Care and Repair

Jewelry Maintenance and Repair Keep your Bling jewelry shining like new!

Caring for Sterling Silver Use a soft 100% cotton (knot-free) cloth or flannel to clean your sterling silver jewelry, and gently wipe away excess makeup. Remember, silver is a very soft metal that can be scratched if not handled carefully, so avoid rubbing it too vigorously. Do not use anything other than a clean 100% cotton or special sterling silver cleaning cloth (a popular choice is Sunshine Polishing Cloth) or a very soft bristle brush (such as a baby toothbrush or a horsehair silver brush). Paper, polyester, and coarse fabrics often contain wood fibers or synthetic materials that can cause tiny scratches on the delicate surface of sterling silver jewelry. Dirt left from previous cleanings can also scratch the surface.

Note: We recommend against using silver dips to remove tarnish from silver jewelry, as it leaves tiny pits that cause it to tarnish more quickly. Instead, focus on preventive care by storing your jewelry in airtight boxes or plastic bags, as silver can discolor when exposed to air.

Caring for Cubic Zirconia Wipe your jewelry clean with a cotton or flannel cloth. A special jewelry polishing cloth would be perfect (a popular choice is Sunshine Polishing Cloth). Use straight, back-and-forth motions to polish your jewelry and remove dirt and dust from the surface. Avoid wiping in circular motions, as this can scratch the surface of the jewelry. Then use a cleaning solution to remove dirt and grime.

Just like diamonds, cubic zirconia can be cleaned with warm water and mild soap. Use a soft cosmetic applicator to apply to the crevices. However, if you wish, you can use a trusted jewelry cleaner to remove dirt and dust from the zirconia.

Steam your cubic zirconia jewelry. Using a teapot or any other method that produces steam, place your jewelry directly over the steam flow to loosen dirt. You should wear gloves and use tongs or needle-nose pliers to avoid burns. After steaming, dry the jewelry with a polishing cloth.

Clean your jewelry with an ultrasonic cleaner. If you own a large amount of CZ jewelry, these units are inexpensive and worth having. Store your jewelry in a sealed plastic bag. If this is not possible, store your jewelry in a lined jewelry box, away from the air.

Pearl Care Pearls are very delicate and require special care and maintenance. Never store pearls in a jewelry box next to other jewelry, as the box and other jewelry can damage the pearls through scratching and abrasion. Instead, keep pearls in a fabric-lined box or a fabric bag.

The acid produced by the skin can harm pearls, so if you wear pearls frequently, wipe them with a soft cloth after each wear. Pearl necklaces will gradually absorb the acid from the skin, which can erode the pearls, causing them to lose their luster. Wiping pearls with a damp or dry soft cloth can prevent dirt from accumulating and prevent the slightly acidic sweat from eroding the pearl layer. You can also drop a drop of olive oil on the cleaning cloth to help maintain the luster of the pearls.

Pearls are not only soft and easily scratched but can also be damaged by chemicals and heat. Use only jewelry cleaners that are clearly marked as safe for pearls. Never use ultrasonic cleaners, dish soap or detergent, bleach, baking soda, or ammonia cleaners. Never use a toothbrush or any other abrasive material to clean pearls. Always remove pearls before using any makeup, hairspray, or perfume, and avoid high temperatures and dry air, as both can cause pearls to turn brown, dry out, and crack.

Caring for Rhodium-Plated Silver Clean rhodium-plated silver with warm water and mild liquid soap (such as Ivory dish soap). Rinse immediately and dry with a soft polishing cloth to avoid mineral residue in the water.

Do not use any chemicals on rhodium products. Do not use toothpaste, nor brush with a toothbrush. Do not use polishing cloths intended for uncoated silver or gold jewelry. Do not place in an ultrasonic cleaner. Do not use any type of abrasive. Do not use silver dips. Do not use ammonia-based products. If you have antiques or heirlooms, do not clean them without consulting an expert on the item.

Caring for Gold Gold jewelry does not tarnish, but it can become dirty or darkened by oils from the skin, lotions, cosmetics, or other substances. There are many products that can clean gold, but you can easily clean it with a mild cleaner and a soft cloth.

