HOW TO CLEAN YOUR JEWELRY

In order to preserve your jewelry’s longevity, you should clean your jewelry regularly. Over time, jewelry may get scratched and become dull and dusty, which can harm the jewelry piece and damage the setting and stones. If gold or platinum gets damaged, the setting might loosen, causing the stone(s) to potentially fall off. It’s important to regularly check that your diamond(s) or gemstone(s) is secure in its setting.

You should gently clean your jewelry yourself for regular maintenance, but every once in a while it is ideal to get them professionally cleaned to ensure any stubborn dust particles are removed. Here are some techniques and tips you can use to keep your jewelry collection looking bright and shiny. 

When cleaning any piece of jewelry, no matter the metal or stone, it should be done with extreme care.  We also recommend cleaning your jewelry with Hagerty’s Jewel Clean, suitable for diamonds, precious stones and metal finishes.  If your jewelry piece requires a deeper clean, consult your jeweler or email us at concierge@64facets.com with any additional questions or concerns you may have.  

WHAT TO AVOID 

Whatever the metal, whatever the stone, chemical products are very harmful to jewelry. One very important piece of advice is: when you are gardening, cleaning or even going for a swim at the pool or at the beach, remove all necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings.  Also, avoid wearing your jewelry when handling heavy objects and engaging in physical activity, such as playing sports. At night, remove all your jewelry before bed because there is a chance that you might hit your jewelry in our sleep. Doing this will help you avoid any mishaps with your jewelry.

Additionally, diamonds and gemstones become more dull when you apply hand cream or body lotion while wearing your pieces.  Perfume and cologne can also compromise the integrity of your gold and platinum pieces.

JEWELRY ETIQUETTE

It is important to keep in mind that it is completely normal for a jewelry piece that is worn often to have minor scratches. The only way to keep a piece of jewelry in perfect condition after buying it is by not wearing it, which would be a shame. In addition, small scratches from the day-to-day adds a personalized touch to your jewelry. Nonetheless, continuous maintenance is still important.

When you are not wearing jewelry, we suggest putting them in a jewelry box or wrapping them in small, individual cloth bags. If you are traveling, place each jewelry piece in its respective jewelry pouch or in a box individually. This ensures that your jewelry doesn’t get tangled or hit your other pieces. Traveling with jewelry can also be risky, so we invite you to learn how you can protect your jewelry.

CLEANING YOUR DIAMOND JEWELRY

Diamonds are the hardest of all stones, which means they tend to be resistant. That doesn’t mean, however, diamond jewelry shouldn’t be cleaned and properly taken care of. When diamonds are dirty, light doesn’t pass through as efficiently, dimming the diamond’s sparkle. In order to maintain your diamond jewelry’s sparkle, follow these steps:

1. Mix warm water with a few drops of mild detergent-free dish soap in a bowl.
2. Soak your diamond jewelry individually into the liquid mix for 20-30 minutes. Diamonds are the only precious stones that you soak in soap water in order to clean them because they are much more durable than other precious stones.
3. Now take a soft brush (preferably a small toothbrush) and dip it into the warm soap water compound and gently scrub each piece of jewelry for a thorough cleaning.
4. Once you’re done cleaning it, rinse the diamond jewelry in warm water. Make sure to close the drain when rinsing your diamonds so they don’t slip out of your hand and fall down the drain.
5. Finally, dry your jewelry using a soft lint-free cloth. You could also use a blow dryer on a lower heat setting to ensure any remaining drops of water in the harder to reach places of the jewelry piece are dried off.

Something you can do more regularly to keep your diamond jewelry shiny and clean at all times is to use a soft, non-abrasive and lint-free cloth to clean it gently, such as the one you receive with your 64Facets jewelry piece.

CLEANING YOUR PRECIOUS GEMSTONES:

When discussing jewelry care, we often forget that precious gemstones are not as durable as diamonds. Diamonds are the hardest stones, followed by sapphires and rubies. In any case, all precious gemstones can become scratched, shattered or broken, even the most resistant ones.

