Care Guidance
General cleaning:
The best way to clean your sterling silver gemstone jewellery is to use diluted hand soap or weak washing up liquid in lukewarm water, gently cleansing it with your fingers or a very soft toothbrush. Then rinse with plain water and gently dry with a soft non-abrasive cloth. It's best to avoid leaving jewellery that contains gemstones to soak in water - some gemstones (such as calcite, fluorite, celestine and selenite) can react poorly with prolonged water contact and may even begin to slightly dissolve.
To clean beaded gemstone jewellery made with silk knotting, simply wipe it down with a slightly damp cloth (no soap nor detergent, just water), gently avoiding the silk knotted parts, and then quickly dry it with a dry cloth. This should be done every so often. Avoid prolonged water contact, as this may affect the silk thread and stretch it. Store all beaded flat, as hanging them up may stretch the silk they are strung on.
Ultrasonic cleaners are unsuitable for cleaning jewellery that contains gemstones - they have been known to loosen stones from certain types of jewellery settings, and can damage many types of gemstones.
Keep your jewellery away from strong cleaners such as bleach.
If your sterling silver has tarnished, you can clean it with silver polish - just make sure the silver polish doesn't come into contact with any gemstones as it may damage them.
General gemstone care:
Avoid storing your gemstones in direct sunlight, as many naturally begin to fade or change colour over time with prolonged sun/ UV exposure. This is a natural occurrence and caused by how UV light interacts with the chemical structure of the stone. Types of gem that may be affected by fading or colour change include: amethyst, rose quartz, citrine, brown topaz, aquamarine, morganite, kunzite, sodalite, some colours of diamond, fluorite, amber and opal. When not being worn, store gemstone jewellery in a dark place away from direct light.
Try not to store gemstone in a way that they'll end up touching each other. Gemstones all have a different 'hardness', which means that a hard gemstone (such as a sapphire, topaz or diamond) is able to scratch a softer gemstone (such as fluorite, lapis lazuli, malachite or calcite) if they rub against each other..
The old saying "jewellery should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off" is true! It's best to avoid letting your jewellery come into contact with make-up, hairspray, gel, aftershave or perfume - some gemstones can become stained by make up pigments or permanently tainted by perfume smells.
Some types of gemstones can suffer from what is called thermal shock when exposed to sudden extreme temperature changes. To avoid this, it's best to steer clear of steam-cleaning gemstones, or exposing them to sudden below freezing temperatures, or boiling heat.
Care of pearls: The Queen of Gemstones needs a little extra care and attention. Firstly, do try to wear your pearls as much as possible, as the natural oil and moisture on your skin is a great way to keep pearls moisturized and full of lustre. When not in use, store them in a way that encourages some air flow around them - pearls dislike airtight conditions such as airtight bags.
Never let pearls come into contact with hairspray, body lotions, perfumes or make up, as they may permanently damage them. Keep your pearls away from bleach, chlorine, acids, abrasives and chemicals, steam cleaners and ultrasonic cleaners. Store all beaded pearls and gemstone necklaces flat, as hanging them up may stretch the silk they are strung on. Avoid storing pearls next to other gemstones, as harder stones such as diamonds or topaz may scratch them.
To clean, gently wipe your pearls down with a slightly damp cloth (no soap) every so often, drying immediately after, and avoiding the silk they are strung on (water may damage the silk). Remember - wearing your pearls as much as possible is one of the very best ways to keep them healthy and lustrous, so do enjoy them regularly; you're not doing your pearls any favours by wearing them only for special occasions!
As long you treat your jewellery with gentle care, it should last for many, many years. If you have any further questions or need some more advice, you're welcome to get in touch at care@nicabrac.com.