Loving  Your Jewlery.

General Care of Jewelry
Keep your jewelry free of dirt, cosmetics, hair spray, perfume, and perspiration. Avoid salt water and harsh chemicals such as chlorine or detergents which can harm gold and gemstones. After wearing, wipe your jewelry with a clean, soft, damp cloth. This will enhance the luster and assure that your jewelry is clean before being stored. Store your jewelry in a soft pouch.

Care of Gemstone Jewelry
The following information will help insure that your colored gemstone jewelry remains beautiful for years to come:

• Do wipe your precious gemstone jewelry thoroughly with a clean, soft, damp cloth after wearing. This will enhance the luster and assure that your jewelry is clean before being stored. Store in a soft pouch when not being worn.

• Don't expose your precious gemstone pieces to salt water or harsh chemicals, such as chlorine or detergents. These chemicals may slowly erode the finish and polish of gems. Use of hair spray, perfume and the presence of perspiration may cause jewelry to dull. Also, do not subject gemstone jewelry to sudden temperature changes.

Care of More Fragile Gemstone Jewelry
Opal, emerald and tanzanite are more fragile gems, and require more care than other gemstones.The following tips will help protect these more fragile gems:

• Avoid cleaning solutions, perfume and hair spray while wearing them.

• Never use commercial cleaning solutions to clean them. Use only a soft cloth and lukewarm water.

• Don't boil or use hot water for cleaning. Store your opal and emerald jewelry in cotton, never plastic.

• Never store these gemstones with other jewelry, as they are easily cracked and scratched.

• Never wear your opal jewelry in very cold weather, while washing dishes, or handling frozen foods. Extreme temperature variations may cause cracking.

Care of Diamonds

• A diamond is the hardest substance known to man.  Although your diamond is incredibly durable, it can still be chipped by a strong blow to an edge.  Never wear your diamond while doing rough work..

• While chlorine and bleach won't harm your diamond, they can damage or discolor the mounting.  Always remove your diamond jewelry before using any chemicals.

• Do have your ring checked and cleaned at least once a year. For everyday light cleaning use a baby toothbrush and warm sudsy water in bowl (never over the sink).

• Don't leave your ring on the rim of a sink when you remove it to wash your hands. It can easily slip down the drain.

• Store your diamond jewelry separately because diamonds can scratch other jewelry or each other.

• The packing of your diamonds and other precious pieces for travel should be given care. There are many types of carry-alls, specially designed for jewelry travel, available in all price ranges. They come in all sizes, shapes and patterns. Most have velvet pads inside to attach pins and earrings, and special compartments for bracelets and necklaces.

Care of Gold and Platinum Jewelry

• Remove all jewelry before bathing, swimming or using any chemicals. Soap can leave a dulling film; chemicals such as chlorine or cleaning solutions can damage your jewelry.

• For a light cleaning of your gold jewelry, use a very diluted solution of liquid detergent in lukewarm water and a soft cloth or baby toothbrush.  To remove grease or oil dip your precious metal jewelry into plain rubbing alcohol.

• Protect your gold jewelry from scratching by using pouches or a compartmentalized jewelry box. Don't sleep in your jewelry, it can be dangerous to you and the jewelry.

Care of Opaque Stone Jewelry

• Stones such as lapis, turquoise, coral, onyx and malachite.

• Never wear these stones while bathing, swimming, or while working with chemicals or detergents, as they may ruin the finish of the stones.

• Avoid exposure of these stones to any chemicals or detergents.

• Shell cameos, as well as those carved from blue, green or brown agate, require simple cleaning with a damp cloth. No chemical dips, ultrasonic or steam cleaning.