Care and Cleaning Your Jewels

Exposure to chemicals can damage and discolor metals; karat gold, silver, and brass. It's natural for sterling silver of oxidize when exposed to air as is the other metals, usually it's the copper, that oxidizes in the air resulting in the build up of a tarnished layer on sterling silver jewelry.

Light, heat and chemicals can affect a colored gemstones durability and color. Excessive heat and sudden temperature changes may also fracture the gem. Heat can easily remove the natural moisture some gems need to retain their beauty. Pearls can dry out, crack and discolor.

Sterling Silver 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper

Silver tarnishes faster in areas with high humidity and air pollution. Additionally contact with materials like cosmetics, hairspray, perfume, deodorant, body lotion, bleach, etc., can speed up the tarnishing process. Your ring may also become oxidized by reacting with acids in your skin, the moisture in perspiration, or by reacting with some other lotion or chemical on your skin. Below are some common culprits

Cosmetics

Make-up present on the skin or clothing is the most common cause of blackening or smudging. Cosmetics often contain chemical compounds which are harder than the jewelry itself. These compounds can rub off very tiny particles of metal which appear as jet black dust.

Solution: Use a silver cloth to polish your jewelry. Remember to remove rings & jewelry while applying make-up. Using soap & water, clean the areas of your skin that will come into contact with the jewelry making sure all soap is rinsed off and your hands are dry

Moisture & Humidity

Moisture in the air or on the skin can react with the copper present in all Sterling Silver jewelry, causing a green discoloration and tarnish to develop. This is a fairly common complaint in hot, humid climates and can also affect individuals with particularly moist skin.

Solution: 

Keep your silver jewelry out of the bathroom and shower area. Leave your silver jewelry at home when you go to the gym or spa. 

Contact with Sulfur Compounds

Sulfur compounds can cause Sterling Silver to tarnish. Avoid wearing your jewelry in heavily polluted environments. Also be careful when handling coal or oil, and when preparing foods containing sulphur such as eggs, onions, fish or shellfish. 

Brass

To clean tarnished brass at home and to restore its shine, use a cleaner that contains acidic ingredients, such as lemon, tomato or vinegar. There are many effective ways to clean brass jewelry easily at home. Often, these home remedies are as effective, if not more so, than commercial brass jewelry cleaners.

Use a soft brush or cloth when cleaning your brass jewelry. Dirt and grime build up reduces the luster of brass so regularly washing your brass jewelry in warm water and soap will keep it shining. Use a polishing cloth to buff the brass and maintain its luster.

Regular maintenance of your brass jewelry will ensure it sparkles and remains beautiful for a long time.

​Keep it clean and safe

Jewelry should be removed before swimming in a chlorinated swimming pool, or before using household cleaners. Many cleaners contain ammonia, which is only safe for diamonds. Chlorine bleach, another common household solvent, can deteriorate gold alloys.

Store your clean dry Sterling Silver jewelry in a dry air-tight container, anti-tarnish pouched or a dedicated jewelry box. Its best to store pieces individually. Always take off your silver jewelry before getting in the shower, swimming pool or hot tub, clean it with a dry soft cloth, or polishing cloth, before storing it away.

Clean most colored gems with warm water, mild soap (no detergents), and a soft brush. A pulsed-water dental cleaning appliance and a soft, lint-free cloth can also be used.

Soft gems, such as pearls, on the other hand, can easily be scratched. We suggest using an unused makeup brush instead, and warm, soapy water. Lay the pearls on a towel to dry. The wet string can stretch and attract dirt, so don't touch a string of pearls until they are completely dry. Pearls worn every few days should be restrung once a year.