Jewelry Care

Jewelry give you joy and enhance your sparkling personality. Return the favor and learn how to give TLC (tender, loving, care) for your gems and jewels.

Put jewelry on after applying make-up, perfume and hairspray, and take them off them before your nightime beauty regimen. Take jewelry off while having your hair styled or colored. If you're right-handed, consider wearing a bracelet or watch on your left wrist since you don't use it as much as your right. The opposite applies if you're left-handed.

Keep jewelry free of dirt, cosmetics, hairspray, perfume and perspiration. After wearing, wipe them with a clean, soft, damp cloth.

Store jewelry in a clean, dry place. Put each piece seperately in soft fabric bags or in its original box so the harder stones don't scratch softer ones and metal settings.

Ultrasonic cleaners clean jewelry by bombarding them with sound waves, which shake off dirt but can loosen stones from settings or enlarge gem inclusions (slight flaws). It's best to use these cleaners for gold jewelry without stone settings.

Normal wear and tear will eventually weaken prongs and other metal components. Have a professional jeweler examine jewelry once a year and when necessary, repair and re-polish.

Pack jewelry carefully for travel. There are many kinds of jewelry rolls, pouches and bags designed specifically for this purpose.

DIAMONDS:
During ordinary wear, exposure to perspiration and household chemicals can cause dulling build-up. Use a solution of one part ammonia and six parts water to clean. Gently scrub with a soft non-metallic brush especially around the prongs or setting; be careful not to scratch the metal. Have diamonds cleaned and the security of the settings checked once a year.




PEARLS:
Wash in very mild, soapy water and nothing else. Wear them often---the body's natural oils keep them lustrous. Pearls should be professionally cleaned and re-strung every year or two, as ordinary wear and pollution weaken the silk threads that string them.




GOLD:
To reduce daily abrasions and to prolong luster, keep away from harsh chemicals such as chlorine and cleaning fluids. Use a solution of warm water and detergent-free soap and a soft-bristled brush to clean; to remove grease or oil, dip into plain rubbing alcohol. Use a soft cloth that won't leave fuzz or threads behind to dry and buff jewelry.






PLATINUM:

Platinum can develop a patina of wear, but a jeweler can polish it back to its original finish. Soak in a mild solution of soap and warm water, scrubbing gently with a soft-bristled brush; buffing with a soft cloth maintains luster.





STERLING SILVER:
Clean with a mild soap and water solution, then pat dry with a soft cloth. For more stubborn dirt, use a cleaner designed for silver, avoiding any gems set in the piece. Remove tarnish with cleaners specifically made for it. Rub silver with either a polishing cloth or a fine piece of felt (tissue can scratch it because of its fibers). Don't expose to light and air during storage.






OPALS:
Never wear opal jewelry in very cold weather, while washing dishes or handling frozen food---extreme temperature variations may cause cracking. Keep away from heat and strong light; they may dry out and crack. Use only a soft cloth and luke-warm water (never hot) for cleaning; avoid commercial cleaning solutions, ammonia and ultrasonic cleaners.





EMERALDS:
Emeralds are often treated using a colorfast oil or similar substance to improve their appearance. The only cleaning method recommended is the use of a soft cloth to gently rub off the accumulation around the gem and in the setting. Have emeralds professionaly cleaned every two to five years.





RUBIES AND SAPPHIRES:
Rubies and sapphires are second only to diamonds in their ability to resist scratching. Use either an ultrasonic cleaner, or a solution of one part ammonia and six parts water to clean. Gentle scrubbing with a very soft brush should loosen most dirt, but be careful not to scratch the metal of the setting. Dry with a clean cotton cloth.





ORGANIC GEMS--CORAL, AMBER AND OTHER OPAQUE GEMS:
Stones such as lapis lazuli, turquoise, coral, onyx and malachite are sometimes treated to enhance natural color or luster. Organic gems should only be wiped clean with a moist cloth-- these gemstones can be soft and porous, absorbing chemicals and soap that can build up and discolor the stone. These stones need more care than transparent gems since they are essentially rocks and not crystals of a single mineral.