Maintain the Sparkle
Care & Cleaning
7 Tips For Jewelry Care And Cleaning
Caring for your jewelry properly ensures it will last a lifetime. Establishing a cleaning routine for your jewelry is the best way to keep it looking pristine.
1. Know when to take it off
Put your ring in a safe place any time you are doing outdoor activities like working out, hiking, swimming, or working with your hands. These activities can damage your ring.
2. Keep it clean
Create an at-home cleaning schedule with one of our ring cleaning solutions! We recommend this at least once a month.
3. Check-ups
Visit our showroom every 6 months for a complimentary cleaning and maintenance check. We’ll ensure you aren’t at risk of losing any stones.
4. No Zzzzzing
Take off your jewelry before you sleep to avoid prongs snagging on loose threads and putting any pressure on bezel-set stones. Snagged prongs can put your stones at risk of falling out.
5. Keep the sparkle
Remove your rings when using lotions and take them off before you shower. Thick and oily products quickly cloud your gemstones, so do your best to avoid them.
6. Safe places
Put your ring in a safe place any time you take it off. Ring dishes next to sinks and on your nightstand (plus a jewelry safe) are great ideas!
7. Know your stone
Some stones require special care to keep them looking their best. Keep reading to learn about your specific stone.
Protecting Your Prongs & Bezels
While gold is a durable metal that has been used for generations to create wearable jewelry pieces, it requires specific care to maintain its beauty and strength over time.
Prong-Set Rings and Jewelry:
The prongs in these pieces hold stones securely in place. However, they are still susceptible to bending or breaking if snagged. If you find that your piece is catching on your clothing or hair, inspect the item and make sure that there are no gaps between the prong and stone. If you notice anything that looks off, please contact our team as soon as possible to have your piece inspected.
Bezel-Set Rings and Jewelry:
Bezel settings are one of the more secure options for stones, but a stone can become loose in a bezel if the item is knocked against a hard surface. If you notice the stone wiggling in the setting, don't hesitate to contact our team. We also recommend removing your rings when doing anything that requires a firm grip, such as mountain biking, skiing, or weight lifting, to avoid any misshaping of the band.
Chains and Necklaces:
Chains and necklaces often see build-up when worn regularly. We recommend removing these items when sleeping to avoid snagging or tangling overnight. We recommend cleaning your chain periodically using warm water, dish soap, and a soft brush for a deep clean, while a clean, soft cloth can help with daily maintenance.
Cleaning Your Jewelry At Home
Our jewelry cleaning solutions offer the easiest and most effective way to keep your pieces sparkling.
DIY Cleaning
We recommend a soft toothbrush to avoid scratching the stone surface.
Dish soap makes an excellent cleaning solution since it helps break down oils that can build up on stones and gold with daily wear.
Warm water is the best cleaning option to avoid overheating stones.
Tips For Success
Use a gentle hand if your stone has any noticeable inclusions or cracks in the surface.
A gold-specific jewelry polishing cloth is a great option for keeping the gold elements of your pieces clean, especially if your item has a more delicate stone set in it. Read the instructions for the cloth and gently rub the cloth over the exposed gold areas on the item, avoiding the stones.
Gemstone & Diamond Cleaning Specifics
Precious Gemstones
Diamonds, sapphires, and rubies are safe to clean using the instructions above and are safe in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. Sarah O. cleaning products are also safe to use on these gems. Emeralds can be cleaned using warm water and a soft brush. Avoid contact with any alcohol-based cleaners or harsh detergents. Exposure to these chemicals can change the color of your gemstone.
Semi-Precious Gemstones
Semi-precious gemstones are often more susceptible to heated cleaning (like steam cleaning) since they can change color, crack, or break when exposed to high temperatures. Our standard cleaning recommendations or an ultrasonic cleaner are great ways to get a deep clean while avoiding any heated settings. Stones such as Amethyst, Aquamarine, Blue Topaz, Citrine, Garnet, and Peridot are especially susceptible to heat cleaning.
Special Care
Moonstone, Labradorite, And Sunstone
Moonstone, labradorite, and sunstone are all members of the feldspar family and have some unique characteristics regarding wear and cleaning. These stones are susceptible to breaking if exposed to high heat or sudden temperature changes, so be mindful of where you store these pieces. All of these stones are on the softer side and can be scratched or broken under undue pressure. We recommend using any of our cleaning solutions or warm water and dish soap for gentle cleaning. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are never recommended.
Opals
Opals have a gorgeous multi-color fire that makes them unique and requires special care to keep that fire visible and vibrant. Remove your opal piece any time you wash your hands, work out, or bathe. We want to avoid submerging these stones in water. Consistent water or sweat exposure can change the opal's color and dull that beautiful fire.
Clean your opal with a clean damp cloth, then use a fresh cloth to dry the stone thoroughly. Allow the opal to dry fully before wearing. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are never recommended. Opals set in jewelry should be kept in a dark, dry place when they’re not being worn.
Turquoise
Using any cleaning solution or soap can dull the vibrant colors of turquoise. We recommend using a clean damp cloth to wipe down the stone, then drying the piece thoroughly. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are never recommended.
Pearl
We recommend using a soft cloth to wipe your pearl piece after wearing. This type of gentle cleaning is the best way to retain the iridescent luster of the pearl. Please do not submerge your piece in water, and avoid chemicals, lotions, and perfumes. Take off pearl jewelry when cleaning, working with your hands, exercising, and doing water activities.
Skin Discoloration
Gold is durable enough for daily wear, but it is still a porous material that can absorb anything applied to the skin. If you wear your piece daily without regular cleaning, those elements can build up and leave a black or green mark on the skin. If your item has been exposed to any harsh detergents or chemicals, that may cause a reaction with the alloy metals in your jewelry and leave a mark as well. Wearing your piece while working out or in a more humid climate may also lead to discoloration.
The discoloration on the skin can be washed off with soap and water, and we recommend giving your piece a good cleaning to remove any build-up that may have accumulated. Stop wearing this piece immediately and contact us if you are experiencing any redness or irritation.