Jewelry Care

Jewelry cleaning is important to restore shine and remove any oils or dirt build-up. But if you’re cleaning a gold necklace or cleaning pearl earrings, you may need to use different tools for different materials. Look for the cleaning tips specific to your jewelry.To maintain your pieces, remember a few things:

• Many jewelry types can be cleaned with warm water and a mild dish soap. Be careful to use a gentle cloth or brush for cleaning, especially with soft gems like pearls that are easy to scratch.
• Avoid any cleaning products not specifically designed for jewelry. Many cleaners can contain harsh chemicals that can damage gems or metals. 
• Put water into a separate bowl to rinse jewelry rather than over the sink, where it’s easy to lose a piece down the drain.

2. Keep It Out of the Gym and Spa

As a general rule, if you’re going to swim, sweat, or steam, don’t bring your jewelry with you. It’s common for people to keep a pair of earrings on in the pool or wear a ring in the shower. But moisture, as well as the pool chlorine, (and even the pH of your sweat) can discolor your jewelry. Additionally, it provides plenty of opportunities for your favorite items to get lost or broken. Here are some ideas:

• Keep a small cloth jewelry bag in your gym or swim bag to have a safe place to store your jewelry before workouts.
• Place a ring bowl by the bathroom sink to remind you to remove your jewelry before showering or washing your hands.
• Wear your pieces only during dry activities and dry places—that means taking them off when gardening, cooking, playing sports, and cleaning.

3. Avoid Contact with Lotion or Perfume

Precious metals, colored gems, and pearls are very sensitive to chemicals. That can include even the products you put on your skin. If you’re applying perfume, make sure to do so before putting on your jewelry rather than spritzing afterwards. The same goes for any sort of makeup setting spray, lotion, or skin refreshing spray. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Be careful, especially of pearls and porous gems—they can have permanent surface damage from some cosmetic chemicals.
• Make sure that your skin is completely dry after applying any sprays before putting jewelry on. 
• If your precious metals become exposed to any chemicals, immediately rinse and wash off any residue with a gentle cloth.

4. Keep Your Jewelry Storage in Mind

Properly storing your jewelry will do wonders for keeping it looking new. Keep your jewelry in a box where it won’t get tangled up with other items or dinged up from too much movement. A jewelry box with a soft felt lining is a great idea, but you can even line a simple shoe box with fabric to keep your items nestled and safe. Anti-tarnish strips are also a great investment to keep out oxidants than can tarnish and dull your pieces.

Our Wear & Tear Policy / Metal Allergy and Sensitivity: 

We take our product quality very seriously. We vigorously test all our items to ensure that our materials to have longevity. That being said, all plated jewelry including sterling silver will tarnish overtime. To extend the life of the jewelry, it's definitely best to give them occasional breaks and to keep them away from any moisture; this includes sweat, lotion, sunblock and perfumes. Please do not wear your jewelry in the shower or when washing your hands. It is very important to keep your jewelry away from chemicals, hand creams, makeup, and cleaning products. All fashion jewelry will experience normal wear and tear over time. 
Those that are sensitive to metals should not purchase copper/brass based jewelry and instead opt for our Stainless silver jewelry. Our 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry (all 925 Sterling Silver contains 92.5% sterling silver and 6.5% copper) which may be a better option for you if have had green tainting before.
Alternatively, you can prevent oxidization by adding a layer of clear nail polish or polymer coating inside the ring or necklace.

If you have any questions about your order or caring for your jewelry, reach out to our support team by email at: support@hautejewelryco.com.