Jewelry Care
All jewelry will be shipped with cleaning instructions specific to the item. Some gemstones, such as amber and pearls, are delicate and require special care. Other items may require only a little polishing. If you are unable to clean one of my pieces of jewelry, contact me, and I will clean it for a small fee plus shipping.
General Jewelry Cleaning Tips
One of the simplest ways to keep your jewelry shining is to wear it often! Rubbing against your skin polishes the metal as you wear it. When you are not wearing it, store it in a plastic bag or in a tarnish-resistant jewelry box. Preventing tarnish is much easier than removing it. Storing jewelry individually in plastic bags also prevents metal and soft stones from being scratched.
Jewelry should always be the last item put on, after hairspray, perfume, and makeup, which can build up on jewelry and attract dirt. Jewelry should be removed before using any cleaning or other chemicals, even fingernail polish remover. Some chemicals can create pits in precious metals and gemstones. Jewelry should never be worn while swimming in a chlorinated pool or hot tub or in saltwater.
Fingerprints or a little dirt can be removed from most jewelry by rinsing it in a little mild liquid soap in warm water. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry completely before storing the item in its plastic bag. Drying with a clean, soft cotton cloth will prevent water spots.
Silver polishing cloths can also be used to restore the shine of metals. Avoid polishing gemstones when using polishing cloths in order to preserve the finish. Any soft cotton cloth can be used to shine metal if a polishing cloth is not available.
Commercial liquid cleaners can be used with caution. Soft stones can be destroyed by liquid cleaners. When in doubt, use only a soft cloth or consult a professional jeweler for heavily tarnished items.
Cleaning Sterling Silver Jewelry
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver and copper. The copper strengthens the metal but also makes it susceptible to tarnish. Wearing jewelry frequently and storing it in a sealed plastic bag will slow or prevent silver from tarnishing. Silver kept in a dry climate may not tarnish at all, while jewelry kept in a humid area or near the ocean may tarnish very quickly.
Lightly dirtied or tarnished sterling silver can be cleaned with warm water and soap as described above. Often a little dirt can just be wiped off with a soft cloth or a silver polishing cloth. Some sources recommend using toothpaste or baking soda and a soft toothbrush to scrub sterling silver jewelry, but I do not recommend this as the baking soda particles must be completely dissolved to avoid scratching the silver and damaging any gemstones in the piece.
Cleaning Gold-filled Jewelry
Gold-filled jewelry does not tarnish like sterling silver does, but it can still collect fingerprints and dirt. Gold-filled jewelry is best cleaned with the simple method of washing in warm water and a mild soap. Gold, like silver, is susceptible to damage by beauty products such as hairspray, cleaning chemicals, and swimming pool chemicals. Follow the General Jewelry Cleaning Tips to protect your gold-filled jewelry from damage.
Cleaning Jewelry with Delicate Stones
Pearls – Delicate as they are beautiful, pearls require some special care. The same precautions should also be taken for mother-of-pearl. Pearls are the exception to storage in plastic or other dry places, as they can dry out and crack. Instead, store them in a soft cloth, preferably in a tarnish-resistant jewelry box if the item also contains silver. Pearls should be stored separately from other jewelry in order to keep them from being scratched. Pearls can also be damaged by prolonged exposure to light, as well as hairspray, makeup, perfume, cleaning chemicals, swimming pool chemicals, and saltwater. Put on your pearls after applying beauty products and take them off before using chemicals. Pearls are also sensitive to acids, such as vinegar and lemon juice.
Pearls are best kept clean by always wiping them gently with a soft clean cloth to remove dirt and oil before storing. Pearls can be swished in warm water and mild soap to remove accumulated dirt or wiped with a soft, damp cloth. Commercial liquid cleaners exist that are rated as pearl-safe. However, it may be best to test such cleaners before using them on your most treasured jewelry. No cleaners with ammonia should ever be used on pearls. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners will also damage pearls. Proper cleaning, as well as wearing your pearls often and storing them in a soft cloth, will keep their luster undimmed.
Amber – Like pearls, amber is more susceptible to damage than many non-organic materials. Amber is soft and can be easily scratched. It should be stored separately from other jewelry. Also, amber can darken when exposed to too much light. Amber jewelry, like all other jewelry, should be put on last after applying hairspray and other beauty products. It should not be worn when handling cleaning chemicals or when swimming.
Amber can be cleaned with warm water and mild soap, and wiped with a soft cloth. Commercial liquid, ultrasonic, and steam cleaners will damage amber. Dulled amber can be restored by being washed and carefully dried, rubbed with olive oil, then rubbed with a soft cloth to remove excess oil.
