Jewellery care instructions
Bronze jewellery
Store.
To maintain a shiny bright finish for as long a possible, store your bronze away from the air in a ziplock plastic bag and keep it as dry as possible.
Wear.
Do not wear in the shower or store in a humid environment. All metals, including bronze, silver and gold, can react to beauty and cleaning products. Avoid contact as much as possible with perfumes, hairsprays, lotions and household cleaners.
Last but not least, respect its limitations of flexibility and durability.
Care.
If you like a high shine, you may prefer using a commercial metal cleaner specifically formulated for bronze or brass. Follow the instructions on the cleaning product.
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Caoutchouc jewellery
Store.
Store your jewellery pieces away from the air in a ziplock plastic bag and keep it as dry as possible.
Wear.
Do not wear in the shower or store in a humid environment. Avoid contact as much as possible with perfumes, hairsprays, lotions and household cleaners. Avoid exposing it to direct sunlight. Do not wear while swimming, sunbathing, working out and cleaning.
Last but not least, respect its limitations of flexibility and durability.
Care.
Hand wash rubber often with mild soap and water to remove any oils, lotions and dirt. Remove excess dirt with a white high-polymer eraser or moisten a cotton ball or swab with rubbing alcohol and gently wipe in a circular motion. Clean rubber with a soft brush only when absolutely necessary, as this can shorten the lifespan of the material.
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Coin jewellery
Store.
Store pieces in a fabric-lined jewellery case or box with divided compartments; close clasps before putting into jewellery box.
Wear.
Remove pieces before bathing or cleaning; soap and chemicals can dull gold.
Do not wear jewellery while swimming or in a hot tub – chlorine can permanently cause discolouration. Handle your jewellery with care, particularly those pieces that are delicate or have gemstones. Do not wear your coin jewellery while swimming, sunbathing, working out or cleaning.
Clean.
In general, cleaning coins is not recommended. The toning and aging characteristics on coins can be important depending upon the rarity of the coin. For new collectors, cleaning common coins may be beneficial because they are in the mainstream of commerce. If you really want to clean a coin go to this site for complete cleaning instructions.
If the coin is in jewellery, you can clean the piece with a simple jewellery cleaner, an ultrasonic cleaner, or warm soapy water and a cool rinse but don’t use any brush or abrasive that will leave marks on the coin or the jewelry. However, ancient coins either in or out of jewellery should not be cleaned. Cleaning ancient coins generally ruins the patina and can seriously damage the coin along with its value. Take it to a reputable jeweller and let him take care of it for you.
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Coral jewellery
Store.
Coral jewellery should be stored in its own soft fabric pouch or in its own till in the jewellery box so that it’s not scratched.
Larger pieces of coral jewellery should be wrapped in tissue so they don’t scratch other objects beside them.
Wear.
Coral jewellery should only be worn after the person has put on their perfume and make-up and needs to be taken off when they go swimming, wash the dishes, clean, or cook with vinegar.
Clean.
Because coral is very soft, it has to be treated with great care. It should be cleaned with a soft, clean cloth, and then rinsed in warm, soapy water.
It should never be soaked, nor put in an ultrasonic cleaner, nor subjected to a jewellery dip.
If the coral is dusty, the dust can be blown off with a can of compressed air, which can be bought at an office supply store.
The coral can also be rinsed in the sink, and then dried thoroughly with a soft cloth.
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Gemstone jewellery
Store.
Store gemstone jewellery inside a soft cloth or at least away from other stones so as not to run the risk of scratching this agate against a harder stone or of scratching a less hard stone.
Wear.
Apply your perfumes, colognes, and hairsprays before you put on gemstone jewelry. Not only will these chemicals reduce gem brilliance, the ability to return light, they can be highly destructive to some gems.
Clean.
Agates are generally tough stones, but the best cleaning method for agate is to simply use warm, soapy water and a soft brush. It is not recommended to use harsh chemicals when cleaning agate gemstones. Be sure to thoroughly dry agate jewellery after cleaning to ensure there is no residual moisture that could cause adverse reactions such as rust in metal settings.
