Brass (including plated): Clean with Brasso, an over-the-counter product found at grocery and general pharmacy stores.

Crystals: Get rid of fingerprints and smudge by lightly spraying some lemon furniture polish on a soft cloth. Rub the stones through the cloth.

Leather: The natural fibers of leather will break down over time. Avoid excessive temperatures and long periods of low humidity. Leather needs to breath, so store in an airy container or some type of cloth pouch. Try to avoid harsh, chemical conditioners.

Mother-of-Pearl and Pearls: Avoid unnecessary handling of these sturdy yet delicate stones. Clean with a soft cloth and mineral water regularly. If necessary, use only mild cleansers, such as baby shampoo.

Plated Gold: Use a soft cloth alone or I like to spray a little Windex® on the cloth then gently clean. Dampen and do not soak the cloth since any stones with foil backs could be damaged if they get wet. The Windex® gives the stones extra sparkle.

Sterling Silver: Use a sterling silver cleaning cloth.

Minerals and Quartz: Use water and a little soap.

Vintage Jewelry: Avoid exposing to excessive heat.

Turquoise: Protect your stones and their colors from perfume, skin lotions and oils (including sunscreens), hairspray and most jewelry cleaning fluids. When you wear turquoise, apply any of these solutions first, wait a while and then put on your jewelry. Gently clean your turquoise with a soft cloth (100% cotton is recommended) to avoid a build up of residue. Store it alone, but avoid airtight containers so that the mineral can “breathe”.

General Care Tools

• Cotton swabs
• Wooden toothpicks (for hard-to-reach places)
• Small, soft toothbrush
• Warm water
• Gentle soap
• Gentle non-acidic solutions (no alcohol*, ammonia or vinegar)
• Soft cotton towel (gently towel-dry pieces by dabbing)

Typically, soap your jewelry in a solution of warm water and gentle cleaner for up to 20 minutes.

General Care Tips

• Do not spray perfume, hairspray or apply lotion to jewelry.
• Handle your jewelry with care.
• Store your jewelry in individual jewelry pouches, boxes or compartmentalized chests.
• Lay long pieces flat, if possible.
• Do not lay pieces on top of or over others.
• Store away from sunlight.
• Consult a professional jeweler for regular cleaning.

*Exceptions are gemstones (diamonds, rubies, sapphires and garnets), which can be dipped in rubbing alcohol.