Jewelry Care Tips...

Always store beaded necklaces, bracelets or other jewelry strung on silk or cotton cords in a relaxed, flat position as cords, silk and other stringing material tend to stretch over time.

Jewelry with pearls or semi-precious stones such as opals, are best stored in fabric pouches as opposed to plastic bags or containers as some stones need to "breathe."

Brass jewelry are generally coated with a protective lacquer-like layer to prevent tarnish and maintain a clean, polished look. Avoid wearing out this protective layer by keeping your brass jewelry safely stored away when not worn in either a air-tight plastic bag or soft cotton pouch.

    A further note on coated brass: Do not use polishing agents on coated pieces as the chemicals will remove the protective layer.

Before using any commercial jewelry cleaning or polishing agents, make sure to test a small amount of the product on a modest, hidden part of your jewelry: many types of stones, metals and enamels react badly to chemical agents. It's best to check the results before applying the agent to your entire piece!

After cleaning your jewelry with soapy water or jewelry cleaning agents, leave them out for at least an hour to completely dry before putting them away; water & humidity can tarnish jewelry and leave residual stains.

Dust and dampness can be abrasive to your jewelry; keep them from tarnishing by occasionally wiping them with a soft cotton cloth before storing them away after they've been worn. Jewelry is best protected when placed in a soft fabric pouch and stored in a dry place.

Be careful with beauty products such as lotions, perfume, hairspray, shampoos...etc. as they can be abrasive and might tarnish your jewelry. Its best to apply said products before wearing your jewelry.

Use warm water and very mild soap when cleaning your jewelry; gently scrub the surface with a soft tooth brush or fabric.

Do not use cleaning products or polishing agents on painted or tinted jewelry as these chemicals might damage the painted materials or cause discoloration. Always make sure that your brass and copper pieces are not coated with a protective layer prior to using the polishing product, otherwise the layer will be damaged.

Store jewelry separately: Storing pieces together might cause them to grind against each other and create scratches.

discoloration may result if some types of semi-precious stones are exposed to sunlight, such as Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine and Quartz. As a result, it's best to protect your jewelry by keeping them stored away when not worn.

Kitchen goodness - Practical cleaning tips with natural ingredients.

For both copper and brass jewelry: submerge the copper/brass in a mixture of 25% lemon juice, 75% water and a pinch of salt for a short period of five minutes, occasionally gently stirring the jewelry within the prepared mixture. Never leave the jewelry within this mixture unattended for long periods of time as it is acidic and therefore might damage to your jewelry.

Worcestershire sauce for copper: Safe and easy, emerging your copper jewelry into a cup of Worcestershire sauce can give your pieces a clean, polished finish in just a few seconds.