The First Rule of Silver Care

Sterling silver tarnishes, especially when exposed to salt air and products containing sulfur, such as rubber bands and some papers. However, silver that is regularly used typically needs less care, so Rare Earth Gallery strongly encourages you to use or wear your silver every day. 

If washing silver, Rare Earth Gallery recommends washing silver by hand in warm water with a mild detergent. To avoid spotting, it is important to dry your silver immediately after washing. When polishing silver, use Rare Earth Gallery silver polishing cloth. Some "dip" polishes contain harsh chemicals and should be avoided. Electrolytic cleaning (aluminum foil, salt and baking soda in a water base) is not recommended.  Once cleaned and polished, silver must be kept dry and properly stored.  

General Care for Gemstone Silver Jewelry

Over time, our jewelry can become a treasured family heirloom if it is cared for properly. Dust, pollution and daily wear all conspire to cloud the brilliance of gemstones. The surface of silver jewelry can become dulled and timeworn prongs and clasps can result in the loss of a stone or an entire piece of jewelry. Certain basic precautions should be taken with all of our jewelry. However, some gemstones, as outlined in this section, require special care. Rare Earth Gallery only uses sterling silver, one of the most beautiful and lustrous of all metals. With proper care, your silver will retain its beauty and character for many generations to come. 

    

Cleaning Jewelry

Professional cleanings are recommended as often as once a year. We encourage you to bring your Rare Earth Gallery jewelry back to us for professional servicing. Our staff is knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of jewelry care, including cleaning gemstones and repairing clasps. Take care to protect your jewelry from impact against hard surfaces and avoid contact with abrasive surfaces. Even a diamond can chip if hit with enough force or at just the right angle. Many stones such as amethyst, emerald, kunzite, opal, pearl, peridot, tanzanite and tourmaline are very delicate and easily abraded. Enamel can also chip or scratch when struck. Gemstones can scratch other gemstones and wear away at precious metals. Therefore, avoid stacking those rings and bracelets that would be vulnerable to such abrasion. Extreme temperatures, perfumes, cosmetics, ultrasonic cleaning and household chemicals can also damage jewelry. 

Special Considerations

An "oxidized" finish is the deliberate blackening of crevices in the ornamentation of a silver object to make its decorative details stand out more clearly. Take care as this finish can be removed by overzealous cleaning and polishing. Soft stones and materials such as pearls, amber, Larimar, malachite, azurite, chrysocolla should be cared for delicately as their finish can be easily dulled.  Between cleanings, wipe pearls gently with a damp cloth.Micro inlaid or antarsia rings are works of art that are composed of small sections of gems mosaic together. Hence, the integrity of each piece can become compromised with excessive water exposure or light impact.