Dreamscape Jewelry Design

August 26, 2019: Tried & True Tips for Jewelry Care

“If you take care of the small things, the big things take care of themselves. You can gain more control over your life by paying closer attention to the little things.”~ Emily Dickinson, 1830 – 1886

At shows, we’re often asked by customers how to take care of the jewelry they are purchasing.  Whether it’s our sterling silver pieces or our leather ZoBangles, we carefully select our materials for their appearance, characteristics and quality.  Taking loving care of your jewelry helps to preserve the condition and longevity of its sparkling appearance.

Precious Metals Jewelry:

https://dev.dreamscapejewelry.com/celebrate-our-natural-world-collection/evergreen-earrings

Sad, but true news, your jewelry will experience some discoloring and ‘tarnishing” over time due to factors such as exposure to moisture, chemicals and air.  Tarnish is inevitable, but you can take preventative steps to preserve your jewelry’s appearance. 

1. Remove jewelry before showering, swimming or exercising
2. Allow time for your perfume, lotions, and creams to be absorbed before putting on your jewelry.
3. After wearing, clean your jewelry with a soft, dry cloth (like our Sunshine cloths) to remove skin oils and any dirt particles.
4. When not in use, store your jewelry in a cool, dark, dry place to prevent oxidation.
5. You can purchase anti-tarnish strips and which can be put with jewelry into sealed plastic bags
6. Try not to jumble your jewelry together, especially anything plated,

Leather Jewelry-Our ZoBangles

https://dev.dreamscapejewelry.com/zobangles-collection/natural-world-zobangle-collection

We are often asked “can our ZoBangles be worn in the shower.”  Like our leather shoes, wearing them in water will impact your bracelet’s appearance and structure. Leather also can be impacted by exposure to moisture, chemicals, sunlight and air. 

1. To clean remove dust and perspiration: gently clean its surface with a soft dry or damp cloth.
2. In the case of a water spill, quickly wipe off with a dry cloth to prevent water stains and then let it air dry naturally. 
3. When not in use, store it in a cool dry place.
4. Avoid exposure to intense heat or sharp objects as that may cause fading and damage. 

Gemstones:

https://dev.dreamscapejewelry.com/silverstone-collection/summertime

Just as a dermatologist advises us to about the harmful rays of the sun, it’s equally potentially damaging to the color and durability of gemstones as well. Both heat and light can actually impact a precious stone’s color causing it to fade (amethysts and smoky topaz in particular) and in some cases even crack. 

Gemstones also have different levels of hardness, softer pearls can be scratched by harder stones like diamonds.  

1. Store your gemstone jewelry separately in separate compartments of a jewelry box or drawer. One idea is to put them in separate pouches.   
2. To clean: scrub gently with a brush with soft bristles, warm water and a mild detergent.  (A safety tip learned by an unfortunate experience, clean in a bowl and not over open drain in sink!) Dry with a soft, lint free cloth.

Hopefully these steps will keep your jewelry looking as good as new for years to come.