Care Information
Jewelry Care Guide
Find your material below — each section has a quick Do/Don't table.
Quick Index
- General Rules (All Jewelry)
- Sterling Silver
- Gold Plated Jewelry
- Solid Gold
- Bronze (Natural, Silver-Plated, Gold-Plated)
- Pearls
- Rings by Material
General Rules (All Jewelry)
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Wipe with a soft/microfiber cloth after each wear | Wear in shower, pool, or ocean |
| Store dry, in a closed box/bag when not worn | Apply lotion, perfume, or hairspray while wearing it |
| Dry immediately if it gets wet | Store in a bathroom (humidity speeds tarnish) |
| Put jewelry on last when getting ready, take off first when you get home | Use bleach — ever |
Sterling Silver
Prevent tarnish:
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Store in a dry, airtight Ziplock bag with an anti-tarnish strip | Leave silver in the bathroom |
| Clean with a dry soft cloth before storing | Let it contact hairspray, perfume, lotion, or bleach |
Clean tarnish:
| Method | Notes |
|---|---|
| Silver polishing cloth (e.g. Sunshine Cloth) | Use a fresh cloth, light pressure. Avoid tissues/paper towels — they scratch. |
| Commercial silver cleaner | Read instructions — can strip intentional oxidized/antiqued detailing |
| Warm water + mild dish soap | Only if no gemstones/pearls. Use a cotton swab or soft baby toothbrush for corners. Rinse & dry completely. |
| Cotton swab + mild dish soap | For silver with gemstones/pearls — don't submerge the whole piece |
Never use: bleach, toothpaste, abrasives, denatured alcohol, turpentine, acetone, or ammonia (especially with amber, turquoise, lapis, or other soft stones).
Gold Plated Jewelry
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Store separately in a soft fabric-lined box or sealed bag | Wear in the shower, pool, or hot tub |
| Remove before lotion, makeup, hairspray, perfume | Use chlorine or chlorine-based cleaners |
| Clean with jewelry cleanser, soap & water, rubbing alcohol, or Windex (ammonia-based is OK for gold plating) | Use a Sunshine Cloth — it's made for silver and will strip gold plating |
| For spots: use a gold-specific cleaner like Tarn-X, per instructions | Use abrasive cleaners — they remove the plating layer |
| Rinse with lukewarm water, dry fully after cleaning |
Solid Gold
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Soak 15 min in warm water + dish soap, brush gently with a soft toothbrush | Use ultrasonic cleaners |
| For pieces with gemstones: dampen a soft cloth with soapy water, wipe, rinse with a damp towel | Use toothpaste |
| Dry gemstone pieces upside-down on a towel (keeps moisture out of settings) | Use alcohol or unknown solvents |
| Get professional inspection ~2x per year |
Bronze
Natural Bronze
- Will darken/oxidize naturally over time (many like this look).
- Tarnish removes easily with a polishing cloth.
- Store dry in a Ziplock bag; avoid showers and humid storage.
- For high shine: use a cleaner formulated specifically for bronze/brass.
Silver Plated Bronze
- Has an anti-tarnish finish already.
- Do not use polishing compounds or a Sunshine Cloth — abrasives strip the silver layer and expose bronze underneath.
Gold Plated Bronze
- Very stable (98.5%+ pure 24K gold plating).
- Clean with jewelry cleanser, soap & water, rubbing alcohol, or Windex.
- Do not use abrasives or the Sunshine Cloth — will expose bronze underneath.
- For spots, use a gold-formulated cleaner like Tarn-X.
Pearls
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Wipe with a soft damp cloth after every wear | Use commercial jewelry cleaners (unless made specifically for pearls) |
| Apply makeup/perfume/hairspray before putting pearls on | Use ultrasonic or steam cleaners, detergents, baking soda, bleach, or ammonia-based cleansers |
| Occasionally wash with warm soapy water + an unused makeup brush, then lay flat to dry | Wear a necklace when the string is wet (it stretches and attracts dirt) |
| Store in a soft cloth pouch, separate from metal/gemstone jewelry | Use toothbrushes or abrasive materials |
| Restring once a year if worn every few days | Store in dry/hot air, or wrap in cotton or wool |
Rings by Material
| Material | Cleaning | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Mild soap & water, or fine jewelry cleaner | Softer metal — scratches over time; a jeweler can buff it out |
| Diamond Inset | Mild dish soap & water, or a jewelry cleaning pen | No ultrasonic or steam cleaning; get checked a couple times/year |
| Black Zirconium | Mild soap & water, soft cloth to dry/polish | Two-toned metal — silver may show through with age (normal) |
| Cobalt Chrome | Mild soap & water, soft cloth to dry/polish | More scratch-resistant than gold but not scratch-proof; professional buffing available |
| Damascus (Stainless) | Mild soap & water, or mild toothpaste + toothbrush | Avoid chlorine and salt water |
| Dinosaur/Wood | Soap & water is fine | Don't submerge; avoid harsh chemicals and heavy lifting (gym/beach/pool) — everyday showering/handwashing is fine |
| Meteorite Inlay | If oxidation appears, gently clean with baking soda; rinse & dry thoroughly |
Avoid chlorine, bleach, salt, and prolonged water exposure — iron content can rust. Don't apply oils. |
General tip: When in doubt, contact a jewelry care expert before cleaning — some damage (lost stones, stripped plating, clouded gems) is irreversible.