How do i take care of my Pearls and Soft Stone Jewelry?

The best way to clean this type of jewelry is to take them to a jeweler, but you can routinely clean them at home using the methods below.

Even cultured Pearls with thicker coatings are more fragile than most other gemstones, so you must handle them carefully to keep them in the best condition.

• Your Pearls will stay cleaner if you put them on after you have applied your makeup and perfume.
• Be sure to take off your pearl rings before you apply hand and body creams.
• Wipe your pearls with a soft, lint-free cloth, as soon as you take them off. The cloth can be dampened with water or it can be dry. If damp, allow the Pearls to air dry before putting them away.
• Dirty Pearls can be cleaned with mild soap and water solution (try Ivory Flakes).
• Never clean your Pearls with solutions that contain ammonia or harsh detergents.
• Don't put Pearly jewelry in a ultrasonic cleaner.
• Don't use abrasive cleaners or rub Pearls with abrasive cloth. Both can wear away the nacre coating, leaving you with a plain looking bead.

Storing Pearls:
Don't store your Pearls with other jewelry, because they can be scratched easily when metal or gemstones rub against them. Find a special slot in your jewelry box for the Pearls, or keep them in a soft bag made from chamois or another non-abrasive material. Your fine Pearl necklaces should be restrung periodically so that you're sure the silk or nylon cord holding them is in good shape.

Soft Stones:
Soft Stones such as Emeralds or Tanzanites should be washed in a mild, warm soapy water solution. Use a soft clean toothbrush to gently scrub the pieces, then rinse under warm (not hot) running water. Dry by patting with a soft clean cloth. Cleaning in this manner will remove finger oil and dirt which inevitably gets on jewelry as it's being handled. There are other methods recommended for cleaning specific Gemstones but, since many Gemstones should never have chemicals or mechanical cleaning methods used on them, the warm soapy water method is recommended for everything. The exception is Opals which should never be washed or scrubbed. They should be wiped after use with a soft dry or slightly damp cloth.