-- Do's --
Put jewelry on last, after clothing, hair styling, perfume and makeup to prevent residue build up.
Take off rings and bracelets before applying lotion or creams.
Check your jewelry for loose prongs and stones before wearing them.
Store your jewelry away from direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure to sun may lighten or even bleach the color of some gemstones
Keep your jewelry in separate compartments or wrapped in velvet, paper, or silk rather than in one drawer or pile. Remember that some stones such as diamonds can scratch softer more delicate stones and metals.
Remember that all precious metals will scratch to some degree. Keeping your jewelry clean and polishing occasionally with a polishing cloth is often enough to maintain your jewelry. If you choose to have your piece polished, take it to a skilled professional polisher. Do not let any untrained sales staff inadvertently damage your jewelry.
Remember that frequent polishing tends to remove some of the metal off of your jewelry so it can wear down delicate areas such as prongs, shanks and bezels.
Find a reputable local jeweler to assist with cleaning, repairs and maintenance of your jewelry.
Get your jewelry independently appraised by a certified gemologist
-- Don'ts --
Don't wear fine jewelry while doing housework, gardening or playing active sports.
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-- Do's --
Clean your jewelry in a dilute mixture of dish soap, warm (not hot) soapy water, and ammonia. Soak for a maximum of 5 minutes.
Use a soft toothbrush (only on harder gems and metals) to gently dislodge dirt around prongs or settings.
Rinse thoroughly
Pat dry with a soft, lint free cloth or let air dry on a towel. Make sure it is completely dry before restoring.
-- Don'ts --
Don't soak your jewelry in vinegar or alcohol.
Though you may opt to use a toothbrush to clean with, don't use toothpaste. Many toothpastes have abrasives in them that can damage the surfaces of softer gems and metals.
Don't clean your jewelry over a drain. Clean it in a bowl or over a strainer to prevent the all too common ring-down-the-sink misfortune.
Don't use bleach. Bleach is much too harsh for your fine metals and can actually cause the alloys in the metals to breakdown. Don't forget bleach is used in swimming pools and hot tubs as well!
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Sterling Silver Care:
Remember that sterling silver is a very soft metal and can be easily scratched.
Use a liquid (not paste) tarnish remover
Use a polishing cloth to give it a nice sheen after the tarnish has been removed
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Caring for your Pearls:
Get pearls re strung every one to two years or periodically depending on use to maintain good shape.
Wipe off your pearls with a soft, lint free cloth before storing them.
Don't use toothpaste, harsh detergents, brushes or abrasive cloths to clean pearls. This will scratch them and leave them looking dull and lusterless.
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