Everyday Care for Your Jewelry

Flexible bangles are designed with multiple small metal components that give the bracelet its flexibility. Some styles may also contain an internal titanium wire or support structure. Although the bangle is flexible, it should only move in the direction intended by its construction.Open and close the clasp gently, and avoid pulling, tugging, twisting, or bending the bangle sideways. Extra care should be taken around the clasp and locking mechanism, as repeated pressure in this area may affect the bangle’s structure and security.Remove the bangle before sleeping, exercising, lifting heavy objects, or doing activities that may place pressure on the wrist. Avoid situations where the bracelet may catch on clothing, bags, furniture, or other objects.Store flexible bangles separately so that heavier jewelry does not rest on or distort them.

Jewelry set with small diamonds or gemstones often relies on very small prongs, beads, or shared settings to hold each stone securely. Because these settings are often delicate by design, they should be protected from impact, pressure, pulling, bending, and snagging.Remove these pieces before sleeping, exercising, cleaning, lifting heavy objects, or doing other hands-on activities. Avoid wearing them where they may catch on clothing, towels, bedding, gloves, or hair.Take particular care when stacking rings or bracelets, as repeated rubbing against another piece can gradually wear down the settings. Store jewelry with small stones separately to prevent scratching and unnecessary contact with heavier pieces.Have frequently worn pieces inspected by us periodically to help ensure that the stones and settings remain secure.

Hollow or lightweight jewelry is designed to create a more substantial appearance while using less metal, making the piece lighter and allowing the look to be offered at a more accessible price point. Because these pieces contain thinner walls or more delicate components, they can be more susceptible to denting, flattening, stretching, or becoming misshapen when placed under pressure.Remove hollow or lightweight jewelry before sleeping, exercising, lifting heavy objects, or doing physical work. Avoid squeezing, bending, pulling, or leaning against the piece, and take care when putting on fitted clothing that may catch or press against it.Do not stack hollow or lightweight pieces tightly with heavier jewelry, as repeated contact and pressure can affect their shape. Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box, with nothing heavy resting on top of it.

Rings and delicate settings often rely on small prongs, beads, galleries, or other finely crafted components to hold gemstones securely and create a refined appearance. Because rings are worn on the hands, they are especially exposed to impact, pressure, friction, and snagging during everyday activities.Remove rings before sleeping, exercising, cleaning, lifting heavy objects, gardening, cooking, or doing other hands-on work. Avoid gripping hard objects while wearing delicate rings, as pressure against the palm or fingers can affect the setting or shape of the band.Take care when putting on fitted clothing, gloves, or towels that may catch on raised prongs or decorative details. When stacking rings, make sure the bands do not rub directly against delicate settings, hidden halos, or exposed prongs, as repeated friction can gradually wear the metal.Store rings separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box to prevent scratching and unnecessary contact with heavier pieces.

Bracelets and tennis bracelets are worn on a highly active part of the body and can be exposed to impact, pulling, twisting, snagging, and repeated contact with hard surfaces. Tennis bracelets also rely on a series of small links, settings, and connection points to hold each gemstone securely while allowing the bracelet to move comfortably around the wrist.Remove bracelets before sleeping, exercising, swimming, showering, cleaning, lifting heavy objects, or doing physical work. Avoid wearing them in situations where they may catch on clothing, bags, furniture, bedding, or other objects.Handle the clasp gently and avoid pulling the bracelet open or closed by its links or gemstone settings. When stacking bracelets, take care that heavier or more rigid pieces do not repeatedly strike, press against, or rub the settings.Store bracelets flat and separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box. Avoid folding, twisting, or tightly coiling tennis bracelets, and do not place heavier jewelry on top of them.

Diamond jewelry can be cleaned at home using lukewarm water, a small amount of mild dish soap, and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Allow the piece to soak briefly, then brush gently around the diamonds, settings, and underside of the jewelry, where oils and residue often collect.Rinse the piece thoroughly with clean water and dry it with a soft, lint-free cloth. When rinsing jewelry near a sink, always close or cover the drain.Avoid using toothpaste, baking soda, bleach, chlorine, abrasive cleaners, or harsh household chemicals, as these may scratch the metal or affect certain finishes. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners should also be used with care, as they may not be suitable for every setting or for jewelry containing additional gemstones.

