Care For Jewelry
CARE FOR JEWELRY
Proper care and maintenance of your fine jewelry will ensure a lifetime of enjoyment. Stop by H&H, we are always happy to clean your jewelry free of charge while you wait.
At least twice a year allow us to professionally clean your diamonds, jewelry, and the outside case and bracelet of your timepieces.
PICK A SUBJECT:
Care for Your Jewelry While
Wearing It:

Remove Jewelry before Washing Hands, Cleaning, and Handling Chemicals
Everyday life creates most wear and tear to jewelry. Chemicals used around your home cannot only damage a stone (or ruin certain gems, such as pearls), they could also exponentially speed up the rate at which the rhodium wears off white gold rings. It is always a good practice to remove rings before doing extensive work with your hands, such as housekeeping, cooking, gardening, or exercise.
The Best Ways to Clean Your Jewelry:
If you do not always have time to make it in for our staff to clean your jewelry, there are plenty of ways to take care of your jewelry at home.
Use a Jewelry Polishing Cloth
Using tissue paper or a paper towel can scratch your gold or silver jewelry. To keep these pieces at their highest luster, it is best to wipe them regularly to remove fingerprint smudges and gradual wear, which is inevitable with time.

The Best Ways to Clean Specific Stones
and Metals:
Each stone is different and requires a different method of cleaning. It is important to understand the qualities of your stones and metals to prevent them from being damaged during cleaning. When cleaning jewelry, it is important to remember that more debris will get caught underneath your stones than on top of them.
The Best Ways to Store Your Jewelry
For these precious items, it is best to store them in a way that the elements will not damage them while they are not being worn:
- Store Jewelry Separately– When storing multiple jewelry items together, each item should be stored separately. Jewelry and gemstones can be delicate and can be damaged by other items. It is best to store each piece of jewelry for the long term in an individual box or jewelry box that holds each piece in a fixed spot. It is important to remember that even diamonds can be scratched by another diamond.
- Avoid Storing Pearls or Beads in a Pouch– Storing pearls or beads in a pouch can cause them to become tangled or wear on the knots so that they do not lie flat. Storing pearls in a pouch can become even more dangerous because the pearls hitting one another could potentially cause them to crack or scratch.
- Avoid Storing Pearls and Opals in a Plastic Bag– Storing pearls or opals in a plastic bag could cause them to dry out over time because of the lack of moisture in the bag.
- Avoid Heat– Intense heat is the enemy of jewelry. Extended exposure to heat can make metal bend easier and crack or damage stones. Some colored gemstones may even lose some of their color when left in conditions of extreme heat.
- Store Silver in an Airtight Bag– Silver tarnishes due to a process called oxidation, which occurs when it is exposed to oxygen. Keeping your silver stored in an airtight bag or container will help prevent it from tarnishing and losing its luster over time.