Jewelry Care
Diamond Jewelry
- Do not wear diamond rings or bracelets when doing rough work. Although diamond is one of the hardest materials known, it can still be chipped by hitting it against a hard surface.
- Chlorine will damage and discolor the mounting on your diamond jewelry. Keep your jewelry away from chlorine bleach and other household chemicals. You should remove your jewelry before entering a pool or hot tub.
- Clean your diamonds regularly using a commercial jewelry cleaner, or a mix of ammonia and water, or mild soap and water. Place or spray your jewelry with the solution and use a soft brush to remove dirt, lotion and anything else from under the setting.
- Always rinse and dry your jewelry after cleaning and before storing it.
- Avoid touching your diamonds with your fingers after they have been cleaned. Handle your clean jewelry by its edges.
Colored Gemstones
- Many gemstones are treated and enhanced from the time they are mined by one or more accepted jewelry industry practices. Some of these treatments can be removed from the gemstones by heat, abrasive cleaners or chemicals. Consult us for additional information on caring for treated or enhanced gemstones.
- After wearing, clean your gemstone jewelry thoroughly with a soft, slightly damp cloth. This will enhance the brilliance of the gemstones.
- Store gemstone jewelry individually in soft pouches.
- Do not expose your gemstone pieces to saltwater or chemicals, such as chlorine or detergents. These chemicals may slowly abrade the finish and polish of gemstones.
- Hair spray, perfume and perspiration will cause jewelry to become dull. Apply all cosmetics, lotions and perfumes before putting on your gemstone jewelry. Make sure to clean your gemstones after wear to remove any chemicals, oils or perspiration.
- Do not subject gemstone jewelry to sudden temperature changes.
- With an active lifestyle, take extra care with some types of gemstone jewelry. Emeralds, Opals and Tanzanites for example, are not as hard as other gemstones and should not be worn when doing household chores or any other activity where the stone could be hit or damaged.
- Be careful with ultrasonic cleaners. Some gemstones are fragile and can be damaged by the ultrasonic action. Consult us for the best cleaning procedure for your particular gemstone jewelry.
- Most all colored gemstone jewelry can be safely cleaned using a mild soap and water solution and a soft brush. Always completely rinse and dry your jewelry after cleaning and before storage.
Gold Jewelry
- Remove all jewelry before showering or washing. Some soap will cause a film to form on gold jewelry, making it appear dull and dirty.
- To clean your jewelry at home, commercial cleaners work well. In addition, you will find a soft cloth an effective way to keep your pieces looking good. We also have polishing cloths available in the store.
- For certain gold jewelry, especially pieces that do not contain fragile gemstones, an ultrasonic cleaning will work.
- Be careful of chlorine. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, will permanently damage and discolor your gold jewelry. Do not wear gold jewelry while using chlorine bleach or when you are in a pool or hot tub.
- You can remove tarnish with jewelry cleaner, or by using soap and water mixed with a few drops of ammonia. Carefully brush with a soft bristle brush like an old toothbrush. After the brushing, rinse well with warm water. If there is a heavy tarnish on your jewelry, we can assist with cleaning your jewelry.
Silver Jewelry
- Clean your sterling silver jewelry with a mild soap and water solution. You can also use a jewelry cleaner designed for silver use.
- Store your silver in a cool, dry place. It’s best to store it in a tarnish-preventive bag or wrapped in a soft piece of cloth. Store pieces individually, so that they don't rub together and scratch each other.
- Do not rub silver with anything other than a polishing cloth or a soft fabric cloth.
- Make sure your silver is not exposed to air and light when storing – oxygen and light will cause silver to tarnish. Don't wear sterling silver in chlorinated water or when working with household cleaners.
Cultured Pearls
- Apply cosmetics, hair sprays and perfume before putting on any pearl jewelry. When you remove your pearls, wipe them carefully with a soft cloth.
- You can also wash your pearl jewelry with mild soap and water. Do not clean cultured pearls with any chemicals or household cleaners. These chemicals can damage your pearls.
- Always lay cultured pearls flat to dry. Hanging a strand could stretch the threads.
- Handle your pearls with care. A pearl's surface is soft and can be scratched by hard metal edges or by the harder gemstones of other jewelry pieces.
- Place cultured pearls in a jewelry pouch or wrap them in tissue when storing them.
- Cosmetics, perspiration and oils from your skin along with everyday wear weaken and stretch the threads on which your pearls are strung. Bring your pearls to us for restringing about once a year.