How to Clean and Care for Your Fine Jewelry

How to Clean and Care for Your fine Jewelry

Most of us have one or two (or more if we’re lucky!) pieces of “good stuff” in our jewelry boxes (or on our ring finger). Cleaning on a regular basis is important as even the finest jewelry is damaged by the residues of soaps, lotions, and cleaning solutions.

Caring for your Fine Jewelry

We recommend removing your jewelry before going to bed, going into a pool or the ocean, or engaging in physical activity (such as going to the gym). Exposure to certain chemicals or environments, such as perspiration, perfumes, chlorine, salt water, and polish, will compromise the integrity of your jewelry.

Cleaning your Fine Jewelry

An easy way to clean your fine jewelry is to pour a small amount of unscented dish soap onto a soft toothbrush, running it under lukewarm water, and brushing the dirt and oils out of the intricate details in the jewelry. If the dirt is proving difficult to brush away, soak the jewelry in clean, warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. Avoid use of silver polishing liquids, silver dips, ultrasonic cleaning and a tumbler.

Though scratches cannot be removed, a silver-polishing cloth is a useful tool to make your sterling silver jewelry shine again, if you find the pieces have grown dull with time and use. Silver-polishing cloths may be purchased at the Pandora counter at Annie’s. Do not use silver-polishing cloths on non-silver products, such as Alex and Ani bracelets, which are made from recycled metals. Non-chemical-containing cleaning cloths may be purchased at the Alex and Ani counter at Annie’s.

Storing your Fine Jewelry

Jewelry should be stored in a protective (lined) jewelry box or, ideally, in a tarnish-resistant pouch, and should be kept away from natural sunlight and heat. It can also be stored in a plastic zip lock bag made of Mylar or polyethylene. Never use polyvinyl plastic bags as they contains sulfur compounds, or rubber containers which will cause the sterling silver to tarnish faster and possibly even turn black. Do not store your jewelry in the bathroom. You should also not store your jewelry in gift boxes, as they are not airtight and tarnishing will occur over time.

For more information on cleaning and storing silver jewelry or Pandora products, please visit http://www.pandora.net/en-us/pandora-company/productuseandcare/careinstructions.

Annual Service

Gold and silver are soft metals and become worn with use. This is true for all genuine jewelry. Depending on the degree of use, it is recommended that your jewelry be inspected at least once a year by a goldsmith. In particular, it is important that clasps, mounts, and soldering are checked.