Caring for the high quality Jewelry that you love is a must if you want to maintain the luster and shine of the prized pieces in your collection. There are a number of tips and tricks that we will give you here so that your Jewelry will stay looking as good as new. We can also professionally clean your Jewelry here at Alltribes for a nominal fee. If you would like to go that route, don't hesitate to give us a call!
Important General Care Notes for Gemstones
- Some sites recommend using toothpaste to clean a gemstones or the metal around it. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS! It can damage the surface of the metal, scruff certain gemstones, and in some cases, permanently damage a piece.
- DO NOT use bleach to clean your jewelry. Bleach is very damaging damaging to metal and can cause some precious stones to deteriorate. We also DO NOT recommend: Acetone, Turpentine, Ammonia, or Denatured Alcohol as these will also cause damage to your jewelry.
- DO NOT go swimming with your gemstone jewelry! Chlorine, salt and chemicals in pools can over time lead to the deterioration of the quality of your turquoise, coral, silver or other gemstone jewelry. So don't forget to take off any of your high quality jewelry before going swimming in a pool or in the ocean. Also make sure to take time to wash off any sunscreen and dry off the leftover water from the pool or ocean before you put your Jewelry back on.
- Put your jewelry on after you put on make up or other cosmetics such as perfumes or hair spray. Try not to get any of these products on your jewelry and wait until they set in. Definitely avoid getting spray tan or anything with coloring on your high quality jewelry.
- Store your high quality jewelry in a cool and dry place. Like anything heat and sun may cause them to fade over time if they are over exposed.
- After you wear your jewelry use a soft polishing cloth to give it a nice rub down. Nothing harsh, just a soft cloth to remove excess body oils or anything else that might have gotten on the jewelry.
Taking Care of Sterling Silver Native American Jewelry:
- DO NOT bend or widen bracelets, necklaces, or other jewelry that is made of sterling silver or other stiff metals. Repeated bending over time will damage the metals and can alter the look of the imagery on it. If the piece has bezel set turquoise or other stones, bending it can make them loose or possibly lead to them falling out. If you have a piece that does not fit properly, please contact us and we would be happy to adjust it for you.
- Our money clips are one of the few exceptions to this rule because they are designed to be slightly bent. They are constructed to be tightened or loosened to accommodate more or less currency that you are carrying.
How to care for Inlaid Jewelry:
- Inlaid Jewelry is created by cutting channels in the metal and then filling the channels with ground up Turquoise, Coral and other gemstones. They are then buffed to a high shine. This creates beautiful and colorful pieces of jewelry that look fantastic. Because of the way they are made, it is important to properly care for them. Avoid hitting them on hard surfaces, or dropping them on the ground as this may cause the inlay to chip and a repair may be in order.
- DO NOT wear inlay jewelry such as rings when doing work with your hands where there is a chance that the jewelry would rub or hit other hard surfaces as this may damage your jewelry. This includes gardening, mechanical work, or working out at the gym.
- If you have inlaid jewelry that needs repairs do not hesitate to give us a call.
Caring for Silver & Sterling Silver Jewelry
- Exposure over extended periods of time to the elements can cause your high quality jewelry to tarnish more quickly and look aged. If you are not going to wear it for a while put it in a place that is dark, cool and dry.
- The Prongs that hold the bezel set gems in place on the sterling silver jewelry can be damaged. If left damaged the stone may fall out and be lost. If you notice that the bezel is damaged contact us and we will be happy to repair it for a nominal fee.
- If you see that your sterling silver is taking on a darker, yellow, or blackish color it is tarnishing. This happens when it is exposed to moisture, body oils, acids, and other elements. This is natural. Use the jewelers cloth to regularly buff your jewelry. If it is too tarnished contact us and we can clean it for you.
- Jewelers Cloths are soft cloths made just for shining your jewelry. They are cheap and can be purchased in many places. They can also be used to wrap your jewelry in.
