How to care and clean your jewelry.
We all know that diamonds are our best friends, best or not but they make us happy. From the moment we own a diamond it holds a lifetime of memories, love, and long-life possibilities. For woman diamonds represent their sense of achievement, luxury, style, and elegance.
Now more than ever, we understand the importance of cleaning jewelry in the comfort of your home. It’s important to regularly clean your diamond jewelry since it naturally attracts oils and often looks cloudy when not cleaned. But one jewelry cleaning solution will not work for all gemstones or metals because each needs its own care due to a few different factors. The red, whites and blues (rubies, diamonds, and sapphires) are the safest gems to clean at home. Others require very specific care to avoid damage. The Gemological Institute of America recommends creating a mixture of warm water and a few drops of mild dishwashing soap. Soak your jewelry for about 20 – 40 minutes and then gently brush the stone with a new soft-bristled toothbrush. Rinse under warm running water to remove the soap film. If needed, repeat until sparkling! Please use caution when scrubbing fragile pieces like estate jewelry or older settings. Never clean opals, pearls or any other organic gems in harsh cleaning solutions; only a soft cloth and very mild soap should be used to wipe clean the jewelry. Opals and pearls are very fragile and can easily be scratched if not handled properly. Pearls also have thin layers called nacre that can be removed if a rough cleaner is used.
To avoid dirt buildup and residue on your jewelry, always take it off when gardening or working outside. Remember to remove jewelry while cooking as food and other oils can get stuck in or discolor your rings. Perfumes, sunscreens, hairspray, detergents, and bleach used in everyday life contain harsh abrasive solutions that can also erode and dull the settings.
These wonders of nature are meant to be handled with care, and exercising a little caution goes a long way in maintaining and extending the life of your precious jewelry.
