| Care for your
handmade gemstone jewelry as you would any delicate keepsake. Don't
sleep, swim, sunbathe or shower in your jewelry. It's also a good idea
to not exercise (as in vigorous exercise) in your jewelry to minimize
exposure to body oils and perspiration.
Wear your jewelry often. It helps keep
the silver from tarnishing. When you're not wearing your jewelry you
can temporarily store it in a zip lock bag to minimize tarnishing. When
needed. you can polish your silver with a polishing cloth that you can
purchase at most jewelry and department stores. I would try to avoid
rubbing this cloth on the stones.
Most stones are quite strong, but try
to avoid dropping or banging your jewelry against hard objects as the
stones can crack or break. Don't leave your jewelry in direct sunlight.
Some stones naturally fade in sunlight, and heat and sun can badly
damage pearls and opals.
Store your jewelry as you would any
delicate item. Storing in the original box is good, or in a jewelry
box. Don't let items bang into each other. Personally, I make a loose
coil of my necklaces and keep each in a box lined with something soft,
such as cotton or soft fabric. I put silver items in their respective
boxes and then put the boxes in zip lock bags to prevent tarnishing.
That's just my method. You can probably come up with a better one.
Keep chemicals such as perfume,
lotions and make-up away from your jewelry. Apply cosmetics first, then
put your jewelry on.
To keep your jewelry clean you can
wipe your stones and pearls with a soft cloth, or you can use a damp
cloth when needed. I strongly advise against immersing your jewelry in
water. Never use harsh abrasives or cleaners, including chlorine, on
your stones or pearls. I am of the opinion that ultrasonic cleaning is
not a good idea for the kind of jewelry I make.
Most importantly, enjoy your jewelry!
Michele
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