Cleaning and Caring for Your Jewelry

JEWELRY CARE & CLEANING

Storage Tips

When not wearing your jewelry, store it in a jewelry box or a small plastic ziplock bag. This reduces the risk of scratching and minimizes exposure to environmental elements that can cause tarnishing or dulling.

If possible, store your jewelry in a dry place. Storing it in the bathroom, where humidity is often high, can accelerate oxidization on silver and plated jewelry.

Cleaning Frequency

Pieces worn daily may need more frequent cleaning compared to those worn occasionally. Jewelry with gemstones worn daily can gather soap and lotion residue, causing them to look dull. Clean these pieces regularly with soapy water and a soft toothbrush to keep your stones sparkling.

Ultrasonic Cleaners:Ultrasonic cleaners are popular for cleaning jewelry but can damage softer gemstones like pearls, opals, or any stone with inclusions. Generally, only solid gold, silver jewelry, and diamonds can be cleaned safely in an ultrasonic cleaner. Always check with a professional before using one on anything else.

Professional Cleaning:A good deep cleaning can do wonders for your jewelry, especially for pieces that get a lot of wear. Bring your jewelry to a professional jeweler for periodic cleaning and inspection, particularly for pieces with complex settings or valuable gemstones.

Avoiding Damage:For pieces containing softer gemstones, avoid activities that can damage jewelry, such as gardening, cleaning, or exercising, as these can expose jewelry to harsh chemicals, dirt, or physical impact.

Travel Tips:If you travel often, using a travel jewelry case with individual compartments is a good idea to prevent tangling and scratching. Individual small plastic bags can prevent chains from tangling as well. Closing the clasp of your chain into the plastic bag closure makes it easy to grab your piece when you’re ready to wear it and further prevents tangling and knotting.

Avoiding Over-Polishing and Harsh Chemicals:Over-polishing with abrasives and using harsh chemicals can wear down your metal over time and dull the surface of your stones. Only polish your jewelry when it begins to look dull.

OUR MATERIALS

14K Solid Gold

• Durability: While 14k solid gold is strong, it still benefits from regular care to maintain its beauty.

• Care Tips: Lightly scrub your solid gold jewelry with a soft toothbrush and warm water to keep it pristine. Polishing cloths are also a great option to keep your gold pieces shining like new.

Sterling Silver

• Sensitivity: Sterling silver is sensitive to water and humidity, which can cause it to oxidize over time.

• Durability: Sterling silver is very durable. Though not as hard as 14k gold, it may get light scratches from daily wear.

• Care Tips: Avoid water exposure when wearing sterling silver. The natural oils from your skin can help slow the oxidation process. If tarnishing occurs, it can be easily removed with a jewelry polishing cloth. Silver polishes work well to remove excessive tarnishing, but they are caustic, so a polishing cloth is a safer option if possible.

14K Gold-Filled

• Composition: Gold-filled jewelry consists of a solid 14k gold layer, which makes up the outer 20% of the metal. The gold is heat- and pressure-fused to a core material, typically brass, resulting in a much thicker and more durable finish than gold plating.

• Durability: Water and sweat-resistant, 14k gold-filled jewelry is second only to solid gold in longevity, ensuring your piece lasts a lifetime.

• Care Tips: Even the finest pieces need TLC. To maintain the shine of your gold-filled jewelry, gently polish it with a dry jewelry cloth or clean with a soft toothbrush and warm water.

• Skin Sensitivity: Ideal for sensitive skin, ensuring comfort along with style.

Gemstones

• Durability: Some gemstones are more durable than others. Stones such as diamonds and sapphires are very hard and can be worn daily. Semi-precious stones like quartz and aquamarine are hard enough for daily wear but should be handled with a bit more care. Softer stones such as turquoise, opal, and pearls should be treated delicately as they can scratch or crack with daily wear. Generally, gemstones with a hardness of 6.5 or above on the Mohs hardness scale are suitable for daily wear, while those below are better reserved for special occasions.

• Care Tips: Keep your gemstones clean and shiny by using warm, soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid exposing them to chemicals or extreme temperatures to prevent damage.

Pearls

• Care Tips: Pearls are delicate and should be treated with care. They should be the last thing you put on before going out and the first thing you take off when you come home. Avoid direct contact with chemicals found in perfumes or other cosmetics.

Diamonds

• Durability: While diamonds are the hardest natural substance, they can still suffer from chips or fractures if subjected to sharp blows.

• Care Tips: Clean your diamonds with warm, soapy water and a soft toothbrush. Rinse the stone and setting thoroughly afterward to ensure no residue is left behind.

OTHER MATERIALS

Gold-Plated

• Composition: A thin coating of real 22k or 24k gold is applied over a base metal.

• Durability: Gold-plated jewelry should be kept dry—avoid wearing it in water and keep it away from lotions, perfumes, and oils to prevent tarnishing.

• Care Tips: After wearing, gently wipe each piece with a clean, dry cloth to remove any residue from the day. This simple step will help preserve the plating.

• Skin Sensitivity: Most plated pieces are nickel and lead-free, ensuring they are safe to wear, though unless stated explicitly, there is no guarantee. Some people with sensitive skin also react to copper, brass, and bronze. For those individuals, 14k gold-filled is a great alternative to solid gold.

Gold Vermeil

• Composition: Vermeil is created by applying 4-5 layers of gold plating over solid sterling silver.

• Durability: Due to its sterling silver base, vermeil is prone to water sensitivity and oxidation.

• Care Tips: Always remove your vermeil jewelry before exercising or showering. Gently buff your piece with a dry cloth after wearing and store it in a jewelry box or bag to protect it.

Bronze or Brass

• Sensitivity: Bronze and brass are very sensitive to water and humidity, which will cause it to oxidize over time.

• Care Tips: Although oxidation can’t be completely prevented, it can be polished away with a jewelry polishing cloth to restore your bronze jewelry to its original shine.