Jewelry Care

Caring for Sterling Silver

Like fine silver, sterling silver does tarnish over time. Exposure to chemicals can affect the appearance on silver (like hand sanitizer, pool chlorine, some soaps, etc.). It is not recommended to wear sterling silver jewelry while bathing or swimming for this reason. If it tarnishes, sterling silver jewelry can be cleaned with cleaning cloths or solutions that are labeled as being safe for silver. Cleaning sterling silver can also remove oxidized patina applied to the piece, so use caution when cleaning if there is desired oxidized patina. If your jewelry has stones in it, please only use with a cleaner that is labeled as safe for stones as any other cleaner could potentially damage them.

 

 

 

Caring for Oxidized Sterling Silver

Oxidation is a a process which creates the blackened or antiqued appearance on silver. Oxidized patina on silver isn't particularly durable to long-term exposure to water (like bathing or swimming) or a lot of scrubbing, as friction is the way to polish silver to shine. Constant exposure to tasks such as hand washing, bathing, swimming, washing dishes, etc., will slowly wear away the oxidized patina leaving a shiny silver finish as silver can be polished by both friction and chemical means. Cleaning sterling silver can also remove oxidized patina applied to the piece, so use caution when cleaning if there is desired oxidized patina. If your jewelry has stones in it, please only use with a cleaner that is labeled as safe for stones as any other cleaner could potentially damage them.

 

 

 

Caring for Jeweler's Brass

Jeweler's brass denotes a specific recipe for brass that does not include lead, unlike most manufacturing brass; I only use lead-free jeweler's brass in my work. Brass does tarnish over time, and at a quicker rate than silver. I seal my brass pieces with Renaissance Wax (a museum - grade microcrystalline wax polish) to help each piece keep the desired level of oxidation for the design while reducing the speed of extra tarnishing. Exposure to chemicals can affect the appearance of brass (like hand sanitizer, pool chlorine, some soaps, etc.). It is not recommended to wear brass jewelry while bathing or swimming for this reason. If it tarnishes, brass jewelry can be cleaned with cleaning cloths or solutions that are labeled as being safe for brass. Cleaning brass can also remove oxidized patina applied to the piece, so use caution when cleaning if there is desired oxidized patina. If your jewelry has stones in it, please only use with a cleaner that is labeled as safe for stones as any other cleaner could potentially damage them.

 

 

 

Caring for Opals

Opals are extremely porous stones, meaning that they can absorb liquids and chemical, which can dull or damage the fire in these stones. Do not expose them to chemicals, including chlorine, perfumes, soaps, etc. Do not wear them while swimming, washing hands (if in a ring), or bathing due to the chemicals present in the water. Store them away from objects that may scratch them. Do not store opal in airtight packaging; they can crack if the environment they are stored in is too dry. Do not put opals in ultrasonic cleaners. Only clean opal jewelry with solutions labeled as safe for opals.

 

 

 

Caring for Pearls

The outer layer of pearls (the nacre) is very sensitive to chemicals. Do not expose them to chemicals, including chlorine, perfumes, soaps, etc. Do not wear them while swimming or bathing due to the chemicals present in the water. Store pearls away from objects that may scratch them. Do not store pearls in airtight packaging; pearls are created in water and can crack if the environment they are stored in is too dry. Do not put jewelry contained pearls in ultrasonic cleaners. Only clean pearls with solutions labeled as safe for pearls.Â