Soft Stones – Like pearls and amber, other soft stones also require special care. Stones such as turquoise are porous and can be damaged by cosmetics, hairspray, cleaning chemicals, and swimming pool chemicals. Turquoise can even be discolored by skin oils and perspiration. Opals and malachite are other stones that can be easily damaged by scratching or exposure to chemicals. None of these materials should be cleaned with commercial liquid cleaners, ultrasonic, or steam cleaners. A soft cloth or warm water with a mild soap will usually clean the stone. When in doubt, please consult a professional jeweler.
Cleaning Copper and Brass
The changeable colors of copper and brass are one element that makes these metals so appealing. If you wish to restore the original shiny finish, however, soak the jewelry in vinegar for up to ten minutes for heavy tarnish. Light tarnish will only require quickly swishing the jewelry in the vinegar. A little salt may be added for very heavily tarnished jewelry. Rinse completely before wearing to prevent pitting of the metal. I keep a marked container of vinegar in the refrigerator to periodically clean my copper and brass. Lemon juice can be used in the same way. This method is best for copper and brass chainmaille jewelry or other items without gemstones. Soft, porous stones such as pearls, amber, turquoise, and malachite should never be cleaned with vinegar or lemon juice.
Many people are also concerned about their skin turning green when wearing copper and brass jewelry. This is caused by a chemical reaction between skin and the metal, which varies from person to person. Some people have had success coating the inside of a ring or bracelet with clear fingernail polish to avoid direct contact with their skin. However, this coating is more suitable to solid pieces than to chainmaille or other chains and must be reapplied frequently. I find that perspiration and tight jewelry increase the chemical reaction with my skin. I avoid wearing copper or brass bracelets on hot summer days and try to wear looser-fitting jewelry, which reduces or eliminates this problem.
Antiqued Metals
Antiqued jewelry is created by purposefully oxidizing (or tarnishing) a metal then polishing the oxidation off part of the piece to bring out details and depth. Using a commercial liquid cleaner will remove the oxidation permanently and significantly alter the appearance of the jewelry. For this reason, it is best to only clean antiqued metals with a polishing cloth. Also, wearing jewelry frequently and storing it in a plastic bag when not in use will slow tarnish in unwanted areas.
Disclaimer: I have thoroughly researched care and cleaning of jewelry for the benefit of my customers, but I cannot guarantee that your results will be the same as mine due to variables I cannot control.
Jewelry Sizing
Necklaces
The length of a necklace when worn can be tested by cutting a piece of string the same length as the necklace and holding it around your neck. A flexible measuring tape can also be used.
Bracelets
To find your bracelet size, measure snugly but comfortably around your wrist bones. All bracelet sizes are given by the wrist size in inches. When you receive your bracelet, you may notice that it is longer than your wrist size. This is necessary to compensate for larger beads and create the perfect fit.
Rings
You can find your ring size easily with these two methods:
- Measure the interior diameter of a comfortable ring in millimeters (mm) with a ruler or with digital calipers for better accuracy. This is often the best method when buying a ring as a gift. Find the diameter in the second column below and match it to your ring size.
- Wrap a thin strip of paper or a piece of string around your finger snugly but not too tight. Mark where the paper or string overlaps, then measure the length in millimeters (mm). If you think your knuckle is larger than the base of your finger, measure your knuckle as well and use the larger measurement. Find the circumference of your finger in the third column below and match it to your ring size.
Be sure to measure your finger when it is “normal” rather than very warm or very cold. If your finger size falls between two sizes, it is usually best to choose the larger size. If your ring is slightly too small, I recommend taking it to a jeweler to be stretched. A ring that is much too small or much too large should be exchanged for a different size.
| Ring Size (U.S.) | Finger Diameter (mm) | Finger Circumference (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 13.21 | 41.5 |
| 2.5 | 13.61 | 42.7 |
| 3 | 14.05 | 44 |
| 3.5 | 14.45 | 45.2 |
| 4 | 14.86 | 46.5 |
| 4.5 | 15.27 | 47.8 |
| 5 | 15.7 | 49 |
| 5.5 | 16.1 | 50.3 |
| 6 | 16.51 | 51.5 |
| 6.5 | 16.92 | 52.8 |
| 7 | 17.35 | 54 |
| 7.5 | 17.75 | 55.3 |
| 8 | 18.19 | 56.6 |
| 8.5 | 18.53 | 57.8 |
| 9 | 18.89 | 59.1 |
| 9.5 | 19.41 | 60.3 |
| 10 | 19.84 | 61.6 |
| 10.5 | 20.2 | 62.8 |
| 11 | 20.68 | 64.1 |
| 11.5 | 21.08 | 65.3 |
| 12 | 21.49 | 66.6 |
| 12.5 | 21.89 | 67.9 |
| 13 | 22.33 | 69.1 |
