Jewelry Care

 

Care Recommendations from Expressions Jewelers

Thoughtful daily habits can help protect your jewelry, preserve its beauty, and prevent avoidable wear. Use these simple recommendations to keep your favorite pieces looking their best.

Everyday Wear & Care

Last on, first off

Put your jewelry on after getting ready and remove it before undressing. Clothing can catch on prongs, chains, and settings without you noticing. Over time, even small snags can loosen stones, bend prongs, stretch chains, or weaken clasps.

Avoid chemicals

Lotions, perfumes, hairspray, and household cleaners can dull metals and damage certain gemstones. Residue can also collect behind stones, reducing sparkle and adding stress to settings over time.

Remove during hands-on activities

Take jewelry off before working out, gardening, cleaning, or doing other hands-on work. Fine jewelry is durable, but not indestructible. Impact, pressure, and repetitive motion can bend prongs, loosen stones, and wear down metal.

Remove before bed

Sleeping in jewelry can place unnecessary stress on settings. Prongs can catch on blankets or bedding, while movement can twist chains and put prolonged pressure on delicate areas.

Remove before water exposure

Remove jewelry before bathing, swimming, or using a hot tub to avoid soap buildup, hard-water residue, and chlorine exposure. Chlorine can react with certain metals, particularly gold alloys, weakening the metal and making prongs and settings more vulnerable to damage.

Storage Matters

Store separately

Keep pieces in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box to help prevent scratching and tangling.

Create intentional drop spots

Place ring dishes or small trays where you naturally remove jewelry, such as beside the sink or bed. This helps prevent pieces from being scratched, knocked off surfaces, or misplaced.

Keep It Looking Its Best

Routine cleaning

Warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft brush will safely refresh many jewelry pieces. Because some gemstones require special care, ask us if you are unsure how to clean a particular piece. Expressions Jewelers also offers jewelry cleaner for at-home use.

Professional care

We recommend professional cleaning and inspection every three to six months to check for loose stones and signs of wear. Preventive maintenance is the best maintenance.

Simple, Gentle Care

How to Clean Jewelry at Home

The safest cleaning method depends on the metal, gemstones, treatments, and condition of your jewelry.

Diamond and Gold Jewelry

For many sturdy diamond, gold, and platinum pieces, use warm water with a small amount of mild dish soap. Gently clean with a soft toothbrush, rinse away from an open drain, and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Use a polishing cloth made for sterling silver to remove light tarnish. Before using a liquid silver cleaner, make sure it is appropriate for every gemstone and finish in the piece.

When to Ask a Jeweler

Do not soak or scrub pearls, opals, emeralds, turquoise, coral, antique jewelry, glued components, or pieces with loose or damaged settings unless a jeweler has confirmed the method is safe.

When Does Jewelry Need Professional Attention?

Bring your jewelry in if you notice a loose stone, bent prong, worn clasp, thinning metal, damaged chain, or a change in the way a ring fits. Our team can inspect the piece and explain whether maintenance or jewelry repair is recommended.

For insurance documentation or an updated record of important pieces, learn more about our fine jewelry appraisal services.

Preventive Care

Complimentary Cleanings & Inspections

Stop in anytime and let our team help keep your jewelry clean, secure, and ready to enjoy.

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