How to Take Care of Jewelry

The more you love a piece of jewelry, the more often you're likely to wear it. That means it's going to get dirty—there's no getting around it. Luckily, if you treat your jewelry right, clean it regularly and store it properly, your favorite sterling silver bracelet, pearl earrings, or unique vintage ruby ring can still stand the test of time. Ensure your gems maintain their sparkle with these tips for taking good care of your jewelry.

The main thing to remember is to avoid exposing your gemstone jewelry to extremes of any kind. Here’s what prolonged exposure to direct heat or light can do to your gemstones:

Continued exposure to light over time can have negative effects on the durability and color of some gemstones. More delicate stones, such as pearls, can bleach under extreme exposure to light, while other gems, such as amber, can darken over time. Proper storage will keep your jewelry safe from the sun’s rays.

Most gemstones are formed as a result of pressure and heat. Some are then heat treated to produce certain colors or change the structure, so excessive heat can change the stone you bought into something else entirely. Sudden changes in temperature can also cause some gemstones to fracture. Pearls are susceptible to drying out which will cause them to crack and discolor. Opals could turn white or brown and develop tiny cracks.

If you’re considering using a household cleaning product to give your favorite jewelry a quick cleaning, don’t. Abrasive chemicals can scratch or discolor more delicate gems so it’s best to stay away from them. Rinsing your jewelry in warm water mixed with a tiny bit of gentle dish detergent and drying with a soft cloth will be enough to keep it clean.

If you feel like your jewelry needs a deeper clean, a professional jeweler is your best bet. Jared offers free jewelry cleaning and inspection services and our experts can give you advice on keeping your pieces in good shape.

The Mohs scale of hardness refers to how soft or robust a stone is and how it holds up to weathering or shock. For example, a diamond ranks at the highest hardness score of 10 and might not be as susceptible to damage while a pearl is much softer and ranges from 2.5 to 4.5 on the scale. Understanding where your gemstone jewelry ranks for hardness will help you determine how to clean your jewelry properly.

For jewelry you only wear once in a while, proper storage is key. Moisture can speed up the tarnishing process, so make sure your pieces are clean and dry when you put them away. Ideally, each piece of jewelry has its own box, but if you need to keep multiple pieces together in a jewelry box, lay them out so they aren't touching, and chains won't get tangled. That way, when you take them out to wear them, they'll still look good as new.