Throughout the day, dust and a little bit of dirt can accumulate in the back of the gemstone and limit the amount of light that can pass through. This can result in a dull and less brilliant gemstone.  Luckily, cleaning your gemstone jewelry every 2 months is enough to keep them shining. For these steps, you will need mild soap, water, a bowl, a soft toothbrush and a cloth. With a soft toothbrush you can reach even the smallest parts of your jewelry with delicacy, while eliminating traces of dust in order to restore your gemstones to their original brilliance.

1. Mix tepid water and a few drops of mild soap.
2. Dip the toothbrush into the soap water and gently scrub the gemstones. 
3. Rinse your jewelry piece with warm water.
4. Carefully dry your gemstone jewelry with a lint-free cloth.

Do not submerge your gemstone jewelry because the soap water can be trapped in the setting, resulting in rust and discoloration of the gemstones.

TIPS FOR YOUR EMERALD JEWELRY:

The emerald is a gemstone that demands even more precautions than other precious gemstones, such as rubies and sapphires.  By nature, they have inclusions and fractures that make them delicate. The green gem is naturally fragile and sensitive to temperature changes and collisions (minor and major). To ensure your emeralds live long, it is imperative that you are extremely careful with your emerald jewelry, and don't use a detergent harsher than a mild dishwasher detergent.

CLEANING YOUR GOLD JEWELRY:

It is equally important to clean your gold jewelry because even though gold doesn’t tarnish like other metals such as silver, dirt and dust can accumulate and cause your gold jewelry to look dull.  

1. Mix warm water with a few drops of mild soap in a bowl.
2. Soak your gold jewelry individually into the liquid mix for 20 minutes.
3. After your jewelry piece is done soaking, dry it using a clean and dry cloth.
4. Finally, let your gold piece air dry on a towel before wearing it.

CLEANING YOUR PLATINUM JEWELRY:

1. Soak your platinum jewelry in the soap water for 20-30 minutes.
2. Using a soft toothbrush, scrub your platinum piece gently.
3. Air dry your jewelry before buffing it.
4. After your platinum piece is completely dry, buff it using a soft hand cloth (cloths used for cleaning glasses are ideal).

Platinum jewelry can get scratched with wear like all other precious metals. The difference between platinum and other finishes is that when scratched, platinum is displaced within the jewelry, not removed. Due to the dense molecular structure of platinum, it retains its weight over time. Platinum may not change color, but platinum jewelry might look a bit darker when first purchased. Some prefer this subtle change in color, but it can be easily buffed away by a professional jeweler if you prefer.

CLEANING YOUR PEARLS:

Cultured pearls demand a specific type of care. Pearls are not necessarily fragile, but they require different care to ensure they will not get damaged.  It is important to keep in mind that the surface of a pearl is particularly sensitive to acidic products such as perfume and makeup. We strongly advise you to avoid spraying yourself with perfume after having put on your pearl necklace. The pearl is an organic gem, rendering it sensitive to changes in temperature. Extreme heat can dehydrate or create cracks in your pearls. If you are traveling somewhere sunny, do not wear your pearls when sunbathing by the pool or at the beach. Pearls are very strong, but not indestructible, so avoid collisions that could potentially scratch your pearls. 

But you should wear your pearls regardless! In fact, pearls hydrate themselves when they are in contact with air and your skin.  The best way to preserve their beauty and shine is simply by wearing them!

1. In order to prevent any buildup of oils, dust particles or other substances that may have accumulated throughout the day, wipe your pearls with a soft cloth after you take them off.
2. If you stain your pearls, simply mix a solution of lukewarm water and mild dish soap, dip a soft cloth in the solution and wipe the pearls. Just like with gemstone jewelry, do not submerge your pearl jewelry in water, as it will weaken the silk thread around the pearl. Only do this if necessary.
3. After wiping your pearls, let them dry completely before storing them.
4. Once a year, you should take your pearls to a jeweler so that he or she can check the integrity of your pearl jewelry. Plus, jewelers can professionally and properly clean them.