Jewelry is made to be worn, but like anything else, it requires care and maintenance. I recommend taking off jewelry when doing things that expose your jewelry to excessive wear and tear. This includes working out, using tools, cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, even showering and sleeping! 

Taking care of your jewelry will insure that it lasts a lifetime and more!

* Cleaning your jewelry 

You can easily clean your jewelry by using a soft toothbrush and dish soap (avoid hand soaps because they contain oils). You can soak jewelry (but not pearls!) in warm water with dish soap before using a toothbrush to clean it.

You can also periodically take your jewelry to a jeweler so it can be deep-cleaned in an ultrasonic machine, repolished, and checked for signs of wear.

Silver oxidizes over time. You can use a silver dip or polishing cloth to remove oxidation. Silver dip should not be used with jewelry that is made with porous materials, for example amber, opal, turquoise or pearls. 

* Oxidized silver

Silver that has been purposely oxidized will brighten with wear. If your silver needs to be re-oxidized, contact me or your local jeweler.

* Pearls

Pearls should be stored separately from other jewelry to avoid scratches. Avoid airtight storage – they need to breathe! Pearls should not be immersed in water for long periods of time, so it’s best to remove pearl jewelry before bathing or swimming. Pearls are porous, which makes them sensitive to chemicals. They should be put on after applying perfume and lotions and taken off before using household cleaners.

* Insurance

It is a good idea to document your jewelry for insurance purposes. It is best to take a picture of you (including your face) wearing the jewelry while also holding the receipt. Scanning the receipt insures that you have a copy if the original is lost.

If you have any more questions about how to care for your jewelry, don’t hesitate to ask! Use the contact page or email your questions to [email protected]