pads of your fingers. Store in jeweler's tissue or a soft bag.

Jewelry Storage

Store in air tight containers. Moisture absorbants such as silica desiccant packets or chalk will help prevent tarnishing.

Is there anything to prevent future tarnish?

Absolutely! Anti-Tarnish Strips are made from treated highly-porous paper containing an active charcoal absorption ingredient. The strips are non-toxic and safe to handle. The strips do not emit any gas, fume or vapor - they simply absorb the airborne pollutants and moisture that cause corrosion, tarnish and discoloration. The strips remove harmful chemicals from the air and do not give off its own gases, there are no harmful side effects. Anti-tarnish strips will not leave any residue on your jewelry. They can be handled without fear of absorbing any harmful toxins.

Anti-tarnish strips protect sterling silver, silver plate, brass, pewter, bronze, copper, tin, gold and other metals. They will NOT remove existing tarnish! Give your jewelry a good cleaning and polishing; then, store your pieces along with the anti-tarnish strips to help prevent future tarnishing.

All you have to do is put a strip in an enclosure with your jewelry. The sterling silver pieces do not have to be touching the strip, just near it. One 2" x 7" strip will protect approximately 422 cubic inches (ex: 7 1/2" square container). You can cut the strips with scissors for smaller areas.

Each strip will last from 6 to 24 months, depending on your household conditions. There are many factors to consider: amount of air pollution in your area, humidity and the air-tightness of the enclosure. A good rule of thumb is to replace your strip at least once a year. If you notice tarnish or discoloration on a piece of jewelry, clean it and replace the strip.

Tarnish Intercept Bags work by using the bag to attract and absorb tarnish, instead of your jewelry placed inside of the bag. The bags are treated with a trademarked and patented process that causes the tarnish to cling to the bag. All you do is place clean jewelry inside the bag and seal the zipper closure. Watch the bag turn black while your jewelry stays shiny. Throw out the old bag and replace it with a new one.

Tarnish-Preventing Silversmiths' Wipes contain R-22. R-22 neutralizes airborne sulfur. The dry wipes remove tarnish instantly and leaves silver shining.

Give each piece of jewelry its own space.

You can use compartments in a jewelry box or separate containers. Metal can scratch and scuff other metal. When gemstones and metals come in contact with each other, luster can be destroyed. Gemstones can scratch each other, too. If you prefer to keep all of your jewelry together in one big jewelry box, place each individual piece in a pouch or a sealed plastic bag.

Clasps...For bracelets or necklaces, hang them on hooks or fasten the clasp when storing to prevent tangling.

Dry, Dry, Dry...Very important! Dry your jewelry thoroughly before placing it in an enclosed space. This will help prevent tarnish, clasp weakening and water damage to certain gemstones.

Cleaning Your Jewelry

Use a soft specially treated polishing cloth to clean tarnish from silver and bring it back to it's original shine. Gently brush the piece with a soft toothbrush, mild dish soap (such as Dawn) and warm water to remove the tarnish residue and clean the polymer.

To clean dry, use treated polishing cloth. When applicable use a soft bristle toothbrush with liquid hand soap or Dawn & water. Dry with soft cloth. Caution: Some Liquid cleaners can damage finish on stones & leave residue on silver/gold.

Rinse and towel dry the piece.

Clean your jewelry frequently to avoid build-up of perfumes, lotions, body oils, body perspiration, and dirt.

Inspect your jewelry at least once a year and more frequently if you are ‘rough’ on your treasures. Look for loose stones, clasps, etc.

To remove fingerprints, light grease or dirt, add a small amount of mild liquid soap to a half cup of warm water, soak 2-3 minutes, rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry completely before storing in an air tight plastic bag.

When caring for your jewelry, never use anything but 100% cotton as a polishing cloth since paper, polyester, and coarse fabrics often contain wood fibers or synthetics. These materials may impart fine scratches in the metal, especially on sterling silver.

Dirt and grit left on the cloth from a previous use will now leave scrapes and pits in the piece you are trying to clean and polish.

Other Common Chemicals and Solutions to Avoid

Besides chlorine bleach, denatured alcohol, turpentine, acetone, and ammonia can cause harm. These chemicals can dull or even pit the surface on softer gemstones. Petroleum based products can actually "melt" amber if allowed to remain on the stone and they can do significant damage to pearls.

Storage tip: Keep your jewelry in plastic bags and/or jewelry boxes. Anti tarnish pouches are very helpful too. Minimal exposure to air when not in use is the best way to keep your jewelry looking new!

If you normally use specially purchased jeweler's cloths to keep your jewelry clean and shiny, be sure to use fresh cloths since the dirt and grit left on the cloth from a previous use will now leave scrapes and pits in the piece you are trying to clean and polish.

Never use toothpaste or other abrasives to clean metal or stones. You will find countless websites that recommend toothpaste as a cleaner, but this is not an accepted practice by fine jewelers. Although the abrasives in toothpaste are great for your teeth, they can damage the surface of the metal requiring the skill of a professional to buff and refinish. Toothpaste will also scuff the surface on amber, lapis, turquoise and other soft stones resulting in the fine polish which was produced by the skilled lapidary to be permanently marred.

Ultrasonic Cleaners

Ultrasonic cleaners are great for cleaning some jewelry but they can damage many gemstones and the chemicals are not recommended for pearls and many other fine stones. Repeated use can also loosen the settings and you could lose your precious gems.

No stones should be considered 100% safe in an Ultrasonic cleaner. Only the following stones are considered safe in an Ultrasonic cleaner: Sapphire, unless stone is oiled; Ruby, unless stone is oiled; Garnet, unless fracture filled; Diamond, unless fracture filled.

The second method is the use of a "liquid dip" jewelry cleaner which can be found in drugstores or ordered from jewelry supply catalogs. A dip can clean off tarnish without being abrasive to the finish. Be sure to rinse well with water. This type of product can be harmful to the jewelry if overused.

Caution Reminders

All gemstones should be protected from sharp blows, harsh chemicals, extreme temperatures and excessive exposure to strong light sources.

Gardening – Your garden is beautiful and doesn’t want competition. Do not wear your jewelry while gardening.

Gloves, Jackets, Heavy Clothing – It is best to put your jewelry on after you are clothed. Be careful when putting on and taking off Gloves, Jackets, Sweaters, etc.

Household chores – Sinks, faucets, washing machines, and dryers are dangerous for your jewelry. Chemicals and abrasive surfaces can scratch, discolor, and mar colored stones and precious metals.

Lotions, Cosmetics, Perfumes, Hairsprays...

Daily grooming exposes our jewelry to chemicals that can leave a residue or dull film that is very difficult, or even impossible, to remove. To avoid this, remove your jewelry BEFORE bathing.

Put your jewelry on AFTER you have put on lotion, perfume, cosmetics and hair products (mousse, gel, hairspray, etc.).

Extreme Temperatures...

Keep your jewelry away from excessive exposure to the Sun or cold. Extreme heat can damage the jeweler cement (can cause the loss of stones), fade gemstones, damage pearls and marcasite. Severe cold can cause thermal shock and fracture some gemstones. Never leave your jewelry near a heat vent, window sill or the dashboard of a car.