How May We Help You > Jewelry Care

Gems

Gems and precious metals are gifts of nature, which need special care. Even though a gem may be millions of years old, once mined and worn, it is exposed to conditions and chemicals that can damage it.

The harder the gem, the less vulnerable it is to potential damage. A diamond, for example, is the hardest gem known to man, and that's one reason why "it is forever."

Hardness is based on a gem-trade standard called the Mohs Scale, developed in the early 19th century. The scale is structured so that material rated at each higher number can scratch substances with lower numbers. Diamonds are rated the highest, at 10; rubies and sapphires are Mohs 9; emeralds and topaz, 8; and garnets, tourmalines and quartz, 7. Anything softer than a 7 can be scratched, including opal, turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral, pearl.

Metals

Gold, silver, and platinum are only Mohs 2-1/2 to 4, which means that they require special care when wearing, storing or cleaning.

Pearls

Pearls are unique in that they are an organic "gemstone" -- grown inside oysters. The oyster coats an irritant with layers of nacre and forms a pearl. These multiple coats are what gives pearls their luster and glow.

• Pearls are "last on, first off" -- to keep them from coming into contact with hair spray, perfume, fingernail polish or any alcohol based solvent product. Such chemicals will cause damage to the surface of your pearls.
• Clean your pearls with a mild soap and water.
• Re-string your pearls once a year if they are worn frequently.
  

Jewelry Do's & Don'ts

• DON'T wear fine jewelry when doing housework or gardening.
• DON'T heap your jewelry into one drawer. Remember a diamond ring can scratch a pearl necklace. Keep them separate and ideally wrapped in velvet, paper or silk.
• DO check for loose stones frequently by gently tapping the piece with your finger near your ear.
• DO get pearls restrung every two years or annually with frequent use.
• DO clean fine jewelry often to maintain its sparkle and beauty. Do not use toothpaste as its abrasives can damage softer gems and metals. All fine jewelry can be safely cleaned by soaking for 10 minutes in warm soapy water (using a non-detergent soap). Use a soft brush on harder gems to loosen any dirt around the prongs. To reduce greasy build-up on diamond jewelry, dip it in plain alcohol or vodka before soaking.