Wait until you’ve applied your make-up, perfume and hairspray before putting on your jewelry. Remove your jewelry before doing any household work. Never wear pearl earrings or necklaces when getting hair color. Store your jewelry in non-leather pouches, boxes or zip lock bags. Make sure they are wrapped individually (in tissue or cloth) to avoid scratching.

Before cleaning your jewelry, examine it carefully to make sure that all settings, clasps, and prongs are secure. Use either a nonabrasive jewelry cleaner, which you can purchase at a local jewelry store, or a cleaning solution of mild dish soap and warm water. Dip the jewelry in the cleaner or cleaning solution. Use a soft toothbrush to gently loosen any dirt. Rinse in warm running water and buff dry with a soft, lint free cloth until it is shiny.

To clean most stones, soak them in warm soapy water. Warm soapy water should not be used for the following: chalcedony, onyx, turquoise, coral. Do not use jewelry cleaner on pearls or porous stones such as lapis lazuli, coral or turquoise. Emerald is a fragile, brittle stone that needs to be handled with special care. Wipe them clean with a soft damp cloth or have them cleaned professionally. Consult a jeweler when in doubt about a particular stone. It is recommended that you get your jewelry professionally cleaned periodically and have pearls restrung every few years, especially if you wear them often.

Doublets should be cleaned carefully with clear detergent, a toothbrush and warm water. These stones should not be exposed to heat, harsh detergents, ammonia based cleaners, oils or cleaners containing alcohol. They should not be worn while in the shower, immersing hands in hot water, or working with commercial cleaning compounds. They should not be steam cleaned or submerged in water.

Avoid exposing sterling silver to harsh chemicals such as chlorine, cosmetics, hair spray, and perfume. When cleaning sterling silver, use a phosphate-free detergent or low abrasive cleaner designed for cleaning silver. You can wash your jewelry periodically with mild dish soap and warm water. Make sure to rinse well and dry completely with a soft cloth before storing. Use silver polish to restore the finish and protect sterling silver from tarnishing. Store sterling silver jewelry in tarnish prevention cloths or bags that are treated to slow down the tarnishing process. It is also important to separate jewelry when being stored to avoid scratching. If you are not going to wear the piece for a long time, use small zip lock bags to keep it sealed and dry. Do not store the silver jewelry directly in contact with wood surfaces as wood may contain acids that can damage the finish.

Wait until you’ve applied your make-up, perfume and hairspray before putting on your jewelry. Remove your jewelry before doing any household work. Never wear pearl earrings or necklaces when getting hair color. Store your jewelry in non-leather pouches, boxes or zip lock bags. Make sure they are wrapped individually (in tissue or cloth) to avoid scratching.