Jewelry care instructions

Remember, fine jewelry is delicate!

It can be tempting to assume that anything you paid a lot of money for is going to last forever, no matter what. However, fine jewelry can only maintain its shine if you take care of it. The precious gemstones and metals are fragile and will not hold up very well unless you show them some love. If you want to learn more about each gemstone used in our jewelry, go to the Our Gemstones page.

Where not to wear fine jewelry:

• The gym and while exercising: avoid wearing jewelry at the gym, especially when lifting heavy weights. Rings can also bend while doing other activities that require you to have a strong grip, such as biking or spinning, playing tennis, or rowing to name a few. Sweat won't necessarily damage fine jewelry, but makes it more likely to look dull.
• Gardening: It is best to remove any jewelry before gardening! It is very unfortunate to lose a gemstone in the dirt, as you likely won't notice immediately. Additionally, garden work usually requires some heavy objects to be lifted, which can bend rings out of shape. To make things worse, the dirt is very likely to get trapped in your setting, increasing the need for professional cleaning.
• Cleaning, or dishwashing: the harsh chemicals can damage metals that gold is alloyed with and weaken prongs, which increases the risk of losing gemstones.
• Strong heat: some gems do not take high heat (such as a sauna session) well. It is safest to remove your jewelry before any activities that include strong heat.
• The ocean: losing jewelry in the ocean is a very sad experience. Additionally, sand can scratch the surface of your jewelry and get caught in settings.
• The swimming pool: chlorine damages the metals that gold is alloyed with. With frequent exposure to chlorine, gold gets brittle and prongs may break off.

How to store fine jewelry

Store jewelry separately, and never use pouches that allow the pieces to rub against each other. Not only will this scratch the metal, but harder gemstones will scratch softer ones. If you don't have a jewelry case, you can keep your pieces in individual pouches. Never leave jewelry out to collect dust, as dust is harder than certain gems and can scratch them. We also recommend closing chain clasps to avoid knots.

How to clean fine jewelry?

Do not use ultrasonic cleaners at home. They aren't necessary and can damage certain gemstones. Jewelry can be cleaned with warm water and a soft cloth or soft brush, which should be sufficient to restore brilliance after daily wear.

Professional cleaning should be done yearly by a skilled jeweler.

How to maintain you fine jewelry

There are certain things you can check at home regularly:

• Check if your gemstones are secure: gently move your finger over the stone to check if it's loose.
• Asses your clasps: clasps can weaken with frequent wear, so make sure you check that closures and clasps work well periodically.
• Look out for chips: if you notice a small chip on your gemstone, make sure to take it in for further evaluation.
• Check the shape of your rings: if you happen to keep your ring on for one too many gym sessions, it could bend out of shape, which weakens its structure. If you notice anything looking off, make sure to contact us for evaluation.

However, for best results take your jewelry in for an assessment and deep cleaning yearly. We provide an evaluation free of charge on all our pieces because we want to make sure they last you forever!

We understand that there isn't always a way to take off your jewelry when you are out and about, so make sure you bring up any damage you notice immediately. Many of the small issues can grow into bigger ones that result in loose clasps, brittle prongs and ultimately losing either a stone or the whole piece. We can help you fix most issues but are not liable for any lost jewelry or gemstones.

If you have any other questions about jewelry care, contact us at info@meluzza.com.