Proper care and maintenance of jewelry is essential to ensure it lasts for years to come. This includes both general care tips as well as specific recommendations for cleaning and storing your jewelry, including your Claddagh ring.
Always:
- Apply lotion, cosmetics, hairspray, and perfume before putting on your jewelry
- Wipe each piece with a clean, soft cloth after taking it off to remove oils and perspiration
- Store your jewelry in a fabric-lined box, separately or wrapped in tissue to prevent scratches
Never:
- Wear jewelry while doing physical work such as housekeeping, gardening, or exercise
- Expose jewelry to household cleaning products
- Expose jewelry to chlorine in swimming pools or hot tubs
To care for your jewelry, gently wipe off excess make-up and oils after each wearing using a 100% cotton cloth and only the soft pads of your fingers.
Store in jeweler's tissue or a soft bag.
If you are going to store it for long periods without wear. The I would recommend, to help prevent tarnish on sterling silver, wrap it in tissue paper and place it in a plastic sealed bag.
When cleaning sterling silver, remember that it is a soft metal and can easily be marred. Use a mild liquid soap in warm water to remove fingerprints, light grease, or dirt. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely before storing in an airtight plastic bag. Be cautious when cleaning jewelry that has soft stones such as amber, lapis lazuli, or turquoise as extended soaking may harm the polish on the stone.
To remove excessive tarnish, use a 100% cotton cloth and a good non-abrasive metal cleaner. Remove any remnants of the cleaner from gemstones and rinse thoroughly with clean water. Do not use toothpaste to clean jewelry.
When not wearing your jewelry, store it in a cool, dry place, and avoid exposing it to chlorine, salt water, mineral springs, and suntan lotion. Avoid abrasive cleaners, detergents, and commercial jewelry dips, especially if the pieces have an oxidized finish. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner, ammonia or any chemical solution to clean opaque gemstones such as turquoise, malachite, onyx, lapis lazuli, and opals.
In addition to chlorine bleach, avoid using denatured alcohol, turpentine, acetone, and ammonia on your jewelry. Petroleum-based products can damage amber, and pearls.
Following these tips and recommendations will help ensure your Claddagh ring and other jewelry remains in good condition for years to come.