Let your jewellery piece soak for a few moments in a solution of warm water and mild detergent or cleaning solution. Use a soft brush to gently scrub your jewellery. A shaved matchstick or toothpick is quite good at picking out accumulations, but don’t be too harsh. Patience pays off. When you’ve finished scrubbing, dip the jewellery piece back into the solution for one last wetting. Then rinse in warm running water, preferably about the same temperature as your solution. Radical temperature changes are dangerous and should be avoided.
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Gold plated jewellery
Store.
After wearing, wrap each piece in a soft cloth or tissue paper, then place them separately in cloth pouches, jewellery boxes or individual plastic bags to avoid scratches. Avoid extreme temperature and sunlight; do not store jewellery next to heating vents, window sills, or in the car.
Wear.
Do not spray on perfume or other sprays while wearing your gold plated jewelry. Wear your jewellery after you have sprayed on your favourite perfume so that chemicals on the spray or perfume does not interact with your jewellery’s metal. Remove your jewellery before swimming, bathing and exercising. Avoid rubbing plated bracelets, necklaces and rings against each other. Soap, oil, nail polish, polish remover, perfume, detergents and the likes may react with metal or plated jewelry and will cause them to tarnish easily. The same goes with sweat. Depending on one’s diet, it’s not uncommon for the chemicals in your sweat to cause plated jewellery to tarnish and discolour.
Make sure you remove your gold plated jewellery when you exercise or do strenuous house chores such as gardening or cleaning. Do not wear them while showering, or in a pool/hot tub. It is also a good idea to take your gold-plated jewellery off before cooking as certain fruits and vegetables can be very acidic.
Clean.
Clean your plated jewellery with a cotton ball or a very soft cloth to remove any dust and dirt it has acquired. Gently rubbing the surface of your gold plated jewellery using a soft jewellery cloth also helps restore shine. Stay away from jewellery cleaners or soap – they might have corrosive components that damage the gold-plating.
Gold-plated rings will wear off the fastest, especially if you wear them everyday because they rub constantly against your skin and come into contact with the chemicals you use. If your hands sweat a lot, the gold will wear off even more quickly.
Gold-plated bracelets will last longer. Plated necklaces and earrings can last very long if you take good care of them. Consider all these factors before you commit to buying.
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Pearl jewellery
Store.
Store pearl jewellery separately from other jewellery. Metals and other harder gemstones can scratch pearls. They are best stored in a soft cloth pouch or lined jewellery box.
Do not store pearls in plastic. Nacre is an organic material that needs to breath. If the environment is too dry, the pearls may crack. If placing the pearls in a safety deposit box or in a hot environment, leave a damp cloth nearby, and try to get them out of there as quickly as you can.
Wear.
Wear your pearls often. The body's natural oils increase the lustre and beauty of pearls - a wonderful fact which one can read as proof that nature surely did create the pearl for human adornment.
Heat can damage pearls. Blow-dry your hair before putting on pearl jewelry.
The chemicals in pools, hot tubs and even in tap water can be too harsh for pearls. Do not submerge your pearls in water - no showers, no dishes, no swimming. The chlorine in the water will eat away at the epoxy securing the pearls to their mountings, and soaking the silk your pearls are strung on causes it to stretch out and break early. Remove pearls before exercising to keep them away from perspiration.
Make sure to put pearls on after finished spraying perfume or hairspray and putting on makeup. Be very careful with chemical substances as they will eat holes in the pearl nacre. Keep pearls away from chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, ammonia, hairspray, perfume, and cosmetics, as these substances will damage the pearl surface.
Clean.
Gently wipe pearls with a soft cloth to remove sweat, perfume, excess oils or dirt before putting them away.
Restring pearl necklaces periodically, depending on how often they are worn. They definitely need to be restrung when the knots are discoloured or the necklace appears stretched.
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Porcelain jewellery
Store.
A jewellery box or other closed hard case can help slow tarnish and protect both the porcelain & metal components of your jewellery.
Wear.
Gently wear and enjoy for a long time. Porcelain is best treated like shell, glass or gemstone jewellery. It is recommended to remove jewellery while sleeping, swimming, showering, etc. Some beauty products may cause gold finish and adhesives to break down. Apply perfume before wearing. While porcelain is a durable and strong material, avoid dropping on hard surfaces.
