How to Care For Your Jewelry

General Care
We believe that all jewelry—from the most precious, to the most casual—is meant to be worn every day, not locked in a safe. Scratches and dents can happen, so can some tarnishing—and that's okay! It's a sign that your beautiful jewels are serving you well, day in and day out. That said, there are also ways to keep your jewelry as pristine as the day it was made.

We always recommend taking your jewelry off if you are swimming, gardening, playing contact sports, cleaning, or moving heavy objects. Slide your rings and bracelets off, and keep them in a dedicated jewelry box or dish—don’t just set them down on the edge of the sink, or on the banister in the front hall. This will help you keep track of your jewels.

As a rule, if you’re unsure if an activity will tarnish or damage your jewelry, take it off. This will ideally require less jeweler intervention—though we’re always here for you if you need advice or repair.

Most of the jewelry we sell requires very little care—just wear and enjoy. However, here are our best practices:

Cleaning 14K Gold (with or without diamonds, sapphires or rubies)
Mix a small amount of mild dish detergent with warm water in a bowl. Put the jewelry into the bowl and let sit for a few minutes, and then use a very soft, dedicated toothbrush to gently scrub the jewelry. Remove item from soapy water, rinse it and dry thoroughly with a soft polishing cloth.

You can also use a polishing cloth for extra shine and to remove any tarnish. Sometimes 14K gold can tarnish a bit—particularly earrings or the inside of rings—depending on your skin chemistry, but it is a very easy fix.

You can also bring your diamond rings to a reputable jeweler and ask if they can put your piece in their ultrasonic cleanser.

Cleaning 14k Gold-Plated

14k gold-plating will rub off your jewelry over time, but there are ways to extend the longevity of your plating before it's time to replate! Polish daily after wear with a soft jewelry polishing cloth. This will remove any oils and dirt that have accumulated on the surface. Spot clean with lukewarm water, a mild soap, and a soft cloth is needed. After getting a piece wet, be sure to dry it off completely.

Sterling Silver

Sterling silver can tarnish quite quickly when it comes into contact with oxygen or sulfur. However, the best measure to prevent this is wearing your jewelry often. Usually, the oils in your skin help prevent tarnish, however, this will vary depending on your own body chemistry.

If your silver jewelry is tarnished, you can gently clean it with a jewelry polishing cloth. 

There are also many viable home remedies for cleaning and polishing online. Just remember that silver is very soft so use something like a very soft baby toothbrush to avoid scratching. 

Stones
For any pieces with stones, especially rings, we recommend having the tightness of the stones checked regularly by a professional. Depending on the amount of wear the piece receives, they should be checked every four to six months. Stones should also be checked more frequently at home. You can use a simple pinhead to gently tap the surface and sides of the stone and see if they move or glint in the light. If even one stone is moving, refrain from wearing the piece until it can be tightened. Do not check soft stones, such as opals or moonstones, for tightness.

Opals and Moonstones are relatively delicate stones, which require some special care to keep them in good shape. These magical stones are fairly soft—they are a 5.5 - 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, while diamonds are a 10. They are also high in water content and are porous, which causes them to be very sensitive to changes in climate, temperature, and humidity.

The best way to care for your opals and moonstones is with some mindful preventative measures. Don't wear your jewelry in extreme temperatures, during physical activities, and also, avoid contact with soap, water, and household cleaners. Set your opals down gently when you remove them.

Diamonds are among the hardest materials on earth. They are so hard that they may cause damage to other jewelry worn around them. For example, it would be best not to wear a diamond ring next to or on the same finger as an opal ring. A diamond can also damage a metal setting if it is loose, which is why it's best to check for loose stones regularly and have them tightened as needed.

Pearls are rather sensitive beauties, but they love to be worn! They don't like being stored away and their intrinsic luster and glow will only improve when worn regularly.

However, they do need proper care to last many lifetimes. Pearl experts say put them on last and take them off first. Pearls are more vulnerable to the chemicals found in cosmetics, hair spray, and perfume. Do all your primping before you put your pearls on.

Pearls should only ever be cleaned with a soft cloth moistened with water—not with any detergent.