Cleaning

• Use a smooth soft cotton cloth to gently wipe each piece of jewelry clean of cosmetics and skin oils after each wearing. Avoid artificial fiber cloths that may scratch the jewelry.


• For dirtier pieces, lightly cleanse your beads in your hand with a small portion of dish soap, rinse well and gently pat dry.


• All silver will eventually tarnish, visible at first as a slight yellowish tinge, from exposure to the air and your skin oils. Light tarnish or oxidation film can be removed with silver polishing cloths available at major supermarkets, hardware stores or jewelry shops.
  
  Heavy tarnishing of silver jewelry may require the use of commercially available polishing creams, or dip liquids. Do use care with these, limiting the exposure of gemstones to silver cleaners as they may contain chemicals that can harm certain gemstones. Always rinse and dry jewelry thoroughly with a soft cloth making sure no residual cleaner remains.


• NEVER clean your pearl jewelry with Tarn-X or other acidified silver-cleaning solutions. It will instantly ruin your pearls! Nothing harsher than soap and water or special pearl cleaning solution should EVER be used on pearls.


• Home ultrasonic cleaners are useful for cleaning some jewelry. They work best on crystal and some semi-precious stone jewelry. Intense vibrations may loosen some set stones. DO NOT use the home ultrasonic for amber, coral, emerald, kunzite, lapis lazuli, opal, pearl, ruby, or turquoise.

• All jewelry should be handled with care. Even though it consists of metal and stones, damage can occur. Metals can be scratched and gemstones can be cracked or chipped.


• Store your jewelry separately so it doesn't scratch other jewelry. For best results, store your jewelry flat or loosely rolled in your jewelry box or other container.


• Pearls naturally contain some water and can become brittle or crack if allowed to dessicate. Do not store pearls in plastic as it prevents them from "breathing".


• Always store silk-corded bead necklaces (such as lapis, pearls, etc) flat as silk stretches over time.


• Put your jewelry on after washing and applying any makeup/hair spray as the chemicals in these products can reduce sparkle.


• Remove jewelry before going to bed to avoid kinking or breakage.


• While your jewelry sparkles beautifully in the sunlight, long term exposure to the sun can cause colored gemstones to fade. Store in a dark place.