Care Guide

Put jewelry on last and take it off first. Lotion, perfume, and sunscreen go on before your jewelry, and jewelry comes off before showers, pools, hot tubs, cleaning, and workouts. Wipe each piece with a soft dry cloth after you wear it, and store it on its own so nothing scratches it.

Gold Vermeil

Vermeil is a thick layer of gold over sterling silver. Like any gold layer, it wears over time, and where it wears thin the silver underneath can darken the way any silver does.

• Take it off before water of any kind, including the shower.
• Wipe it dry and clean after wearing.
• Store it in its pouch, away from other pieces.
• If a spot darkens, rub it gently with a polishing cloth made for silver jewelry. Go easy, so you polish the tarnish and not the gold.

Gold Plated

Plating is a thin layer, so it needs the gentlest care. Keep it away from water, perfume, and lotion, and expect the color to soften over time. Store it in its pouch.

Sterling Silver

Silver darkens, or tarnishes, when sulfur compounds in the air react with it and form a dark layer of silver sulfide. Keeping a piece sealed away from the air slows it down.

• Store it in a sealed plastic bag or its pouch to slow tarnish.
• Bring back the shine with a polishing cloth made for silver.
• Polish only when it needs it. Every polish removes a little silver along with the tarnish.

Solid Gold

Solid gold can be cleaned with a few drops of mild dish soap in warm water and a soft brush, then rinsed and dried well. Keep it away from chlorine and bleach, which can damage gold alloys.

Hollow Gold

Clean it like solid gold, but dry it well, since water can sit inside, and handle it gently: hollow links dent more easily.

Stones

Clean around Cubic Zirconia with a soft, dry brush. On sterling silver or solid gold, a little mild soap and warm water is fine; keep vermeil and plated pieces dry. Skip home ultrasonic cleaners, which can damage many kinds of stones.

Storage

• Keep pieces apart, in their own pouches or a box with small compartments, so they do not tangle or scratch.
• Choose a dry place that stays at an even temperature, away from heaters and humidifiers.
• Fasten chains before you put them away so they do not knot.

Once a Year

Have a jeweler look over the pieces you wear most: clasps, prongs, and links. For solid gold and sterling silver, a professional cleaning once a year keeps them at their best.

Questions about a piece? Write to us from the Contact page.