Our fine jewelry is designed to stand the test of time, and with a little care, each piece can be treasured by you and your family for generations to come. While it may seem like a chore, it actually doesn’t take a lot of work to keep your jewels sparkling. Read on for tips for caring for gold, enamel, and all sorts of gemstones.
General Tips
- Most types of jewelry will become dull over time through repeated exposure to sweat, oils, lotions, and perfumes. Make sure to apply any perfume or hair spray before putting on your jewelry. Likewise, remove your jewelry before bathing, swimming, or exercising.
- It is possible to clean your jewelry too much. For pieces you don’t wear every day, an annual cleaning should suffice.
- All of our pieces come with a jewelry pouch. To ensure the longevity of your jewels, store them in the provided pouch.
- Have your jewelry professionally cleaned by a local jeweler about once a year
Gold
Pure gold does not tarnish, and gold jewelry is naturally resistant to tarnishing. Gold can, however, lose its luster over time, so make sure to wipe down your gold with a polishing cloth 3-4 times per year. You don’t want to over-polish your gold.
There are many products and devices on the market for cleaning gold, but all you need is a few drops of dish soap and a bowl of warm water.
- Add about a tablespoon of dish soap to a bowl of warm water
- Soak your gold jewelry for 10-15 minutes
- Use a soft-bristle baby toothbrush to remove dirt from the gold (but not the gemstone), if needed
- Rinse off any soap residue
- Pat dry with paper towels
And that’s all there is to it! If the gold jewelry contains gemstones, you’ll have to be a bit more careful. It’s fine to use soap to clean diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, but emeralds and opaque gemstones are too porous to submerge in water. In that case, it is best to use a damp cloth to wipe down the jewelry rather than soaking it in water. Finally, do not use a toothbrush, even a soft one, on gemstones.
Crystalline Gemstones
Gemstones such as quartz, amethyst, topaz, diamonds, and rubies can become dull over time due to the accumulation of oils, lotion, perfume, and the like.
Emeralds are one exception. Due to their porosity, they should not be submerged in water for any length of time.
To clean gold jewelry with crystalline gemstones, follow the steps in the above section.
Opaque Gemstones
Like emeralds, opaque gemstones are porous and should not be submerged in water. This category includes softer gemstones such as opal, turquoise, and lapis lazuli.
The best way to clean these types of gemstones is to wipe them with a damp cloth. Do not soak them or clean them with chemicals such as bleach or ammonia.
Pearls
While most gemstones can be damaged by contact with body oils, the same does not hold true for pearls. The body’s natural oils help to preserve pearls. You do, however, want to keep them away from perfumes and lotions, and remove them before exercise just like other gemstones, as perspiration can damage them.
Pearls also thrive in damp environments, so store your pearls in a humid place. A dry environment can cause pearls to crack.
Gently wipe down your pearls with a soft cloth after wearing them. Never use a toothbrush, even a soft one. Pearls are themselves very soft (2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale) and are easily scratched. For more thorough cleaning, follow these steps:
- Add ½ tablespoon of dish soap to 2 cups of warm water
- Dip a soft cloth in the water and gently wipe down the pearls
- Dry thoroughly with a separate cloth.
It is worth it to buy a soft chamois or bamboo cloth to avoid scratching your pearls.
Black Rhodium
Black rhodium is a rare type of platinum often plated over silver or gold to create a darker hue. Any type of metal plating fades over time, especially in areas that come in contact with the skin, so remove your jewelry before going to bed. Avoid over-polishing plated metals.
Enamel
Enamel is made by fusing powdered glass with metal at high temperatures, creating a beautiful yet fragile work of art unlike anything else. Because of its delicacy, clean it only with mild soap and water using a soft cloth. Let it air dry, and store it in the provided Syna jewelry pouch. Avoid extreme temperatures, cosmetics, lotions, acetone, or jewelry cleaner.
For most jewelry, infrequent cleanings using soap and water is sufficient to keep it looking like it did the day you bought it. A little care at home, along with annual professional cleaning, is all it takes. For more jewelry care tips, see our care guide here.
