Jewelry Care

Gems lost their sparkle?

Never fear, chances are they simply need cleaning.  The trick is to access the underside of the stone and remove any buildup from it.  Diamonds can be safely cleaned in ultrasonic or steam cleaners, but many colored stones can be damaged in these automated cleaners.  For that reason I recommend hand cleaning of colored gems.  You can keep what you need near the sink and clean them whenever you feel like.

You'll want:

Mesh kitchen strainer: Put this below the faucet in the sink prior to washing your jewelry.  Soapy hands are slippery and jewelry is small; you want dropped pieces falling into the strainer and not down the drain.  This simple step will save sanity, hair, and money ;)  Plastic is better than metal, to avoid scratching your jewelry.

Mild, scum-free soap:  I use handmade soap purchased from artists on etsy.com but any nice natural soap should do.

Soft paintbrush with bristles capable of reaching into the setting and under the stone: Some people use a toothbrush, but they can dull highly polished finishes.  Go with a nice paintbrush from the craft or art supply store.

Warm water: Wash with warm water, soap, fingers, and your paintbrush, paying special attention to those hard to reach places under the stone.  Let dry naturally or use a hair dryer set on low to dry the piece without water spots.  If you use a hair dryer, be careful to avoid overheating the stone or blowing your jewelry across the counter to places unknown.

Optional, for tarnished sterling silver:

Haggerty Silversmith's Wash: Safe for just about all stones except for fine pearls, and anything with nooks and crannies you won't be able to wash the paste out of.  Mild and effective.  Use by rubbing the piece with paste using your fingers until the paste turns black with removed tarnish.  Rinse and repeat.  Use your paintbrush to get under gems, and make sure you rinse off all residue when finished.

Stud earring backs grown loose over time?

Glass: We think of glass as fragile, but ironically it's one of the most durable and low-maintainence jewelry components. Properly annealed (which are of course the only kind I use) lampwork and furnace glass beads are durable and remarkably resistant to breakage, although I wouldn't suggest dropping them on a stone floor to test their limits! Glass can be washed with soap and water, and is resistant to scratching and most chemicals.

Sculptural glass pendants and beads with thin parts are more delicate; glass dolphins, starfish, leaves, etc. should be treated as fragile. I have a lovely dichroic glass shark in my personal collection that lost its tail when I got a bit too careless in storing it.

Gemstone jewelry care: Some gemstones are far more delicate than others, and many soft stones can lose their polish if cleaned with abrasives, subjected to high heat, or dipped in chemical cleaners. Some stones, notably turquoise and lava, are often stablized and polished using a waxing process which is vulnerable to high heat (I once boiled some lava rock in the microwave and all the wax floated to the top!) Ultrasonic cleaners should never be used on jewelry containing gemstones; use this method for solid silver only! Some stones benefit from moisture, particularly opal and crysoprase. Showering occasionally in your gemstone jewelry can actually be beneficial to the stones. Hagerty Delicate Jewel Clean is safe for use on pearls and delicate gemstones, but does not remove tarnish from silver or gold.

Meteorites: Meteorites have a very high iron content and need to be protected from rust. They should be stored carefully in a moisture and salt-free environment, and oiled from time to time. If you sweat or expose them to salt water, wash your meteorite off afterwards with mild soap and water, then apply a light coating of oil once dry. Rust can destroy your meteorites if not prevented. 

Swarovski crystal: Swarovski crystal is very easy to care for. If you notice that the crystals are not as sparkly as they once were, a simple wash in mild soap and warm water should restore them to brilliance.

Leather cord: Leather cord should be cared for like any other leather clothing; avoid excessive contact with water, and oil lightly from time to time. It's best to avoid swimming or showering in your leather jewelry, as it will cause the leather cord to degrade more quickly. I have to admit I wear my leather jewelry when showering, and I never oil it. It lasts amazingly well! If you like the look of leather cord but need something that can be worn frequently in water or would prefer to avoid the use of animal products, contact me about making you a custom necklace using a high-quality synthetic leather substitute or attractive twisted cord.

Caring for pearls: Ultrasonic cleaners should never be used on pearls. Pearls are relatively soft and should be protected from scratches and abrasion. Dyed pearls are not colorfast, and can fade with time, sunlight, and wear. An excellent source of information on caring for pearls is www.costellos.com. 

Caring for copper jewelry: Copper develops a tarnish (called a patina) fairly quickly. One home method for removing copper patina is to pour white vinegar and some table salt into a non-metal cup, place the jewelry in it, and wait about 30 seconds. Pull it out and rinse. Follow this by neutralizing the acid; dip the piece in a solution of baking soda and water to prevent the leftover traces of acid from the vinegar from re-tarnishing the jewelry. This method should not be used with delicate gemstones.