The Care & Cleaning Of Your Gemstone & Silver Jewelry

Precautions

  • Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaners or Steamers can ONLY be used for: Alexandrite, Diamonds, Ruby, Sapphire, Spinel, and Zircon. These gemstones have a hardness of 9.0 or greater.
  • Stones to use extra caution with are: Amber, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Pearls, Turquoise, and Opals. Do not soak, but only wipe clean with a cloth barely dampened with water.
  • Do Not use a soft toothbrush with Amber
  • Remember that Sterling Silver is softer than most gemstones, so it is vulnerable to scratching, too. Fine Silver (Hill Tribe Silver beads) is softer than Sterling.
  • Remember even the hardest stone may have some inclusions which make it vulnerable to breakage.
  • Many stones cannot withstand soaking or cleaning with most commercial Jewelry Cleaners.

Do's

  • Use a 100% fresh, lint-free, cotton cloth.
  • Apply your hairspray, perfume, and body lotion before you put on your jewelry. These chemicals will either harm your jewelry or cause a build-up or will detract from its appearance.
  • Soak in soapy water (unless it's Amber, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Pearls, Turquoise, Emeralds, Opals, Shells, Cameos) using a small amount of liquid soap in a small bowl of water. Mild soaps are baby shampoo, or unscented castile soap. Do not use well water-it can have a high mineral content which could harm your jewelry. Dry your jewelry thoroughly after rinsing well.
  • Store your gemstone jewelry in an airtight sealed plastic bag after it has been cleaned and dried thoroughly.

Do Not's

  • Do NOT boil your jewelry.
  • Do NOT use soap with: Amber, Lapis Lazuli, Pearls, Peridot, Turquoise, or Rubies. Just wipe with a slightly dampened cloth.
  • Do NOT soak in soapy water: Amber, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Pearls, Turquoise, Emeralds, Opals, Shells, or Cameos.
  • NEVER use tissues or paper towels, as they can contain coarse wood fibers
  • NEVER use polyester or other synthetics because they can cause scratching.
  • NEVER use: bleach, toothpaste (has abrasives in it), alcohol, turpentine, acetone (fingernail polish remover), vinegar, or ammonia. These chemicals will harm the stone, and cause irreparable damage.
  • DO NOT wear your Jewelry in: Swimming Pools (has chlorine-that's bleach), Hot Tubs (ditto for the chlorine), the Shower or Bath at home (soap scum).
  • Do not expose your jewelry to perspiration (while exercising).

Silver: Sterling and Fine

Silver is subject to scratches and tarnish.

Scratches

Sterling Silver has a hardness value of 3 on the Moh's Scale, which is relatively soft. Fine Silver has a hardness of only 2.5. Higher numbers (up to 10) are harder; a higher number can scratch a lower number. Quartz makes up most of the dust in our environment, and has a hardness of 7. So simply rubbing a finger, which will have dust (not visible) on it, over the silver will make tiny scratches on the silver, and will therefore dull the finish on the silver.

Tarnish

Silver will tarnish with exposure to air which contains sulfides naturally. But usually, silver worn regularly will not tarnish as rapidly as silver which is stored improperly. Rubber bands contain sulphur and if used with silver will hasten tarnish.

Cleaning

Dips-Don't
Be very careful if you use a silver dip. If dipped too long, or not rinsed thoroughly, dip will remain in tiny scratches or in design features, and will leave behind a white residue which will be very hard to rub or pick off. Also, if the piece has a finish on it, the finish will most likely have microscopic cracks in it after any wear, and the dip will lodge in these cracks. Dips will also lodge in chains or filigree. If you still want to try a dip and your jewelry has gemstones in it, be sure the dip will not harm any or the stones.
The Safest Way to Clean
Use a soft, 100% cotton cloth and gently rub in one direction to remove excess makeup, body oils, dead skin, and body oils. Paper towels, polyester or other synthetics, tissues, or coarse fabric often contain fibers which will put tiny scratches in the silver. If your piece has gemstones and you use warm water (with or without a non-detergent soap), be sure to thoroughly dry the silver before using the right cloth to give a shine to the silver.
Storage
A lidded box lined with velvet, will help retard tarnish for frequently worn pieces. At the very least silver should be stored in a dry container, a plastic bag with an anti-tarnish tab, or in a special anti-tarnish plastic bag.