Jewelry Care Guide

Caring for Your Fine Jewelry

Fine jewelry is designed to be worn and cherished — but it also deserves care. With a few simple habits, your pieces will remain as brilliant as the day they were made.

1. Daily Wear

"Last On, First Off"

Make your jewelry the finishing touch. Put it on after applying makeup, hairspray, perfume, and lotions — the chemicals in these products build up on gemstones, dulling their brilliance, and can damage porous stones like pearls. When you return home, your jewelry should be the first thing you set aside.

Know When to Remove It

Even a diamond can chip if struck at the right angle. Remove your jewelry during:

  • Swimming & Hot Tubs — Chlorine and saltwater discolor gold and erode soldered joints. Cold water also shrinks your fingers, and rings can slip off without warning.
  • Exercise & the Gym — Lifting weights can deform ring shanks and loosen prong settings. Perspiration reacts with certain metals over time.
  • Cleaning & Gardening — Bleach and household cleaners are particularly harsh on precious metals.

2. Cleaning at Home

Diamonds, Gold, Platinum, Sapphires & Rubies

These are durable materials that respond well to a simple cleaning bath.

  1. Soak — Mix warm water with a few drops of mild dish soap in a small bowl. Let the piece soak for 15–20 minutes to loosen oils and dirt.
  2. Scrub — Use a clean, soft-bristle toothbrush to gently work behind the stone and into any crevices.
  3. Rinse — Hold under warm running water. Always plug the drain first.
  4. Dry — Pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Delicate Stones: Pearls, Opals & Emeralds

These gems are porous or fragile and should never be submerged.

  • Pearls & Opals — Wipe gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth after each wear. Never use ultrasonic cleaners or steamers.
  • Emeralds — Most emeralds are treated with natural oils to fill surface-reaching fractures. Hot water, steam, and soap strip these oils. Clean only with a soft, dry cloth.

Sterling Silver

Silver tarnishes naturally when exposed to air and sulfur compounds.

  • Wear it — The oils in your skin help keep silver bright.
  • Polish it — Use a dedicated silver polishing cloth to remove tarnish. Avoid chemical dipping solutions on any silver piece that contains gemstones — the chemicals can damage the stones.

3. Storage

A diamond is the hardest natural mineral, which means it will scratch everything it touches — including gold, silver, and other gemstones.

  • Separate each piece. Store in individual soft pouches or in a fabric-lined box with dividers.
  • Lay chains flat with the clasp fastened, or hang delicate chains to prevent kinking and tangling.

4. Professional Maintenance

We recommend bringing your jewelry in for a professional cleaning and inspection every 6 to 12 months. Over time, daily wear takes a subtle toll that is easy to miss.

During an inspection, we check for:

  • Loose prongs — Catching a shifting stone before it falls out is the simplest protection there is.
  • Worn mountings — Metal thins gradually with everyday wear.
  • Clasp integrity — Ensuring necklaces and bracelets stay securely where they belong.

A Note on Insurance

For your most valuable pieces, we strongly recommend obtaining dedicated jewelry insurance. It covers loss, theft, and accidental damage — circumstances that standard homeowner's policies and warranties typically do not.