Have a look at our YouTube Channel, where we are building a library of videos on jewelry care, jewelry knowledge, and more. We want you to be happy with your jewelry as long as possible. There´s a lot you can do to maintain your pieces in good condition.
Wearing jewelry
Put jewelry on after applying makeup, perfume and hairspray. Handle gems and pearls as little as possible, skin oil can build up over time and dull their appearance. Remove jewelry before taking a bath, showering or cleaning.
Remove your jewelry if you’re going to do any manual labor, including housework to prevent it from getting damaged. Stones can chip or crack if they’re knocked against a hard surface. Harsh solvents used in cleaning can damage any kind of jewelry and particularly pearls.
Never wear pearl earrings or necklaces while having your hair colored. Some colors contain alcohol and other chemicals that can take away the luster of the pearls.
Don’t wear jewelry in swimming pools and spas – chlorinated water can react with the metals causing color changes and even structural damage.
Contact sports and jewelry is a nogo – hard blows during sports can damage jewelry not to mention the people involved.
Cleaning jewelry
Polish silver or gold with a jewelry polishing cloth for smooth surfaces. Do not use tissue or paper towels, they can cause scratches because of fibers in these products.
Cleaning jewelry regularly can keep it looking good, but be careful. Rubbing alcohol can work wonders, but bleach can literally destroy jewelry so avoid it in any case.
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Pearls
Chemicals like perfume, vinegar, and lemon juice easily damage pearls and should not come in contact with them. Heat can turn pearls brown, dry air can damage pearls. After wearing pearls wipe them off with a soft cloth or chamois, which may be dry or damp. This will prevent dirt from accumulating and will keep perspiration, which is slightly acidic, from eating away at the pearl nacre.
Metals
You can use alcohol to dissolve any dirt. However, don’t use alcohol on pearl jewelry. Soap, warm water and a soft brush will do in most of your cleaning needs. Make sure the brush is very soft when used on metal, especially gold, which can be scratched relatively easily. Use a soft cloth to dry and buff your jewelry once it’s cleaned.
Ultrasonic Cleaners
Stay away from ultrasonic cleaners, they clean jewelry with sound waves. This vibration shakes off dirt, but they can also cause serious damage.