Gemstones vary widely in hardness, durability, and sensitivity to heat, chemicals, moisture, and sudden temperature changes. For this reason, gemstone jewelry should be handled gently and cleaned according to the specific stone rather than treated exactly like diamond jewelry.Remove gemstone jewelry before sleeping, exercising, swimming, showering, cleaning, or doing physical work. Avoid impact, pressure, snagging, and prolonged exposure to perfume, lotion, hairspray, household chemicals, chlorine, and excessive heat.For general cleaning, use lukewarm water, a small amount of mild dish soap, and a very soft brush or cloth. Do not soak gemstone jewelry unless you know the stone and setting can safely tolerate it. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners unless the piece has been professionally confirmed as suitable for those methods.Store gemstone jewelry separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box to prevent scratching and contact with harder pieces. Extra care should be taken with softer, porous, treated, or more delicate gemstones such as emeralds, opals, pearls, and larimar.Emeralds require additional care because they commonly contain natural inclusions and may be treated with oils or resins to improve their appearance. These characteristics are part of the gemstone’s natural beauty, but they can also make emeralds more sensitive to impact, heat, sudden temperature changes, and harsh chemicals.Clean emerald jewelry gently using lukewarm water, a small amount of mild dish soap, and a very soft brush or cloth. Avoid prolonged soaking, vigorous scrubbing, steam cleaners, and ultrasonic cleaners, as these methods may affect the stone or its treatment.Remove emerald jewelry before sleeping, exercising, swimming, showering, cleaning, cooking, or doing physical work. Keep it away from chlorine, bleach, household chemicals, perfumes, lotions, and excessive heat.Store emerald jewelry separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box to protect it from scratches and contact with harder gemstones.Larimar requires additional care because it is a relatively soft gemstone that can scratch, chip, or lose some of its color when exposed to impact, prolonged heat, strong sunlight, or harsh chemicals.Clean larimar jewelry gently using lukewarm water, a small amount of mild dish soap, and a soft cloth or very soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners, abrasive products, and prolonged soaking.Remove larimar jewelry before sleeping, exercising, swimming, showering, cleaning, cooking, or doing physical work. Keep it away from chlorine, bleach, household chemicals, perfumes, lotions, and excessive heat.Store larimar separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box to protect it from harder gemstones and metal surfaces that may scratch it.Opals require additional care because they are relatively soft and can be sensitive to impact, scratching, sudden temperature changes, excessive heat, and prolonged exposure to harsh chemicals. Ethiopian opals are also porous and may temporarily absorb water, oils, lotions, or other liquids, which can affect their appearance.Clean opal jewelry gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth and a small amount of mild dish soap when needed. Avoid prolonged soaking, steam cleaners, ultrasonic cleaners, abrasive products, and vigorous scrubbing.Remove opal jewelry before sleeping, exercising, swimming, showering, cleaning, cooking, or doing physical work. Keep it away from chlorine, bleach, household chemicals, perfumes, lotions, hairspray, and excessive heat.Store opal jewelry separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box to protect it from harder gemstones and metal surfaces that may scratch it.Pearls require additional care because they are organic gemstones with a comparatively soft, delicate surface that can be scratched or damaged by chemicals, heat, moisture, and repeated friction.Apply perfume, lotion, hairspray, and cosmetics before putting on pearl jewelry. After wearing, gently wipe the pearls with a soft, slightly damp cloth to remove oils and residue. Clean them only with lukewarm water and a mild soap when necessary, taking care not to soak pearl strands, as moisture can weaken or stretch silk thread, if any. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners, abrasive products, jewelry dips, and harsh chemicals.Remove pearl jewelry before sleeping, exercising, swimming, showering, cleaning, cooking, or doing physical work.Store pearls separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box. Avoid airtight plastic storage for extended periods, and lay pearl strands flat rather than hanging them, which may stretch the thread.

Gold jewelry should be handled with care to help preserve its finish, shape, and overall appearance. Although gold is durable, it is also a relatively soft metal and can scratch, bend, dent, or wear down over time, particularly in finer or more delicate designs.Remove gold jewelry before sleeping, exercising, swimming, showering, cleaning, lifting heavy objects, or doing physical work. Keep it away from chlorine, bleach, household chemicals, perfumes, lotions, and hairspray, which may affect the metal or its finish.Clean gold jewelry using lukewarm water, a small amount of mild dish soap, and a soft cloth or very soft brush. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners, toothpaste, baking soda, and rough polishing materials.Store gold jewelry separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box to reduce scratching and unnecessary contact with harder gemstones or other pieces. White gold may also require periodic refinishing or rhodium plating to maintain its bright white appearance.

