How to Prevent Tarnishing
Sterling Silver and Copper pieces will tarnish. Tarnishing is a natural process caused by oxidation and can easily be removed by rubbing the piece gently with a soft polishing cloth, like Sunshine® Cloths. Please do not use metal polishes and/or tarnish removers – they can damage pearls and gemstones.
Prevent tarnish build-up by polishing regularly and storing in a cloth sack or box with tarnish inhibiting strips. I do not recommend using zip top bags to store pearls or gemstones – these are natural products which need to breathe.
Gold-filled products are 14K gold that has been bonded to metal, giving it more strength and making it more resistant to dents than solid 14K gold. This is NOT the same as gold-plating which is a thin sprayed-on layer of gold that eventually wears off. While more expensive than gold plate, gold-filled is much less expensive than solid 14K gold but will scratch like 14K. Overall, this is a long lasting, highly durable, high quality, but less expensive alternative to 14K gold.
How to Clean Jewelry
Best Cleaning Method
Last on, first off.
Especially important for pearls and soft stones such as turquoise. I recommend it for all my jewelry – by not exposing jewelry to hairsprays, perfumes, and lotions you eliminate the need for heavy cleaning and polishing. Over time, this could greatly affect the life of your piece.
Clean by wiping gently with a soft damp cloth after each wearing. Or, try Sunshine® Cloths – they clean and polish without scratching metal.
Remove jewelry before bathing, swimming, or doing chores that require chemicals. Chemicals like chlorine and detergents can harm stones and/or discolor metals.
Store jewelry flat, out of direct sunlight, and away from heat. Some stones, such as Kunzite, Rose Quartz, and Amethyst, will fade if left in direct sunlight for lengthy periods; heat will dry out pearls. Avoid sudden temperature changes to prevent stones from cracking.
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Home Cleaning
Soak your jewelry in a cleaning solution made from warm water and mild detergent (Ivory or Dr. Bronner’s are nice)
Use a soft worn toothbrush to gently loosen any dirt and remove film
Rinse in warm water and buff dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
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