Sterling Silver & Silver-Plated Jewelry

Humidity, oils from your skin, perfumes, lotions, hair products and other substances may cause silver jewelry to corrode and tarnish. Protect your silver jewelry by wiping it off thoroughly with a polishing cloth or other soft material, like a cloth diaper, before storing it.

Place the silver in an area that is dark and dry, such as a jewelry box or drawer. It is best to store your jewelry so that other pieces are not on top of it and are not touching each other.  Using an anti-tarnish cloth is the best way to care for your sterling silver pieces.

A stamp that reads “925” (or “92.5”) indicates your jewelry is sterling silver – the highest grade of silver metal for jewelry. The stamp proves that the metal is 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent of copper (or other metals) added to the metal to increase its strength.

Silver-plated items are made from a thin coating of pure silver over other metals.  All sterling silver and silver-plated jewelry will tarnish at some point, as the chemicals from daily wear and exposure to air, sun, dyes and perfumes will change the color of a piece. We recommend not using harsh cleaners on any silver metals.

Gold-Plated and Gold-Filled Jewelry

You may clean your gold-plated jewelry with a cotton ball or a very soft cloth to remove any dust and dirt. Using a soft jewelry cloth also helps to restore luster. You may clean gold-plated pieces with warm, soapy water and a soft toothbrush but take care not to scrub too hard.

Gemstone Jewelry

Certain precautions should be taken with all of your jewelry; however, some gemstones require special care.  Protect your jewelry from impact against hard surfaces and avoid contact with abrasive surfaces. Even a diamond can chip if hit with enough force or at just the right angle.

Many stones such as amethyst, emerald, opal, pearl, peridot, tanzanite and tourmaline are very delicate and can scratch or chip.  Gemstones can scratch other gemstones and wear away at precious metals. Therefore, avoid stacking necklaces, rings and bracelets that would be vulnerable to such abrasion.

Extreme temperatures, perfumes, cosmetics, ultrasonic cleaning and household chemicals can also damage jewelry.