How to Care for Your New Jewellery
How to Care for Your New Jewellery
Wear your jewellery often, but do not wear your jewellery swimming or in the shower because salt water, chlorine is & chemicals in soaps & shampoos can damage the finish of the metals, stones, pearls, etc…
Do not apply perfume, creams or cosmetics while wearing your Jewellery, they can cause damage & discoloration, so always wait for skin to dry before you wear your jewellery.
How to care for your Gemstones:
Be very careful to take Extra Care of your Porous and Softer gemstones like Opal, Apatite, Peridot, Fluorite, Turquoise, Blue Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Howlite, Chrysoprase, Emerald, Onyx, Sardonyx, Carnelian, Agate, as well as Moonstone, Labradorite, Pearls, Amber as well as treated, plated and composite stones.
Do not use Abrasives, harsh cleaners, Silver cleaning cloths, toothpaste, etc., because you can damage the stones.
You can clean easily clean these delicate stones by wiping with a damp cloth or rinse with pure water. Be careful not to soak your stones or use hot water and Never use ultrasonic cleaners to clean gemstones.
Wear your delicate Gemstones and Pearls often! The natural oils from your skin will preserve and enhance them, making them more shinny and beautiful.
If your stones start to look dull, wear them often, while working out or even vacuuming, let the natural oils from your body restore them.
Always protect these delicate stones from getting scratched, store in a jewellery box, or bag.
Be very careful to keep these stones away from heat and sunlight. Always store them in the driest part of your home.
Harder Gemstones like Diamond, Sapphire, Amethyst, Garnet, Quartz are harder and much easier to care for and clean because they dont scratch as easily and they are less porous, but, they can still get damaged, so be careful to store them just a you would the delicate gemstones.
They can easily be washed with a little soapy water (eco friendly, chemical free soap only) if necessary, with a clean cloth or an extra soft baby toothbrush. Do not use hot water, abrasives, chemicals, vinegar or heat, and do not use ultrasonic cleaners on any gemstone.
Do not use silver polishing cloths on gemstones, they are abrasive.
Keep all gemstones protected in box’s or bags to prevent scratching and damage.
Do not store you Gemstones in direct sunlight or heat because the sun can bleach color from some stones and heat can damage and crack stones.
How to care for your Pearls:
Wear your Pearls often! The natural oils from your skin will preserve and enhance the luster of your pearls, making them more shinny and beautiful.
Pearls are delicate, so they need some extra love and care. Pearls are pours stones and softer than most gemstones, so you need to protect them from getting scratched or stained by perfume, cosmetics, etc.
You can keep your pearls clean by wiping them with a soft, clean cloth each time you remove them.
If they get dirty, you can wash them with water and a soft, clean cloth.
Do not soak your pearls.
Strong Soaps & detergents may damage and dry out the pearls.
Do not use hot water, abrasives, chemicals, vinegar or heat, and do not use ultrasonic cleaners.
Do not use silver polishing cloths on gemstones, they are abrasive.
Keep your pearls protected in box’s or bags to prevent scratching and damage.
Do not store you pearls in direct sunlight or heat because the sun and heat can damage, beach and crack pearls.
Let your pearl jewellery air dry and do not use heat to dry.
Pearls are porous so they hold onto moisture for long periods of time, so you need to be careful not to store them in an airtight container unless they are 100% dry.
If you store pearls in an airtight contain when the pearls or stringing materials are still damp, the moisture can damage them when left for long periods of time and oxidize silver.
If your pearls start to look dull, wear them often, while working out or even vacuuming, let the natural oils from your body restore them.
Sterling Silver:
Wear your jewellery often, but do not wear your jewellery swimming or in the shower because salt water, chlorine is & chemicals in soaps & shampoos can damage the finish of the metals, stones, pearls, etc…
Do not apply perfume, creams or cosmetics while wearing your Jewellery, they can cause damage & discoloration, so always wait for skin to dry before you wear your jewellery.
Wear your Sterling Silver jewellery often and it will usually stay cleaner when you are wearing it than if you leave it sitting in your jewellery box. Silver and other metals can tarnish over time, due to pollution, humidity in the air, chemicals, even your own skin chemistry can cause the silver to discolor, so it is important to keep your silver clean by wiping with a clean, soft cloth each time you remove it.
Store your Silver jewellery in an airtight container like the Reusable clear jewellery storage bag provided. Do not store your jewellery in an airtight container until it is thoroughly dry.
Do not store in rubber container or plastic treated with chemicals.
Do not keep your jewellery in the kitchen, bathroom etc, always store in the driest part of your home.
Keep your jewellery away from heat and direct sunlight.
If you see your silver start to discolor, you can wipe it with a soft, clean cloth and if that does not work, then you can wash it with some soap (mild & chemical free) and water. If your silver jewellery has pearls or softer, porous gemstones, you can put a small amount of soap on a clean cloth and rub the silver only, then rinse with water.
