Diamond Care
Diamonds are the hardest minerals known to man, but even they require delicate care. To maintain its brilliance, a diamond should be cleaned regularly.  It can be cleaned in a solution of half-ammonia and half-cold water. Soak your diamond for 30 minutes and dry it with a lint-free cloth. Interestingly, placing your diamond in a glass of plain vodka has also been known to effectively restore its sparkle. Everyday activity can loosen a diamond setting so be sure to have your diamond jewelry checked every six months.

Metal Care
When it comes to caring for your metal, it's important to remember that every metal is different. While little maintenance is needed for durable metals such as tungsten, other metals require some attention. For instance, platinum is a strong metal but is susceptible to scratches. Getting your platinum buffed every six months is recommended. You can also remove build-up with jewelry cleaner or mild soap and water.  Also, silver is prone to tarnishing. Regular polishing is a simple way to solve this. The jewelry we offer is sterling silver, which consists of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy. Sterling silver is damaged less easily than regular silver.

Gold is another metal that needs gentle care. Soap film easily builds on the surface of gold, so it's best to remove your gold jewelry before showering or using household cleaners or chemicals. Chlorine has also been known weaken gold, causing it to break more easily. Placing your gold jewelry in a solution containing a few drops of ammonia, mild detergent and warm water will bring back its shine. Rubbing alcohol can also be used to remove grease and body oil from gold jewelry.

Cultured Pearl Care
Cultured pearls are especially soft and vulnerable. When getting dressed, your cultured pearls should be the last item you put on and the first item you take off. Makeup, hair spray, perfume and other chemicals are very harmful to cultured pearls. It's a good idea to wipe them with a clean, damp cloth after each use to remove build-up, dirt and oil. Also, make sure your cultured pearls are completely dry before putting them away.  Hot water, steam, extreme temperatures and ultrasonic cleaners should be avoided as well.  Upon inspection, some jewelers may also recommend restringing your cultured pearls.

Color Stone Care
Every color stone has its unique colors and qualities, and therefore, care is different for each one.  A good reference is the Moh's Scale of Hardness, which measures durability of materials with 10 (diamonds) being the hardest.  In some cases, the more durable a stone is, the less likely they are to become damaged in daily activity or regular cleaning.  Most color stones can be cleaned in soapy water, but special care is required for certain stones.  

Emeralds are treated with oils and waxes to improve clarity.  This enhancement is not permanent, and long exposure to soapy water can remove the protective coating.  Also, emeralds should not be exposed to hot water, steamers and ultrasonic cleaners.

Tanzanite is 6 1/2 on the Moh's Scale, making it a very brittle stone.  Delicate washing in warm water with mild soap is suitable, but it should never be exposed to vigorous activity, ultrasonic cleaners and excessive temperatures.  Extreme temperatures can actually change the color of some stones.

Also, unlike other color stones, opal is not internally solid but rather gelatinous.  It ranks about a six on the hardness scale and is very susceptible to scratches and cracks.  Impacts should be avoided as well as ultrasonic cleaners, excessive heat, hot water and steam.  It is recommended to clean opals with baby or olive oil to prevent them from drying out.

Steam cleaners should also be avoided for garnet, amethyst, peridot, tourmaline and citrine.  If you are uncertain about the right care for your stone, visit our Color Stone Guide for more information.