Care Tips For Jewelry | BlackTreeLab

Taking Care of Sterling Silver

To keep the composition and texture of silver from getting damaged, you must take some special precautions.


Best Storage Techniques

  • Keep each piece of sterling silver in separate cases, compartment or pouch so that they will not scratch against each other.
  • Store sterling silver in a cool and dry place. If the climate gets hot, make sure the room it is kept in is air-conditioned.
  • Never keep jewelry boxes in bathrooms. The warmth and moisture in the air of your bathroom environment can impact the brilliant appearance of your sterling.
  • To ensure that your silver sterling stays the same, ensure that the case it is kept in is lined with material that is resistant to tarnish.
  • If you are storing your piece of sterling silver jewelry for a long time, make sure you store it in an airtight bag to prevent humidity and oxidation from affecting it. A plastic bag should do.

IMPORTANT TIP: Whenever you are cooking, swimming or taking a shower, take off your jewelry. Also, make sure not to allow acidic chemicals and food to come in contact with silver and gemstones.


Best ways to clean and take special care of Oxidized Silver

It is important for you to know that you cannot clean oxidized silver the same way you would clean normal silver. This is so that you do not end up ruining the oxidation of the silver and permanently changing its appearance. Silver polish is not suitable for oxidized silver because it is designed to make silver less oxidized. Check out the best cleaning techniques below:

  • Make a warm solution of dishwashing liquid in a large bowl. Swirl gently for the hot water to mix with the dishwashing liquid. Make sure the water is warm and not hot as hot water can ruin the oxidization of the silver.
  • Place your silver into the solution and allow to sit in it for about 10 to 20 minutes.
  • The residue or dirt on the silver should get soft after 20 minutes. Get a soft toothbrush and clean gently.
  • Use a soft towel to dry the silver gently. Be careful not to rub it roughly so that it will not ruin the oxidization. You should also not use rough fabric or fiber so that it will not scratch the silver.

*Note, this cleaning method is not suitable for your jewelry with Opals. 

 

Useful Tips for Taking Care of 14K Gold

Using household cleaners that contain abrasives or acids will destroy your gold jewelry’s finish. When cleaning, make sure you wear rubber gloves so that your skin will not be exposed. Whenever you are getting dressed to go out, your jewelry should be that last thing you’ll put on. Perfume, hairspray, makeup and body lotion react with gold and can damage it. Wear all these things first before you wear your gold jewelry.

Before taking your bath, make sure you take off your jewelry lest there will be a soap buildup which will create a film on your jewelry. Gold also falls in the category of soft metals, which means that it is susceptible to dents and scratches. Pay attention to your gold bracelets and rings, and make sure you take them off before engaging in any high-contact sporting activity.

VERY IMPORTANT: Chlorine is inimical to gold.

If gold gets exposed to chlorine for long, the structure of your gold becomes weak and could lead to breaking off of the structure. Whenever you are going into a spa or swimming pool, make sure you do not have your jewelry on. Gold is a natural element, and it reacts with harsh chemicals like chlorine or the ones contained in cleaning products.

STORAGE: Your gold is best stored in its original box or bags made from soft cloth.

CLEANING: The best way to clean gold jewelry is to dip into a warm water solution of dish wash liquid and clean the gold with a brush with soft bristle.

 

STONES THAT REQUIRE SPECIAL CARE

  • MOONSTONE

Rules for Wearing Moonstone

Moonstone is a soft stone and thus, requires special care which we will provide some recommendations. You should not have your Moonstone jewelry on whenever you are engaged in strenuous activities such as lifting heavy objects or cleaning the house. It is highly reactive to cleaning products, and if it is exposed to too much heat, your Moonstone jewelry may scratch or worse, break. The best way to store Moonstone jewelry is in a jewelry box that has multiple compartments so that you can keep each piece of jewelry separate from one another.

Cleaning Methods: You can clean Moonstone jewelry with dish wash liquid and warm water solution. Soak the jewelry in this water solution for up to 5 minutes then wipe with a soft cloth. Do not clean moonstone with steam cleaners or ultrasonic cleaners.

 

  • LABRADORITE

Rules for Wearing Labradorite

Labradorite scratches easily because it is a soft stone and this is why it must be stored separately from other pieces and wrapped in a velvet cloth or cotton to prevent dust from getting on it. Also, make sure your Labradorite jewelry does not get exposed to chemicals contained in bleach, cosmetics and harsh detergents. Never wear labradorite before applying your makeup, and if you have to engage in any activity that involves dealing with chemicals, it is best to take it off.

Cleaning Methods: Clean your labradorite regularly to keep it lustrous and shiny for years to come. Never use steam cleaners or ultrasonic cleaners. Instead, you should use warm water and dish wash liquid and a soft-bristle brush to wash the stone. After washing, rinse in water and dry thoroughly with a soft piece of cloth.

 

  • FIRE OPAL

Rules for wearing Fire Opal

Fire Opal should not be worn when playing sports or carrying out labour-intensive tasks. Knocking opal in a hard way can make it crack, and it cannot withstand scratches from dirt particles. When you are working in your garden, make sure you take it off so that the soil or sand does not polish the stone. You also do not want your opal to get knocked against a rock or stone.

When storing for long periods, do not expose it to hot lights because the heat from the light can crack the opal stones.

Cleaning Methods: Do not use chemical cleaners and ultrasonic cleaners. Important, if you have Opal Triplets and Opal Doublets, these should never be kept in water.

If your Opal lost colors: The first thing you need to try is to take your opal, or jewelry with opal, soak it into good quality drinkable water for 5-10 seconds, and then leave it for a while under open space without sunlight (not completely dark space) for a couple of hours to dry. After this procedure the Opal returns its signature sparkles and colors!

* Never clean your Opal jewelry with soapy water or dish wash liquid solution, and do not wash your hands with soap or wash dishes while wearing rings with Opals.

 

 

  • PEARL

Rules for wearing Pearls

The most important rule when wearing Pearl jewelry: Your pearl jewelry should always be the first thing you remove and the last item you put on. Remember not to wear your pearl jewelry any less than 30 minutes after you have applied cosmetics, personal care, or perfume to your skin. 

It is important to keep pearl jewelry away from chemicals, cosmetics, and acids (lemon juice included.) Even natural body acids can sometimes damage the fragile layers of a pearl.

After wearing your Pearl jewelry, be sure to wipe every pearl gently with a soft cloth, to ensure the piece remains free from dust, cosmetics, or natural oils.

To help avoid scratches, store pearl jewelry in a soft-cloth pouch. Never use an airtight bag, such as a plastic zip, as pearls are of natural origin, containing an important natural water content. Because of this they require air to “breath” in order to retain their shiny appearance.

 

Cleaning Methods: Mix a warm solution of high quality distilled, or mineral, water and natural baby shampoo, and use an incredibly soft brush for cleaning. Care is necessary, as hard cleansers can easily destroy a pearl’s delicate layers. When cleaning, it is important not to allow the baby shampoo solution to remain on the pearls for any extended period. 

Any occasion you wish to simply rinse your pearls, be sure to use high quality water. As standard tap water can contain corrosive chemicals that may result in damaging your pearls. 

Avoid jewelry cleaners or ultrasonic cleaners.