Remove jewelry items, especially those with softer gemstones such as tanzanite and opal, before doing any strenuous work, such as gardening, lifting heavy objects, or participating in sports. Loosening or chipping of gemstones, especially ones with inclusions, can occur if a piece is struck. Rings can be bent or cracked while lifting heavy objects. Dirt and chemicals can build up underneath gemstones, causing them to loose their brilliance and fire.

Clean your fine gold, platinum, and genuine gemstone jewelry regularly to restore and maintain the best look possible. To clean your jewelry items at home, avoid using harsh chemical cleaners or abrasive cleaners. Some gemstones, such as emeralds, can be damaged by the wrong cleaning solution. To clean your jewelry, soak in warm soapy water (using a very mild, gentle soap). Clean behind the gemstones and in any filigree designs in the metal with a small, soft brush. Be sure to dry all jewelry thoroughly before storing. Ultrasonic cleaners are great for home cleaning of jewelry, just keep in mind that only the hardest of gemstones can be put into the cleaner. The vibrations of the cleaning mechanism can actually cause damage to certain gemstones.

There are several brands of packaged jewelry cleaner solutions that you can purchase, such as the jars that we stock here at Georgetown Jewelers; just be sure to follow any instructions or restrictions on the jar, or ask for instructions from our knowledgeable staff.  We will guide you through the cleaning of any of your jewelry, or we will clean it properly for you in our full service repair facility.

We can also provide you with an estimate to repair most jewelry items if a piece is damaged or if you believe that any gemstones in your jewelry is loose. Have your jewelry, especially rings that you wear on a daily basis, checked regularly for loose gemstones or damaged prongs. As the metal portions of your jewelry becomes thin through daily wear, the likeliness that gemstones will fall out increases. Generally, it is more expensive to replace a missing gemstone than it would be to do some preventative maintenance by keeping your prongs and channels in good condition.

Pearl restringing may become necessary as you wear your strands over the years. The string that is used to create the strands can become worn and stretched, increasing the risk that the string will break and you will loose your pearls. Bring your strand to Georgetown Jewelers and we will be happy to expertly restring your pearls or bead strands.

Proper storage of your jewelry will also increase the longevity of your fine jewelry. Keep each piece of jewelry stored or wrapped individually to prevent harder gemstones from scratching softer gemstones. Hard gemstones can also scratch the metal of other jewelry items.

The best way to keep your sterling silver jewelry clean and tarnish free is to wear your jewelry. Tarnish usually builds up on sterling silver while it is stored, especially if it is stored in a moist environment. Tarnish develops due to interaction with the surface of the metal interacting with elements in the air in a process called oxidation. Some people have acids in their skin that can hasten the oxidation process depending on their body chemistry.

To clean your sterling silver pieces on a regular basis use warm, soapy water. Be sure to thoroughly dry sterling silver before wearing or storing to prevent further oxidation due to moisture. Be sure to store all your sterling silver in a very dry place. Silver cleaning solutions are also available, such as the one we sell here at Georgetown Jewelers, to remove heavy oxidation and tarnish. Silver cleaning solutions and polish can be harmful to certain sensitive gemstones, so be sure to follow the instructions closely to prevent damage to your jewelry. Be sure to rinse all cleaning solution from your jewelry before drying thoroughly.

Remember that any questions or concerns you have in regards to cleaning or properly caring for any of your treasured jewelry items can be addressed by the knowledgeable and friendly staff at Georgetown Jewelers.