Gold Jewelry Care

All jewelry will develop a dull film build-up over time from the oils in your skin, lotion, soap, powder and perfume. Gold jewelry can even undergo oxidation, (depending on the karat grade used), from chemicals in the air. It is highly recommended that ALL jewelry be kept away from harsh chemicals found in household cleaning materials. Gold jewelry should not be exposed to chlorine bleach and should also be removed before entering a swimming pool. Listed below are some ways to clean your gold jewelry.

1. Mild Detergent - Use a mild dishwashing detergent, that does NOT contain acid, (Ivory Dish Liquid is highly recommended.) and warm water to make a sudsy bath. Submerge the piece in the mixture. Brush it with a very soft eyebrow brush or toothbrush while it is still in the bath. Then place it in a strainer under warm, running water to rinse. Dry your piece of jewelry with a lint-free cloth.

2. Cold Water/Ammonia – Mix 50% cold water with 50% household ammonia in a bowl. Soak the piece of jewelry for 30 minutes. Remove the jewelry from the bowl and gently clean with an eyebrow brush or a very soft toothbrush. Swish the jewelry in the mixture, again, for a few seconds. Let it air dry on tissue paper.

3. Jewelry Cleaner Dip – Use a brand-name jewelry cleaner. Consult with a professional jeweler beforehand for a specific assessment of which jewelry cleaner will best suit your needs.

4. Ultrasonic Cleaning Machines – The Ultrasonic Cleaner is a small machine designed to clean jewelry. There are many types of ultrasonic cleaners. All of them consist of a cup that is filled with water and detergent. The jewelry is placed in the cup that, in turn, is placed inside the machine. When the machine is turned on, it produces high-intensity vibrations that create the cleansing action. The Ultrasonic Cleaner is not for all types of jewelry, especially pieces that contain certain gemstones. ALWAYS consult with a jeweler before using an ultrasonic cleaner.

Silver Jewelry Care

Silver tarnishes easily. Tarnish begins as a yellowish tinge and may be removed with little effort at this stage. Eventually, tarnish will reach a shade of blackish-purple that is more difficult to remove. Rinsing your silver jewelry in water mixed with a very mild dish detergent that does NOT contain acid (such as Ivory Dish Liquid) is an excellent way to keep it bright and shiny. Other cleaning options include silver polishing cloths found in supermarkets, hardware stores or jewelry shops. Polishing creams or liquids may be required to remove heavy tarnishing. Great care should be taken not to expose gemstones to these creams and liquids as the chemicals may damage certain stones. These creams and liquids will also remove any decorative oxidation and/or patina designs from your jewelry. Therefore, it is always best to start out with a silver polishing cloth. Store your silver jewelry in an *airtight container. (*Any moisture will cause the tarnishing process to begin.) A zip-lock bag with anti-tarnish paper is highly recommended.

Do’s and Don’ts:

1. Don’t allow silver jewelry to come in prolonged contact with matches, rubber bands or anything that contains sulfur.
2. Don’t allow silver jewelry to come in contact with abrasive soaps, chemicals, perfumes, hair sprays and/or dyes.
3. Don’t rub silver jewelry with abrasive cloths and/or cleansers. Silver scratches easily.
4. Don’t expose your silver jewelry to prolonged periods of extreme temperatures or intense sunlight. (i.e. window sills, car dashboards)
5. Don’t store silver jewelry near a heat source.
6. Do use a soft jewelry polishing cloth to prevent tarnish build-up.
7. Do remove silver jewelry before swimming in the ocean and/or a chlorinated pool. (Chlorine may cause discoloration to the silver. It will also cause damage to many gemstones and may cause them to become loose in their settings.)
8. Do remove silver jewelry before using cleaning materials.
9. Do remove silver jewelry before engaging in exercise and/or sports to prevent scratching, denting or loss of gemstones.
10. Do remove silver jewelry before going to bed to avoid twisting, knotting and/or breakage.
11. Do remove silver jewelry when doing cleaning and/or gardening.