Platinum jewelry is naturally durable and resistant to tarnishing, but it can still scratch, develop surface marks, and change in appearance with regular wear. Over time, platinum often develops a soft, matte finish known as a patina, which many people appreciate as part of the metal’s character.Remove platinum jewelry before sleeping, exercising, swimming, cleaning, lifting heavy objects, or doing physical work. Avoid exposing it to chlorine, bleach, harsh household chemicals, and abrasive surfaces.Clean platinum jewelry using lukewarm water, a small amount of mild dish soap, and a soft cloth or very soft brush. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Avoid toothpaste, baking soda, abrasive cleaners, and rough polishing materials.Store platinum jewelry separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box to reduce scratching and contact with other pieces. Polishing can restore a brighter finish when desired, while leaving the patina intact will preserve its softer, naturally worn appearance.

Sterling silver naturally reacts with air, moisture, body oils, and certain chemicals. Unplated sterling silver may gradually tarnish, while rhodium-plated sterling silver has a bright protective finish that helps reduce tarnishing.Sterling silver is softer and more delicate than 14-karat gold. Fine chains and lightweight pieces should be handled especially carefully, as a link may stretch or give way if it catches on a handbag strap, sleeve, seatbelt, or another object. Even a relatively small amount of pulling or pressure can damage delicate sterling silver jewelry.Remove sterling silver jewelry before sleeping, exercising, swimming, showering, cleaning, cooking, or doing physical work. Keep it away from chlorine, bleach, household chemicals, perfumes, lotions, hairspray, and prolonged humidity.Clean sterling silver gently using lukewarm water, a small amount of mild dish soap, and a soft cloth or very soft brush. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely with a soft, lint-free cloth.A silver polishing cloth may be used carefully on unplated sterling silver when needed. Avoid using polishing cloths, chemical dips, abrasive cleaners, toothpaste, or baking soda on rhodium-plated sterling silver, as these may gradually wear away or damage the plated finish.Store sterling silver pieces separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box in a cool, dry place. Anti-tarnish strips or bags may help slow tarnishing, particularly for unplated sterling silver.

Gold-plated and vermeil jewelry should be handled gently because the gold finish can gradually wear with friction, moisture, chemicals, and regular use. Vermeil has a sterling silver base and typically a thicker gold layer than standard gold plating, but it still requires careful wear.Remove plated jewelry before sleeping, exercising, swimming, showering, cleaning, cooking, or doing physical work. Keep it away from chlorine, salt water, household chemicals, perfumes, lotions, hairspray, and hand sanitizer. Allow cosmetics and personal-care products to dry fully before putting the jewelry on.After wearing, gently wipe the piece with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. When more thorough cleaning is needed, use lukewarm water, a small amount of mild dish soap, and a very soft cloth, then rinse briefly and dry immediately.Avoid polishing cloths, silver cleaners, chemical dips, toothpaste, baking soda, abrasive products, and vigorous rubbing, as these can wear away the gold finish. Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box to reduce scratching and friction.

Enamel jewelry should be handled carefully because the enamel surface can scratch, chip, crack, or become dull when exposed to impact, pressure, abrasion, or harsh chemicals.Remove enamel jewelry before sleeping, exercising, swimming, showering, cleaning, cooking, or doing physical work. Avoid dropping the piece or allowing it to strike hard surfaces, and take care not to bend or place pressure on areas containing enamel.Clean enamel jewelry gently with a soft, slightly damp cloth and a small amount of mild dish soap when needed. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners, abrasive products, chemical dips, toothpaste, baking soda, and rough brushes.Keep enamel jewelry away from chlorine, bleach, household chemicals, perfumes, lotions, hairspray, and excessive heat. Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or lined jewelry box to protect the enamel from scratching and contact with harder jewelry.

Stop wearing your jewelry whenever you notice a change that may affect its structure, security, or comfort. This includes a loose or moving stone, a clicking sound, a lifted or broken prong, a clasp that no longer closes securely, a bent or misshapen section, a sharp or snagging area, or a visible crack, gap, or separation.You should also stop wearing a piece if it has been struck, pulled, twisted, or caught with enough force to potentially affect the setting or construction, even if the damage is not immediately obvious.Continuing to wear jewelry after a problem is noticed may lead to further damage or the loss of a stone. Have the piece inspected by us before wearing it again. If you are not in Sint Maarten/Saint Martin, please contact us via email at info@jnjewelers.com to see how we may be able to assist you.