Jewelry Care

Shelley’s Jewelry wants you to enjoy every moment of wearing your jewelry for an entire lifetime. We recommend the following basic care to preserve the beauty of gemstones, pearls, gold, and sterling silver.

The Basics:

Lotions are no friend to jewelry
Be sure to remove your jewelry before your daily bathing and grooming. Though hairspray, mousse, body lotion, moisturizer, perfume, make-up, shaving cream, and soap may be good for your skin, frequent exposure to these products are harmful to your jewelry. These chemicals can leave a residue on jewelry, creating a dull film that is very difficult to remove. Think of your jewelry as the finishing touch, and put it on after everything else.

Jewelry does not work well with household chores
Be sure to take off all your jewelry before you do any household chore or work in the garden. Harsh, abrasive household cleaners can cause hard-to-remove build-up and leave dulling scratches.

Chlorine bleach and jewelry don't mix
Chlorine bleach can destroy your jewelry, especially silver. When silver is exposed to chlorine bleach, the chemical has an oxidizing effect on the metal, causing the metal to turn an unsightly black. To be safe, always remove your jewelry before working with chlorine bleach.

Water can be harmful
Water might be good for bodies, but it’s important to always dry your jewelry after being exposed to water. Moisture fosters tarnish on silver and can weaken springs and clasps. Furthermore, certain fashion jewelry and gemstones should never be soaked in water or worn when bathing.

Extreme temperatures may cause problems
Keep your jewelry away from extreme heat and cold. Some jewelry and gemstones are more sensitive to heat, and cold, which in some cases could damage the piece, especially pearls.

Proper storage is essential
The key to protecting your jewelry doesn’t stop when you take it off; keeping it properly stored is important. Give your fine jewelry space so that other jewelry is not rubbing against it to scratch the metal. And always be sure your jewelry is dry before putting it away.