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Jewelry Care

Jewelry Care

2018 Mar 27th

COMMON RULES

  • In the gym, spa or similar facilities: do not wear your jewelry in a hot tub, sauna, or chlorinated pools. Chlorine solution at elevated temperatures can damage gems by etching the polished finish and creating a dull, non-reflective surface. In some gemstones discoloring may also occur. 
  • If you use sprays (perfume, hairspray, deodorant, etc): after application, wait a few minutes before putting on your jewelry. Otherwise, the iridescence, luster and color of some gems can be altered, making it dull and lifeless after repeated applications. 
  • Don’t wear your jewelry while gardening. 
  • Never remove your jewelry by pulling on the gems themselves.

STORING

  • Never store your jewelry in heaps and always spread your gem necklaces flat.
  • Beaded necklaces should also be stored flat, since the silk strand can stretch over time and cause the necklace to come apart.
  • Storing your individual pieces of jewelry in small plastic zip-bags will prevent harder gems in your sets from scratching the softer ones.

GEMSTONE JEWELRY CARE

  • Opal jewelry should not be exposed to extreme heat. Also keep Opals away from direct sun and very cold weather, as the Opals may crack when subjected to these conditions. Opals contain water within them - so that if you live in a dry climate, it is best to store your Opal jewelry in a plastic bag with a damp piece of fabric or cotton ball, to prevent your Opals from dehydrating and developing microscopic cracks. Since Opals are porous, they shouldn't be cleaned with chemical cleaning solutions. Instead, use a very diluted dish washing liquid, mild water and a soft toothbrush.
  • Coral is another very porous gem which should not come in contact with any chemicals. It is also very soft and should be carefully stored - so it doesn't get scratched or chipped. Coral jewelry should be cleaned with a slightly wet, soft cloth.
  • Turquoise is also porous and fragile, and should be kept away from heat and chemicals. Since Turquoise stones scratch easily, store them separately in a jewelry pouch and clean with lukewarm water and a soft brush.
  • Amber is an extremely soft gem that scratches easily. Because of its porosity, make sure to apply perfume or hairspray before putting on Amber jewelry; otherwise it will be coated with a dull film. Wipe Amber jewelry with a soft cotton or flannel cloth and store it separately.

Silver jewelry is best cleaned with a soft cloth or a fine piece of felt. If a silver piece appears very dirty, you may use commercialy available silver cleaning liquids. Silver will discolor if exposed to chlorine (bleach, tap water, swimming pools, etc). After you wear your silver jewelry during the day, it will tarnish due to exposure to light, air contaminants, as well as to physical activity (sweat). Remove it at the end of the day and clean thoroughly with a soft cloth. Since fine silver is quite soft, it may be scratched easily by some gems and so should be stored separately.