Tips for Care and Cleaning of Fine Jewelry

Gems and precious metals are gifts of nature, which need special care. Even though a gem may be millions of years old, once mined and worn, it is exposed to conditions and chemicals that can damage it.

The harder the gem, the less vulnerable it is to potential damage. A diamond, for example, is the hardest gem known to man, and that's one reason why "it is forever."

Here are some Do's and Don'ts :

DON'T wear fine jewelry when doing housework or gardening.

DON'T heap your jewelry into one drawer. Remember a diamond ring can scratch that pearl necklace. Keep them separate and ideally wrapped in velvet, paper, or silk.

DO check for loose stones frequently by gently tapping the piece with your finger near your ear.

DO get pearls restrung every two years or annually with frequent use.

DO clean fine jewelry often to maintain its sparkle and beauty. Do not use toothpaste as its abrasives can damage softer gems and metals. All fine jewelry can be safely cleaned by soaking for 10 minutes in warm soapy water (using a non-detergent soap). Use a soft brush on harder gems to loosen any dirt around the prongs. To reduce greasy build-up on diamond jewelry, dip it in plain alcohol or vodka before soaking.

Try to protect any jewelry from scratches, sharp blows, harsh chemicals, extreme temperatures and sunlight.

Store jewelry separately so it doesn't scratch other jewelry.

When doing household tasks such as gardening and cleaning, be certain to remove rings.

Put your jewelry on after washing and applying any makeup/hair spray.

Never wear jewelry while swimming in a swimming pool. The chlorine can cause damage to various gemstones and gold. Gemstones may become loose in their settings (and possibly fall out).

Avoid storing your jewelry next to a heating vent, window sill or on a car dashboard.

Store jewelry away from sunlight as the sun may fade the gemstones.

Be certain that stones mounted in rings are not loose or rattle. The prongs of a ring can and do wear down. If the prongs wear down too much or break, you've lost the stone. Prongs are easily "retipped" by most jewelers to keep the stone secure.

If you have bead necklaces such as lapis or pearls, store them flat as silk stretches over time.