JEWELRY CARE
Your new purchase should be treated like any fine piece of jewelry. There will be times when it is appropriate to take it off while doing things (like dishes, using chemicals) that would cause it to catch or pull. Due to the composition of some of the genuine gemstones used, it is best to keep it from exposure to moisture and cleaning compounds other than mild jewelry cleaner and mild soap and warmer water to keep it clean an shiny. I cannot be responsible for wear and tear and I cannot replace items that have been damaged through improper care or use (like running over an earring with your car, slaming a bracelet in a door or dropping a ring down the garbage disposal!)
Keeping Your Jewelry Sparkling:
You will need to periodically polish your Sterling Silver with a specially designed Polishing Cloth—these multi-taskers remove tarnish without scratching your jewelry. But don't worry about polishing your oxidized pieces much…they are meant to look weathered in the recessed areas! Jewelry should be put on after after you finish your daily beauty routines—remove your jewelry before swimming, showering, washing dishes or anything that puts you in contact with chlorine, bleach or strong cleansers… it could damage your jewelry.
To keep your Sterling Silver Jewelry looking new, store it in an airtight compartment or sealed plastic bag to keep it from tarnishing. If your jewelry arrives in a special zip lock bag, keep it stored in it when you aren't wearing it for best results.
Methods for Cleaning Tarnish:
Here are a variety of cleaning methods. If you are unsure how it will work with your jewelry, try it out first on a small, non-visible area.
Aluminum Foil & Baking Soda: For Sterling Silver Only (not for gemstones, opals, pearls, etc). Place a sheet of aluminum foil in the bottom of a small pan or dish, add your silver pieces, keeping good contact with the foil. Sprinkle with baking soda. Heat your water to almost boiling (but boiling is not necessary) and pour over just enough to cover the pieces. The mixture of baking soda, hot water, and aluminum foil will cause a bubbling/foaming chemical reaction and have a metallic smell. Swirl your items in the mixture or let soak for tougher tarnish. Remove silver, rinse, dry, and buff with a soft cloth. This method cleans the design and crevices of silver pieces. If you have very tarnished silver, try this again until clean.
Window Cleaner: If you want to remove light tarnish from the surface of a piece, use some window cleaner (containing ammonia) diluted with water on a soft cloth. Ammonia is used in many commercial silver polishes and is safe. Do not use this on soft stones such as pearls or turquoise!
Toothpaste: To clean off tarnish, coat the silver with toothpaste, then run it under warm water, work it into a foam, and rinse it off with hot water. For stubborn stains or intricate grooves, use an old soft-bristled toothbrush.