Jewelry Care
Jewelry is meant to be worn and enjoyed but it should not be exposed to activities that could be detrimental to its structural integrity and ultimately its longevity. These activities could include house cleaning, working out, gardening, and sports such as swimming in particular. Keep in mind that everyday chemicals in perfumes, lotions, house hold cleaners, etc. can have a negative impact on your jewelry.
With all my own jewelry I follow the general rule applied to pearls: Jewelry should be the first thing you take off when you get home and the last thing you put on before you leave the house. I have put together a list of care instructions for jewelry in my collection:
Sterling Silver Jewelry
Sterling Silver should be cleaned with a soft polishing cloth charged with a polishing compound specific to the metal. Polishing clothes should never be used on gemstones so avoid rubbing over them during cleaning.
Storing your sterling silver jewelry in a jewelry box or pouch can help reduce tarnish by minimizing its exposure to open air and humidity. Avoid storing sterling silver directly on wood surfaces because they contain acids that can damage the silver. If you wear your sterling silver regularly your own body oils help to keep tarnish down to a minimum.
Gemstones
A mild cleaner specifically used on the majority of gemstones is available for purchase upon request. It consists of a mild solution and soft bristle brush. The solution is safe enough to use with any metals so you would first use the solution and brush to clean the gemstones, rinse under water, dry, then use a polishing cloth specific to the metal of the piece to complete cleaning. Again- polishing cloths should never be used on gemstones so while cleaning the metal avoid rubbing over any gemstones.
Gemstone jewelry should be stored on a soft lined surface, preferably a jewelry box with separate compartments. Most gemstones can be scratched when rubbed against each other or other metals so to keep them in the best shape store them individually.
Pearls
Pearls are organic and thus easily damaged by cleaners containing ammonia or harsh detergents. I always recommend using a soft lint free cloth to gently work over each individual pearl, removing dirt and oils. If they require a deeper clean dampen the lint free cloth. Immediately after cleaning the pearls should be laid out on a cloth and left to dry. The silk the pearls are strung on can stretch when damp so it is very important to make sure they are completely dry before wearing again. The frequency in which you clean your pearls depends on how often you wear them but keep in mind pearls should be restrung every few years depending on the condition of the silk. Silk absorbs any perfumes, lotions, body oils, or cosmetics so it will need to be replaced. Pearls should be the last thing you put on before leaving the house and the first thing you take off when you get home.
Pearls should not be stored hanging; it can cause the silk to stretch. Pearls are best stored in a soft lined jewelry box or pouch where they cannot rub against anything including metal or gemstones.
Beads
Like pearls, most beads are strung on silk so the same rules apply to cleaning. Use a soft lint-free cloth and for a deeper clean you can dampen the cloth with water. Always lay the strand out to completely dry before wearing again to prevent the silk stretching. Keep in mind that silk also absorbs any perfumes, lotions, cosmetics, or body oils so make you put your beads on after perfumes and lotions dry on the skin.
