CARING FOR YOUR JEWELRY
Gems are among the most durable of nature’s creations. Most stones are more or less brittle, many are quite soft, and some can be damaged by heat, vibration, or chemicals. Make sure you do not expose them to the chemicals in hair products, fragrances cosmetics, or to dust and pollution, as this can affect the brilliance of the stone. We recommend that you apply cosmetics and perfume before putting on the jewelry. You should also remove the jewelry before taking a shower, or engaging in vigorous exercise. Some gem varieties might be damaged with a hard blow. With a little care, they will be remain as beautiful as they are when you purchase them
To keep your gems sparkling when dust, cosmetics perfume and fingerprints have dimmed their brilliance, we recommend you clean your gemstone jewelry in a bowl of water with a few drops of ordinary dish detergent. Using an old toothbrush or other soft brush, scrub gently behind the stone where dust and soap can collect. Then just rinse and pat try with a soft cloth.
A home ultrasonic cleaner should be used with extreme caution. It can be used to clean unadorned gold jewelry, but it may damage gems like emerald, pink tourmaline, peridot, pearls, coral, lapis lazuli, malachite, turquoise, and any gem that has many inclusions. When in doubt, do not use it.
Organic gems like pearls, amber, and coral require special care because they are porous. Clean them with a soft, untreated cloth and store them in a cloth-lined box or pouch. Keep them away from other jewelry, which might scratch them. Strands of pearls should be restrung if the cord frays or stretches so that individual pearls move.
When removing your rings, bracelets or pendants, do not pull them off by the gemstone: this will not damage the gem but it can, over time, stretch the metal that holds it in place, making the setting less secure. To protect the beauty of your gems and jewelry, make sure you store each piece separately. Gems may scratch each other or the metal in your jewelry. Avoid creating a tangle of jewelry by wrapping each piece individually or keeping it in its own compartment. Especially when you travel, make sure your jewelry pieces don’t jostle each other in one bag.
Sterling silver will tarnish over time but it is easily cleaned. When not using your silver sterling jewelry, keep it dry and store it in an air tight container. Humidity will accelerate the tarnish process. If cleaning sterling silver jewelry that is adorned with gemstones, treat only the silver parts because the polish can damage the stones. Avoid using sterling silver jewelry when using chlorine bleach or when in a hot tub or pool. Light tarnish can be removed by buffing the jewelry with a soft, dry 100% cotton cloth.
Gold vermeil is the overlay of gold over a base of sterling silver. Jewelry made from gold vermeil also requires special care. When not using your gold vermeil jewelry, we recommend you store it in an air tight container. Remove the jewelry before showering or applying hair spray, perfume, lotions or cosmetics. As with sterling silver and gold, be especially careful not to wear gold vermeil jewelry when using chlorine bleach or while in a pool or hot tub. To clean, gently buff with a soft cotton or micro-fiber cloth. Do not try to polish, because this will remove the gold plating.