Guide to Jewelry Care
Oceana Jewelry is committed to assisting you in the care and preservation of your fine jewelry. With the right care and maintenance, the jewelry you own can be enjoyed and treasured for years to come.
Below is a general guide to jewelry care for the specific gemstone, pearl and natural stone jewelry we carry at OceanaJewelry.com. As always, you may contact us at any time with your questions about fine jewelry care.
GENERAL JEWELRY CARE
Examine fine jewelry with gemstone settings regularly to make sure none of the prongs have loosened. Also inspect clasps to ensure they are secure and work properly.
Take care of your gold and silver jewelry by making sure it is never exposed to household cleaners or any other abrasive or corrosive substances. This will ensure the precious metal does not dull or discolor. Also take care not to expose your sterling silver jewelry to salty air or water as this causes tarnishing.
For storage, we recommend keeping the box your jewelry came in so it may be stored without knocking or rubbing against other jewelry. This prevents scratching and tarnishing. It also prevents gemstones from knocking and chipping other gemstones. Some birthstones and gemstones like pearls, peridot and amethyst, are more fragile than others and can chip or scratch if knocked against hard surfaces or other jewelry pieces
JEWELRY CLEANING
Professional jewelry cleaning is recommended yearly for precious gemstones and gold jewelry, depending on wear. Between cleanings, fine jewelry cleaning can be accomplished by using a basic, non-abrasive cleaner. A popular and effective cleaner for diamond jewelry is 6-parts water to one part ammonia, applied with a soft bristle brush. Never use toothpaste or other abrasives to clean precious metal or gemstones.
Pearls, coral, turquoise and quartz can be cleaned by simply wiping with a damp, soft cloth. Do not clean these stones in an ultrasonic cleaner.
To remove tarnishing from silver jewelry, you can wipe with a 100 percent cotton cloth and/or clean with a nonabrasive silver polish, depending on how aggressive the tarnish is. Do not clean sterling silver or gold jewelry with toothpaste and a toothbrush. These are soft metals that easily scratch.
A mild soap and water solution used with a soft brush is effective for most home jewelry care. Although soap and water is the best choice for most gems and jewelry, do not use soap and water with amber, coral, emerald, jade, kunzite, lapis lazuli, opal or turquoise.
EVERYDAY WEAR
Apply any cosmetics and perfume and let dry before you put on your fine jewelry. Some cosmetic chemicals can damage your gemstone, pearl or gold jewelry. Be especially careful to remove rings and bracelets before working with any products that contain bleach, alcohol, turpentine, acetone or ammonia.
REPAIRS & PROFESSIONAL CLEANING
If, in the future, your Oceana jewelry piece is in need of repair or thorough professional cleaning, please contact us. We are happy to assist our customers in maintaining the beauty of their purchases from us. Many repairs and cleaning needs can be performed as a complimentary service by our jewelry artisans. Please contact us for more information.
OUR STONES
All of our stones, from turquoise to mother of pearl, are selected for their high quality, lustrous color and unique attributes. They come from all corners of the world, and are selected by our multi-generational gemstone and jewelry purveyors and suppliers.
None of our stones are lab-created. All our stones are natural. Only very simple enhancements have been performed on some of the stones to bring out their natural color and beauty. The most common enhancement is simple polishing or the use of a colorless coating to enhance the color and/or shine of the stone. Very few of our stones have been dyed, and none have been dyed to mask the quality of the natural stone.
HOW TO CLEAN CORAL JEWELRY
Coral is calcified “skeletons” or shells of sea creatures that frequently grows in branch formations. Most of the coral used in fine jewelry is from the Mediterranean Sea or the south seas of the Pacific Ocean. Coral comes in a variety of colors, mainly pink to dark red, white or spotted, and orange. Other colors like violet, brown and black do exist naturally, but are rarely used to make coral jewelry. Sometimes it takes centuries for coral to grow to a substantial size, and because of ocean conditions, some coral is now on the endangered species list. Obviously, the endangered coral is not used for jewelry production, but it is a testament to how this most beautiful and rare of nature’s creations should be treasured for its unique characteristics.
Coral is very fragile and should be stored such that it is protected from scratches and sharp blows. Drastic changes in temperature also pose a risk to damaging coral jewelry. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner for coral jewelry.
HOW TO CLEAN SILVER & GOLD JEWELRY
Use a polishing cloth or a lint-free cloth to remove tarnish from gold and silver jewelry. You can also use a smooth, soft 100 percent cotton cloth. Always use 100% percent cotton since paper, polyester and other fabrics often contain wood fibers or synthetics, which can easily produce fine scratches.
We recommend you gently wipe each piece of jewelry to remove any residual make-up and skin oils after each wearing. To remove fingerprints, oils or dirt, add a small amount of mild liquid soap to a half cup of warm water, soak for 2-3 minutes, rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry completely. Silver jewelry can be stored in a plastic bag to prevent damage.
To remove excessive tarnish on silver, polish with a 100 percent cotton cloth and a non-abrasive metal cleaner. Be sure to remove any cleaner from the gemstones and rinse carefully with clean water.
HOW TO CLEAN PEARLS
Pearl jewelry should always be stored flat to prevent the string/strand from stretching, especially pearl strands that are strung on silk. Pearls are very delicate and need to be stored separate from other jewelry to prevent them from chipping and scratching. Freshwater pearls are sensitive to extreme humidity or dryness, and acids. Again, we recommend that perfume and cosmetics always be applied prior to putting on pearl jewelry.
Most jewelry cleaners are too harsh for freshwater pearls. Wash pearls in very mild, soapy water and nothing else, but take care to avoid getting any water into the drilled holes, as it can cause the pearls to discolor. To keep them clean, they should be wiped with a dry, lint-free cloth before being stored. To dry, lay them flat on a soft, absorbent towel.
Freshwater pearls should be stored in a dry environment. Do not store pearl jewelry in plastic bags as moisture can become trapped and cause damage.
HOW TO CLEAN QUARTZ, TURQUOISE & OTHER NATURAL STONE JEWELRY
Be very careful when soaking any stones such as, amber, lapis lazuli, turquoise, opal or turquoise. Extended soaking in any solution may harm the polish or any treatment on the stone. These stones should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner.
GEM HARDNESS
The harder the gem, the less vulnerable it is to damage. Diamonds are the hardest gemstones on Earth. Hardness is determined by a jewelry-trade standard called the Mohs Scale. Diamonds are given the highest rating at 10. Rubies and sapphires are the next highest at 9. Emeralds and topaz are rated an 8. Garnets, tourmalines and quartz are a 7. Anything softer than a 7 is quite vulnerable to damage and includes opal, turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral and pearls.
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