Jewelry Care Guide

Keep Your Jewelry Looking Beautiful for Years to Come

Beautiful jewelry is meant to be enjoyed for a lifetime. With proper care, your favorite pieces can continue to sparkle and become treasured keepsakes for years to come.

While different gemstones and metals may require slightly different care, a few simple habits can go a long way toward protecting your jewelry's beauty.

General Jewelry Care Tips

Following these simple guidelines will help preserve the appearance of most jewelry.

  • Put jewelry on after applying lotions, perfumes, hairspray, and cosmetics.
  • Remove jewelry before swimming, showering, exercising, gardening, or household cleaning.
  • Avoid exposing jewelry to harsh chemicals, chlorine, bleach, and cleaning products.
  • Remove jewelry before heavy lifting or activities that could result in hard impacts.
  • Store jewelry properly when not being worn.

A little preventative care can greatly extend the life of your jewelry.

Cleaning Your Jewelry

Most jewelry can be cleaned safely using:

  • Warm water
  • Mild dish soap
  • A soft microfiber cloth
  • A soft toothbrush for detailed areas

After cleaning:

  • Rinse thoroughly.
  • Dry completely with a soft, lint-free cloth before storing.

Always avoid abrasive cleaners or harsh chemicals unless specifically recommended for that material.

Proper Jewelry Storage

Proper storage helps prevent scratches, tarnish, and unnecessary wear.

We recommend storing jewelry:

  • In a lined jewelry box
  • In individual soft jewelry pouches
  • Away from excessive humidity
  • Out of direct sunlight when possible
  • Separately from harder gemstones that could scratch softer stones

Keeping pieces separated helps protect both gemstones and precious metals.

Caring for Sterling Silver

Sterling silver naturally tarnishes over time when exposed to air and moisture. Tarnish is normal and does not indicate poor quality.

To care for sterling silver:

  • Store in an anti-tarnish pouch or jewelry box.
  • Polish occasionally with a sterling silver polishing cloth.
  • Wear your jewelry regularly—natural oils from your skin often help slow tarnishing.
  • Avoid storing silver in damp environments.

Learn more in our Sterling Silver FAQ.

Caring for Gold Fill Jewelry

Gold fill jewelry is designed for years of wear with proper care.

To keep it looking beautiful:

  • Clean gently with mild soap and water.
  • Dry thoroughly.
  • Avoid harsh chemicals.
  • Remove before swimming or using household cleaners.

Learn more in our Gold Fill FAQ.

Caring for Gold Plated Jewelry

Gold plated jewelry requires a little extra care because the layer of gold is thinner than gold fill.

We recommend:

  • Wiping the jewelry with a soft cloth after wearing.
  • Avoiding perfumes, lotions, and hairsprays directly on the jewelry.
  • Removing it before showering or swimming.
  • Storing pieces separately to minimize friction.

Proper care helps preserve the gold finish.

Learn more in our Gold Plated FAQ.

Caring for Gemstone Jewelry

Although many gemstones are durable, each has unique characteristics.

Some gemstones—such as turquoise, opal, larimar, amber, and malachite—are softer or more porous than others and benefit from extra care.

General recommendations include:

  • Avoid sudden temperature changes.
  • Protect gemstones from hard impacts.
  • Clean with mild soap and water unless otherwise noted.
  • Never use harsh chemicals on porous gemstones.

Visit our individual gemstone guides for gemstone-specific care recommendations.

Caring for Roman Glass Jewelry

Ancient Roman Glass features a delicate iridescent patina created naturally over centuries underground.

To preserve this historic finish:

  • Never soak Roman Glass jewelry.
  • Avoid ultrasonic cleaners.
  • Clean only the sterling silver setting if necessary.
  • Handle gently to protect the ancient glass.

Learn more in our Roman Glass FAQ.

Jewelry Cleaning Methods to Avoid

Unless specifically recommended for your jewelry, avoid:

  • Bleach
  • Chlorine
  • Acetone
  • Jewelry dips
  • Silver polishing creams on plated jewelry
  • Abrasive powders
  • Steam cleaners
  • Ultrasonic cleaners

Some gemstones and jewelry finishes can be permanently damaged by these methods.

When Should Jewelry Be Professionally Cleaned?

If your jewelry contains intricate settings, valuable gemstones, or heirloom pieces, occasional professional cleaning and inspection can help maintain its beauty and identify loose stones or worn settings before they become a problem. 

If you've purchased jewelry from BeJeweled and aren't sure how to clean it, stop by and see us! We're always happy to show you the proper way to care for your jewelry or help clean it for you. We love helping our customers keep their favorite pieces looking beautiful for years to come.

Need Care Instructions for a Specific Gemstone?

Every gemstone is unique. That's why we've created a growing library of educational guides covering the gemstones and jewelry materials featured at BeJeweled.

Explore our Gemstone & Jewelry Learning Center to learn about cleaning, durability, hardness, and proper care for your favorite gemstones.

Our Commitment to Quality

At BeJeweled, we carefully select artisan jewelry made with genuine gemstones and quality materials. We believe that beautiful jewelry deserves proper care, and we're committed to helping you enjoy your pieces for many years to come through clear, honest care recommendations and educational resources.