Fine jewelry when well taken care of, can last a lifetime. How do you keep it sparkling like new? The Jewelry information Center (JIC) answer frequently asked questions about fine jewelry.

How do I get my gold, platinum, and diamond jewelry sparkling line new?

Soak your fine jewelry 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. You can also use jewelry cleaner such as "Brilliant Restorer", a one-minute instant diamond and jewelry cleaner.
Always keep each piece in a separate compartment of a compartmentalized jewel box. This ensures that one piece will not rub against another and lessens the possibility of scratching or soiling.

How do I care for pearl jewelry?

To keep pearls looking new, put your pearls on after you are completely dressed and all of your lotions, perfumes and hairspray have been put on. All of these items can put a residue on your pearls and leave them dull. Wipe them down after each use with a soft, link-free cloth. Place each item in a lined box away from other jewelry. Put each earrings a separate compartment so they don't dent or scratch one another. Lastly, take our strand of pearls in to a professional jeweler to have them restrung every two years or once a year if they are worn frequently. Because pears are easily damaged, they should be stored away from other jewelry.

Is there a way to make putting on jewelry easier for people with arthritic?

There are some simple things that people with arthritic hands can do to make jewelry wearing fun again. For those whose fingers changes sizes drastically, visit a jeweler to have a spring-loaded shank or metal prongs added to your rings. It will allow you to slip the ring over your knuckle while keeping the ring tight around your finger. Also you can now put on bracelets without help thanks to the newly designed "Braceler Helper" an elastic band that slips on the wrist and holds onside to the bracelet while you clasp it on.

Tips for Keeping your Jewelry Looking New and Shiny

When caring for your jewelry, never use anything but 100% cotton as a polishing cloth since paper, polyester, and coarse fabrics often contain wood fibers or synthetics. These materials may impart fine scratches in the metal, especially on sterling silver.

A polished appearance is the result of the metalsmith's effort to file, sand and buff the metal to a perfectly flat surface. When even minor scratches occur, as seen under a microscope, the surface looks like the ragged edge of a saw blade and light is bounced in and around those scratches like a voice echoing in the Alps. An unmarred surface allows the light to be bounced back smoothly, with no echoes, and results in a highly reflective surface.

Important Warnings about the Care of Fine Jewelry!

Always remove your rings and fine jewelry before using any product that contains bleach! Bleach can cause gold and other metal alloys to breakdown leaving the metal irreparably damaged. This includes swimming pools and bathing in hot tubs as chlorine products are added to prevent bacteria growth.

If you normally use specially purchased jeweler's cloths to keep your jewelry clean and shiny, be sure to use fresh cloths since the dirt and grit left on the cloth from a previous use will now leave scrapes and pits in the piece you are trying to clean and polish.

Never use toothpaste or other abrasives to clean metal or stones. You will find countless websites that recommend toothpaste as a cleaner, but this is not an accepted practice by fine jewelers. Although the abrasives in toothpaste are great for your teeth, they can damage the surface of the metal requiring the skill of a professional to buff and refinish. Toothpaste will also scuff the surface on amber, lapis, turquoise and other soft stones resulting in the fine polish which was produced by the skilled lapidary to be permanently marred.

Ultrasonic Cleaners

Ultrasonic cleaners are great for cleaning some jewelry but they can damage many gemstones and the chemicals are not recommended for pearls and many other fine stones. Repeated use can also loosen the settings and you could lose your precious gems.

Other Common Chemicals and Solutions to Avoid

Besides chlorine bleach, denatured alcohol, turpentine, acetone, and ammonia can cause harm. These chemicals can dull or even pit the surface on softer gemstones. Petroleum based products can actually "melt" amber if allowed to remain on the stone and they can do significant damage to pearls.

Gems requiring special care:

• Opals require special care. Never use an ultrasonic, never use chemicals and avoid heat. Don't put your opal ring on the window sill when washing your hands or the dishes as strong sunlight can dry out the water in opals which could cause hazing or color change.


• Pearls. Protect from scratches; perfumes and household chemicals which can wear away the nacre or cause color change.


• Soft stones like lapis, malachite, turquoise, amber and opals can easily be scratched by pin stems and the edges of other jewelry. Protect pieces with these gemstones by wrapping them in jeweler's tissue and storing separately.