How to Care for Your Jewelry

It is important to remember that precious metals and gemstones are porous. This means that they react to what they come in contact with, whether it’s water, chemicals, or other hard surfaces. Use these guidelines to properly care for your jewelry, so that it lasts for many lifetimes and remains as close to its original condition as possible.

How do I clean my jewelry?

Most jewelry, unless it is worn daily, will not need much cleaning. If a piece is looking tarnished, less than sparkly, or generally dull we recommend using a gentle jewelry cleaning solution (we sell containers in our stores). Not all jewelry cleaner is gentle, so be careful to read the label if buying elsewhere. Delicate gemstones should always be treated with care, and pieces with opals and pearls should never be soaked in a cleaning solution, but dipped and scrubbed gently with a soft bristle toothbrush. Chains and sterling silver are best cleaned with a polishing cloth (also sold in our stores). The combination of the cleaning solution and cloth is your best cleaning practice.

How to Clean a Diamond Ring:

Let sit in gentle cleaning solution for 1-5 minutes. If the ring is very dirty, you can let it soak overnight.
Remove the ring from the cleaning solution and scrub with a soft bristle toothbrush. Be sure to not only clean the top of your diamond, but underneath the setting as well. The underside of the ring is where most dirt will hide.
Rinse off the ring with plain water and dry with a soft cloth or paper towel.
If your ring is still not clean enough, repeat!

*These steps can safely be used for all diamond and sapphire jewelry in good condition that is set in gold or platinum.

Why is my diamond dull?

Diamonds won’t sparkle the way they should if they’re dirty. Your diamond is likely coated in hand lotion, cooking grease, or soap. Gently cleaning will bring it back to its original state.

How do I store my jewelry?

We recommend storing necklaces hanging up, with the clasp closed. Do not put them in a small pocket in your purse, or leave them lying down unclasped. These can cause them to tangle, which can then cause them to stretch out or break during the untangling process. Storing pieces in jewelry boxes lined with felt can help prevent tarnishing and oxidation.

When can I wear my jewelry?

Our rule of thumb for wearing jewelry is: last on in the morning, first off at night. Jewelry should be put on after you’ve gotten dressed for the day, washed your face, and applied your makeup - not before. At the end of your day, remove your jewelry before getting undressed, bathing, or sleeping. Certain jewelry can be worn almost all of the time, such as sturdy engagement rings and wedding bands. Necklaces, bracelets, and earrings should all be removed before sleeping, bathing, or swimming.

Are there other instances where I shouldn’t be wearing my jewelry?

We advise to be mindful of your jewelry at all times. We like to say that even your engagement ring or wedding band shouldn’t necessarily be worn while working on a car, gardening, or really doing anything that could harm your hands. Certain sports and activities will warrant taking off your jewelry, such as rock climbing or boxing (but yoga is probably okay!). Delicate gemstones such as opals, pearls, coral, etc. should be removed when washing dishes or doing general household cleaning. The bottom line is, if it looks delicate and you’re worried, definitely take it off.

Can you clean my jewelry?

If you come in store with your jewelry that needs cleaning, our staff members are happy to sell you cleaning solution and/or a polishing cloth and give you a brief tutorial on how to clean your piece(s). But we’re happy to give it a quick cleaning while you’re in-store if we are not busy with other customers.

Engagement Rings

Cleaning

Why is cleaning important?

Dirt is an abrasive and can wear away at your prongs, loosening your stones and making it more necessary to repair prematurely. Your gemstone will also look prettier when it’s clean!

How do I clean my ring?

Use our trusted jewelry cleaner, as described above. But for a quick fix, Dawn dish soap (the blue stuff) is what Rebekah herself swears by. Scrub with a soft-bristle toothbrush and rinse in clean water.

When should I get my jewelry inspected?

Every 6 months! Or earlier if you see…

Missing prong(s)
Loose gemstone(s)
Chipped or cracked gemstone(s)
Broken shank (band)

Does my ring fit properly?

Your ring should feel comfortably snug when it’s on your ring finger. Your ring should not fall off when your hands are cold or when you’re washing your hands, but also should not be so tight your finger looks lumpy or strangled. It is normal if your ring spins a bit on a cold day or if it feels a bit tight on a hot day. We are experts at sizing rings and can advise you if you’re still unsure.

I’m wearing a non-diamond engagement ring (Morganite, Sapphire, Emerald, Aquamarine, Tourmaline, etc). What should I know?

Your gemstone falls between and a 7 and a 9 on the Moh’s Hardness Scale. That means it’s softer than a diamond and should be treated with more care. We recommend removing your ring before doing the dishes, gardening, scrubbing a bathtub, and doing any activity that could damage your hands or cause your gemstone to come into contact with harsh chemicals. Wearing gloves can help with this, but we like to err on the side of caution to keep your engagement ring beautiful for years to come!

I’m wearing a halo engagement ring. What should I know?

The small diamonds in your engagement ring are very delicate, and should be treated with care. We recommend removing your ring before doing the dishes, gardening, scrubbing a bathtub, and doing any activity that could damage your hands. Wearing gloves can help with this, but we like to err on the side of caution to keep your engagement ring beautiful for years to come!

I’m wearing an antique engagement ring. What should I know?

Your engagement ring is literally 100 years old! You are fortunate to be wearing a beautiful piece of history that is truly one-of-a-kind. All antique pieces must be worn mindfully and treated with care. While we do inspect and restore every antique that we sell, that does not mean your ring is impervious to damage. Therefore, we recommend getting your ring inspected at least every six months. You will most likely have to repair your ring more than once throughout its life- but that’s okay! As jewelers, we do all crucial restorations on an antique piece prior to sale, meaning that at the time it leaves the store we expect that all parts of the ring will remain in tact in the immediate future. However, we do our best to change very little so that the piece is as close to its original state as possible. Common repairs include re-shanking (replacing the band with new metal) and retipping prongs (adding more metal to the setting to keep gemstone secure). We recommend removing your ring before doing the dishes, gardening, scrubbing a bathtub, and doing any activity that could damage your hands. Wearing gloves can help with this, but we like to err on the side of caution to keep your engagement ring beautiful for years to come!

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