Fine Jewelry Care Guide
If cared for properly, your fine jewelry will last a lifetime. Fine jewelry should be treated with care.
- Take your jewelry off before you go to bed.
- After wearing jewelry, wipe with a clean, using a soft, slightly damp cloth to remove dirt or cosmetics.
- Store your jewelry pieces or to pack them for travel, wrap each piece in a soft pouch, cloth or jewelry roll to prevent scratching.
- Beware: salt water and harsh chemicals such as chlorine or detergents, can harm gold and gemstones.
Special Care For Diamond Jewelry
- A diamond is the hardest substance known to man. However, it can still be chipped. Never wear your diamond while doing rough work.
- While gemsstones may remain unscathed by chlorine and other chemicals, mountings may discolour.
- For everyday light cleaning of diamond jewelry, use a toothbrush and warm slightly soapy water in a bowl (never over the sink). Rinse thoroughly with cool water and pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth.
- Remember to store diamond jewelry individually, so that it doesn’t scratch other pieces.
Special Care For Gemstone Jewelry
Most coloured gemstones routinely undergo heating or other treatments to further enhance their natural beauty. These enhancements are generally permanent. However, extra care should be taken with all coloured gemstone jewelry. If cared for properly, it can last a really long time.
- Never expose any gemstone jewelry to salt water, chemicals, perfume or hairspray. These substances may slowly erode the finish and polish of the gems. Do not subject gemstone jewelry to sudden temperature changes.
- Opals, emeralds and tanzanite require extra precautions.
- Do not use commercial cleaning solutions, ultrasonic steam cleaners, cold or hot water to clean these gems. Use only a soft cloth and lukewarm water. Opals are especially sensitive to temperature variations, which can cause cracking. Remove your opal jewellery before washing dishes, handling frozen foods, or in very cold weather.
- Store your gemstone jewelry in cotton, never plastic. Keep each piece separate as these gemstones are easily scratched by other pieces.
Special Care For Gold & Platinum Jewelry
- For light cleaning of your gold or platinum jewelry soak the jewelry in a bowl of mild liquid detergent and lukewarm water. Brush lightly with a toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly with warm, then cool water to remove dulling residue, and dry with a soft cloth. To remove heavy grease or oil, dip your precious metal jewellery into plain rubbing alcohol, then follow the directions above.
- Remove jewelry before bathing, swimming, gardening or exercising.
- Chemicals such a chlorine or cleaning solutions can damage your jewelry. Hairspray, perfume or perspiration may also dull the finish of precious metals.
- Because gold is a naturally yellow metal, white gold is created by mixing other alloys with the pure 24K gold. White gold is routinely coated with a rhodium finish. Rhodium is in the platinum family, and therefore tarnish resistant. The rhodium finish on white gold will wear off over time depending on how the jewelry is worn, cared for and cleaned. This finish can be reapplied as needed.
Source: Hulchi Belluni