In a bowl, mix a small amount of mild dish soap with warm water. Place the gold items in the soap mixture and let them sit for a few minutes. Gently scrub the jewelry with a soft toothbrush. Remove the items from the soapy water, rinse, and thoroughly dry with a soft polishing cloth.

Caring for Vermeil Vermeil, in simple terms, is gold plating on sterling silver. Sterling silver beads can be gold-plated. This is a great way to incorporate the look of gold at a fraction of the cost, especially for beads. You can clean gold and silver jewelry with warm soapy water. Use warm water (not too hot, as it can crack some stones) and a few drops of non-filmy dish soap (non-antibacterial). Use a soft toothbrush to get into tight spots. Rinse immediately and dry with a soft polishing cloth to avoid mineral residue in the water.

Gold Plating Care Keep gold-plated jewelry away from hard surfaces. Collisions and scratches can cause the gold layer to wear off more quickly. Store your gold-plated jewelry in a velvet-lined jewelry box or wrap it in soft material to prevent scratches. Gently wipe gold-plated jewelry with a damp cotton cloth. This will help to remove dirt or dust that accumulates on the surface and wears away the gold layer. Gently buff gold-plated jewelry with a non-abrasive jewelry polishing cloth to restore its shine. You can also take your gold-plated jewelry to a local jeweler who can replate the gold. This may be necessary if the gold plating has begun to wear off. Consult your local jeweler about their charges for this service.

Gold Filled Jewelry Care Carefully wipe your jewelry with a soft cloth to keep it clean. The best way to clean areas that a polishing cloth cannot reach is to take a small bowl that can hold about a quart of water and line it with aluminum foil. Add hot water and a tablespoon of Tide laundry detergent (not liquid or bleach) and stir. Place your jewelry in the solution for about 1 minute, then rinse with water and air dry. If dirt has accumulated in hard-to-reach places, simply place a few drops of dish soap in a bowl of water and soak overnight.

Caring for Gemstones Gemstones are as hard as rocks, but they can be damaged by careless handling and neglect. Here are some tips to help your gemstones and jewelry maintain a beautiful appearance for years to come.

Remember, even the hardest gemstone varieties can be prone to chipping if they contain inclusions that weaken the crystal structure. Exercise common sense: If your ring is set with a softer gemstone variety or an included gemstone, remove it before vigorous exercise. Even the hardest of gems – diamonds – can be split in half with a gentle tap.

Never remove a ring by pulling on the gemstone: This habit can cause the gemstone to loosen and then be lost. Most importantly, store each piece of gemstone jewelry separately to prevent harder gemstones from scratching softer ones. Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in. If you pile your jewelry in a drawer or jewelry box, the gemstones can scratch the surfaces of gold, silver, or platinum.

Rings are particularly prone to accumulating dust and soap behind the gemstones, especially if worn regularly. You need to clean them regularly to let the light in so that your gemstones can sparkle. To clean transparent crystal gemstones, simply soak them in water with a few drops of mild dish soap. Use a bowl of water instead of a sink to eliminate the risk of anything going down the drain. If necessary, use a soft toothbrush to scrub behind the stone. Rinse off the soap and pat dry with a lint-free cloth (you want to make sure the fibers won't get caught in the prongs).

Think twice before placing gemstones in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires are fine, but many others are not, especially emeralds, opals, pearls, peridots: if in doubt, leave them out.

Organic gemstones such as pearls, coral, and amber can only be cleaned with a damp cloth. Due to their organic nature, these gemstones are soft and porous. Be careful with chemicals in hairspray, makeup, or perfume: they can damage pearls in particular over time. Opals also require special care. Never use ultrasonic, never use ammonia, and avoid heat and strong light. Opaque gemstones like lapis lazuli, turquoise, malachite need to be handled with extra care because they are rocks, not single mineral crystals like transparent gemstones. These gemstone materials simply need to be gently wiped clean with a damp cloth. These gemstones may be porous and can absorb chemicals, even soap, which can accumulate inside the gemstone and cause it to discolor. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner, never use ammonia or any chemical solution.