If your silver jewellery has harder stones, glass or crystal, you can also use an extra soft baby toothbrush with the soap and water, rinse well and let it sit to dry. Do not use heat to dry.
Never use baking soda or toothpaste because they are very abrasive and will scratch the silver. The chemicals in the regular toothpaste are very harsh and can damage the silver.
I usually just use soap (mild & chemical free) and water to clean the silver with a soft cloth or an extra soft baby toothbrush and the jewellery looks amazing!
You can also purchase (non toxic) jewellery cleaning cloths and polishing cloths made for silver, but do not use the cloths directly on the stones or on crystal. Non toxic products are better for your jewellery, you and the environment.
Sterling Silver Vermeil is Gold plated 925 Sterling Silver; it can tarnish just like sterling silver, it can tarnish over time, due to pollution, humidity in the air, chemicals, even your own skin chemistry can cause the metal to discolor, so it is important to keep your silver clean by wiping with a clean, soft cloth each time you remove it.
Store your Vermeil jewellery in an airtight container like the Reusable clear jewellery storage bag provided. Do not store your jewellery in an airtight container until it is thoroughly dry.
Do not store in rubber container or plastic treated with chemicals.
Do not keep your jewellery in the kitchen, bathroom etc, always store in the driest part of your home.
Keep your jewellery away from heat and direct sunlight.
You can easily clean your Vermeil jewellery by wiping with a clean damp cloth or use a little soap (mild & chemical free) and water on a soft cloth or use an extra soft baby toothbrush. Let your jewellery air dry, do not use heat to dry.
Do not use abrasives, silver cleaning cloths or silver dips because you could damage or remove some of the gold plating
Do not store it in an airtight container until jewellery is thoroughly dry.
14k Gold Filled jewellery is 1/20 14k Gold, made with a thick layer of 14k Gold, permanently bonded to another metal, usually brass. The Gold layer will not come off or wear off like gold plate, it can last a lifetime if you take care of it.
Gold Filled jewellery is easy to take care of, it may never tarnish, but you should keep it in the reusable clear jewellery bag to protect it from scratches and keep it clean. You can easily clean your Gold Filled jewellery by wiping with a clean damp cloth or use a little (mild & chemical free) soap and water, then let air dry. Do not use heat to dry.
Do not use abrasives, silver cleaning cloths or silver dips because you could damage the Gold layer.
Silver Plated & Gold Plated metals are delicate. Silver and Gold are electroplated onto a base metal, sometimes copper, brass other mixed metals. Do Not use any abrasive, silver or gold polishing cloth, dips or chemicals to clean them because you could damage the plating.
Always use a soft, clean, cloth each time you remove it and store it in an airtight container like the clear, Reusable jewellery bag proved, it will keep it clean and protect it from damage.
You can clean your plated jewellery by wiping it with a soft, clean cloth like an untreated, non abrasive jewellery cleaning cloth to remove dirt and makeup. Never soak plated metals in water.
Brass: raw brass is a hard yellow metal made with a combination of copper and zinc. when polished it can look like a yellow gold, but as it ages and oxidises it will darken and develop a rich, warm brown patina.
Solid Brass can be cleaned and polished to with a jewellery polishing cloth. You should always purchase a separate polishing cloth for each metal to avoid discoloration or damage to other metals.
Do not polish Antiqued Brass or you will remove the patina (the dark color).
Antiqued Brass: is solid brass that has oxidized to create a dark brown color patina.
Antique Brass Finish: Wipe with a soft cloth if it gets dirty. Do not polish or you cold damage or remove finish.
Antiqued Brass finished metal is plated metal, a base metal plated or coated with an antique brass finish.
Copper: raw copper is a softer shinny, pink gold color and after it is aged or oxides it develops a dark reddish brown, deep brown, sometimes develops shimmers of blue and purple. I prefer the dark color patinas for my vintage inspired jewellery.
Solid Copper can be cleaned and polished to its original state with a jewellery polishing cloth.
You should always purchase a separate polishing cloth for each metal to avoid discoloration or damage to other metals.
Do not polish Antiqued Copper or you will remove the patina (the dark color).
You can also clean Solid Copper with simple ketchup from your kitchen. You can rub the ketchup on the
Copper and rinse with soap and water or let the ketchup it sit on the surface for a few minuets, rub and rinse with water. You could immerse a small item in small bowl or cup covered in the ketchup for a few minuets, then wash with some gentle soap and water and rise well with water. Let I sit to air dry.
Antique Copper Finish & Antique Copper Plated: Wipe with a soft cloth if it gets dirty. Do not polish or you cold damage or remove finish.
Antiqued Copper finished metal is plated metal, a base metal plated or coated with an antique brass finish.
Mixed Metals or Plated metals: Do not wash, soak, or polish jewellery made with mixed metals or plated metals. Only use a soft, clean cloth to remove any dirt.
Please contact me for specific care instructions for my jewellery and or accessories.