While porcelain is a durable and strong material, avoid dropping on hard surfaces.
Clean.
As with most jewellery, a patina will develop over time. To help reduce tarnish and clean the porcelain, mild soap & lukewarm water can be used with a soft brush or damp cloth to increase shine and patina, then dry with a soft towel. Gold glaze is a surface treatment and may patina or fade depending on pH, use and exposure to chlorine or perfume. Silver and gold-plated accents can be shined using a polishing cloth or leather chamois. DO NOT use brush on gold glaze.
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Recycled leather jewellery
Store.
Keep it out of direct sunlight when storing it. With leather jewellery, it’s not advisable to place it in plastic since it will cause your leather to grow mildew (white fungus). Just store your leather in a cool and dry place in a jewellery box with soft pouch.
Wear.
Recycled leather is a porous material, so keep it dry: don’t bath or swim while wearing it, don't use house hold cleaning supplies, spray perfume or hairspray on your jewellery. Avoid contact with water. Treat recycled jewellery pieces gently since they are delicate. Do not wear while showering, swimming, working out, sunbathing or in store in a humid environment.
Clean.
Because recycled leather is a porous material only use a damp, soft cloth to clean your jewellery. Don't rub or scrub the surface. If necessary you can use a tiny bit of soap on the damp cloth when cleaning.
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Stainless steel jewellery
Stainless steel is hypo-allergenic material, therefore it's a great choice for all the people with sensitive skin and reactions to certain metals. It's durable and resists corrosion and oxidation. Moreover, it doesn't rust, tarnish or turns your skin green, even worn on daily basis. It doesn't fade and shines like real silver or gold.
Store.
Although stainless steel jewellery doesn’t tarnish or corrode and doesn’t require special care, it can scratch, therefore store your stainless steel pieces separately from jewellery made of other metals. It is best if you keep your stainless steel items in individual bags or pouches.
Wear.
Although this piece of jewellery can be exposed to water, for better preservation it is recommended to avoid contact with water and products that can be abrasive for it, and, also, respect its limitations of flexibility.
Keep harsh chemicals away from your stainless steel jewelry. Bleach and chlorine can pit stainless steel and damage the surface of the metal. Take off any jewelry when swimming in pools that are chlorinated.
Clean.
Pour some warm water in a small bowl, and add some mild dishwashing soap. Dip a soft, lint-free cloth in the soapy water, and then gently wipe the stainless steel jewellery with the damp cloth until the piece is clean. When cleaning it, rub the item along its polish lines. Wipe the remaining soap off your jewellery using a moist cloth dipped in clean water. Dry the jewellery well with a clean towel, and then leave your pieces to air dry. After your stainless steel jewellery is clean, you can use a jewellery polish or a polishing cloth to shine it.
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Sterling silver jewellery
Store.
To maintain a shiny bright finish for as long a possible, store your sterling silver jewellery away from the air in a ziplock plastic bag and keep it as dry as possible.
Wear.
Do not wear while showering, swimming, working out, sunbathing or in store in a humid environment. All metals, including bronze, silver and gold, can react to beauty and cleaning products. Avoid contact as much as possible with perfumes, hairsprays, lotions and household cleaners.
Last but not least, respect its limitations of flexibility and durability.
Cleaning.
Over time, dirt, makeup residue, and skin oils can build up on the surface of your sterling silver jewellery and gifts, causing the metal to become dull and cloudy. The best way to prevent this undesirable effect is to clean your pieces regularly. As a general rule, the regular use of chemical liquid jewellery cleaners is discouraged, as they can result in the eventual discolouration of the metal. The safest and most effective way to polish sterling silver is to wipe it gently with a soft cloth. Most fine jewellery stores sell specially designed silver polishing cloths that are pre-treated with gentle chemicals to restore silver's natural brilliance, although most any soft cloth will do the trick. Avoid using coarse fibers or fabrics, such as paper or polyester, as these can result in scratching. Feel free to wipe down your stainless silver as often as you'd like to restore its shine and brilliance.