How to care

Although gemstones are literally rock-hard , they can be damaged by careless handling.Follow these rules to keep your gems and jewellery looking good for generations.

First , clean up your act! Rings in particular tend to collect dust and soap behind the gem , especially if you wear them allthe time.You need to clean them regularly to let the light in so your gems can shine.To clean transparent crystalline gemstones , simply soak them in water with a touch of gentle dish soap.Use bowl of water rther than the sink to eliminate the risk of anything going down the drain.If necessary, use a soft toothbrush to scrub behind the stone.Rinse the soap off and pat dry with a lint-free cloth.Think twice before putting gems in an ultrasonic cleaner.Diamonds and rubies and sapphires will be fine but the others may not be.Especially , leave emerald and pearl out.

Organic gems like pearls,coral and amber should be wiped clean with a moist cloth.Due to their organic nature , these gems are both soft and porous.Be careful about chemicals in hairspray,cosmetics or perfume.Opals require a special care.Never use an ultrasonic,ammonia and avoid heat and strong light.

Most importantly , store each piece of gemstone jewellery seperately so that harder stones do not stratch softer ones.Almost every gemstone is much harder than the metal it is set in.Gems can scratch the finis on your gold , silver or platinium if you throw your jewellery in a heap in a drawer or jewellery box.

Silver care

With proper care, your fine quality silver will last a lifetime. To minimize scratches and other damage, store your silver jewelry either in a cloth pouch or in a separate compartment in your jewelry box. Avoid exposing your silver to household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage silver.

Care should also be taken to prevent silver tarnish build-up, a dulling that naturally occurs when silver reacts with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide in the ambient air. To clean your silver, use polishes formulated specifically to remove tarnish. You can find fine silver polishes, solutions, or cloths appropriate to remove tarnish at most hardware stores or specialty craft stores. Tarnish is most easily removed when it first becomes visible. Although wearing your silver jewelry often is the best way to prevent tarnish from building up, regular cleanings of all your silver items will prevent tarnish and keep your silver bright and sparkling.

Gold

Gold is durable, sturdy, dependable, and makes an ideal setting for your precious diamond jewelry.

However, to get a lifetime of enjoyment from your jewelry, be sure to keep it clean and safe.

Do not wear jewelry during rough work or when handling harsh chemicals.

Store it in a fabric-lined box away from other pieces to protect it from scratches.

Finally, check the diamond settings periodically for any damage to the gold prongs or bezels.

If you see a loose prong, or if the setting looks out of line, bring it to a professional jeweler for repair.