caring for your jewelry

Put jewelry on after cosmetics, perfume, hairspray and other substances that can be corrosive. After wearing, wipe your jewelry with a soft cloth. Store pieces separately (ideally in pouches), to avoid scratching.

Most gold and silver jewelry is easily cleaned with a liquid detergent. For silver, use a mild cleaner without bleaching agents or ammonia. Soak items in a warm solution of water and detergent, then rinse. Don’t soak sterling silver for too long, as it may affect some oxidized finishes.

Avoid using anything with abrasives or bleach. Both will damage silver. Do not use toothpaste, scouring powder or “creamy” opaque cleaners, which often have abrasives.

If you’re uncomfortable cleaning your own jewelry, find a reputable jeweler with ultrasonic and steam cleaners to do it for you.