Care Instructions

As is true of all precious items, care extends the life of the jewelry and your pleasure in wearing it. A few pointers follow.

• Daily Handling-Put on jewelry, especially cultured pearls, after you apply makeup, perfume or cologne.

• Daily Wear-Remove jewelry before heavy yard work, home cleaning chores, working on heavy equipment or relaxing in a pool or spa (especially if you are in chlorine regularly).

• Night Routine-After removing jewelry, wipe it gently with a soft cloth. Store items in a jewelry case or soft cloth so that they don't touch each other. This avoids the potential of harder gemstones scratching softer ones.

• Insurance-Discuss your potential insurance needs with your jeweler or home insurance agent.

• Specialized Cleaning-Discuss how to clean your jewelry with your jeweler. Avoid home cleaning solutions, including home ultrasonic, unless you are sure the item is suitable for home cleaning. Some jewelry is suited to home cleaning with a mild soap solution and a soft brush.

• Six-Month Cleaning-Ask your jeweler to clean your jewelry every six months. (Avoid December, the busiest time of the jeweler's year, to have quick service.)

• Twelve-Month Security Check-At least once a year, ask your jeweler to check the security of your jewelry: are the prongs holding your gemstone secure, is the clasp secure, do the pearls need to be restrung, does the ring still fit securely or does it need to be resized? During this check your jeweler might also recommend a re-polishing of the gemstone itself in order to restore the gem's original beauty.