Maximize the life and brilliance of your jewelry with proper care and storage techniques to combat exposure to everyday elements. A little TLC will keep your jewelry beautiful for many years.
Everyday Care Guidelines
- Remove your jewelry at night and put it in a jewelry box with fabric-lined compartments or dividers that keep pieces from rubbing against one another. If you don’t have a jewelry box as such, wrap each piece carefully in tissue paper so that pieces don’t scratch one another or get tangled. Be careful not to throw out a piece of tissue paper with a small stone or jewel inside.
- Also remove your jewelry before bathing and grooming. Put your jewelry on as a final touch after using cosmetics, hair products and lotions so that it doesn’t accumulate residue or film that is difficult to remove.
- Remove rings when washing your hands to keep them dry. Moisture weakens springs and clasps and may loosen stones that are secured by glue, such as pearls and gemstones. Water can also cause spots on jewelry left to air dry.
- Although most jewelry is quite durable, don’t wear your jewelry while doing heavy physical work around the house or in the garden. Stones may be chipped when knocked against other objects or each other.
- Don’t expose your jewelry to chemicals, including bleach, perfumes, soaps, cosmetics, hairsprays, etc.
- Don’t expose your precious pieces to extremes in temperature and humidity.
Maintenance Care Guidelines
- Bring items to a qualified jeweler that you trust if you have a loose stone setting, stones moving or any other damage present. Also, have your jeweler check your items, especially rings, once a year in order to ensure prongs and mountings are secure. Keep your items extra safe by observing while the jeweler does his or her inspection.
- Have your jewelry professionally cleaned every six months to one year.
- You can check for loose stones between visits to your jeweler by tapping on the setting with your finger, near your ear.
Storage Guidelines
- Keep gemstone jewelry, pearls, gold and silver pieces all separated to prevent damage.
- A diamond—the hardest gem known to humans—can scratch a pearl, so be careful to store your hard gems separately from your softer jewels. Keep them wrapped in velvet, tissue paper, silk or soft pouches. Additionally, be aware that one diamond can scratch another when thrown together in a jewelry box.
- Don’t overcrowd your jewelry box—that can result in lost or misplaced items. Keep track of that extra-special ruby ring and those stunning diamond earrings by storing them carefully.
- Water can be used to clean and rinse some jewelry, but is should be dried thoroughly afterward, especially before storing. Usually, though, a good rule of thumb is to keep your jewelry dry.
Care for Plated Jewelry Items:
- Remove jewelry before bathing, swimming, washing hands, putting on make-up, lotions, perfumes, and/or working with household chemicals, cleaners, or acidic liquids.
- Do not clean plated jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner or in silver cleaning solutions, as it could completely remove the plating finish from your item.
- Ensure your jewelry item is thoroughly dry before storing. Moisture in an enclosed space can increase tarnishing.
- Store your plated jewelry in a jewelry box lined with felt or anti-tarnish material. Items should not be stacked as this may cause damage to the plating surface.
- Do not use excessive pressure when cleaning with a polishing cloth or soft brush, as this may cause damage to the plating.
- Over time your plated items will need to be re-plated. Contact your local jeweler for information on plating services.
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