How to Care for Sterling Silver and Natural Stone Jewelry

Featured photo: Turquoise Tale Earrings

Handmade jewelry with natural stones and pearls is made to be worn, not kept in a drawer. With a few simple habits, your pieces will stay beautiful for years. In this guide we share how we care for sterling silver, natural stones and pearls in our Amsterdam studio, and what we recommend to our customers.

Why care matters for natural materials

Natural stones such as turquoise, coral, red agate, red jasper, black onyx and aquamarine each have their own structure. Some are harder, some are more porous. Pearls are organic and softer than most stones. Silver reacts with air and moisture and slowly darkens over time, which is called tarnish. None of this is a defect; it is simply how these materials behave. Gentle, regular care is all they need.

The golden rule: last on, first off

Put your jewelry on as the very last step of getting ready, after perfume, hairspray, body lotion and make-up. Cosmetics and perfume can dull pearls, stain porous stones like turquoise and coral, and speed up tarnish on silver. At the end of the day, take your jewelry off first, before you remove make-up or shower.

Keep it dry

Take your jewelry off before swimming, showering, bathing, washing dishes or doing sport. Chlorine and salt water are hard on silver and can damage the surface of soft stones and pearls. Moisture can also weaken the thread on which beads are strung. If a piece gets wet, pat it dry with a soft cloth and let it air-dry flat before you store it.

How to clean sterling silver

All our silver clasps and details are 925 sterling silver, and many come with a silver polishing cloth. To clean:

• Gently rub the silver parts with the polishing cloth until the shine returns.
• Avoid rubbing the cloth over stones and pearls; focus on the metal.
• Do not use silver dips, toothpaste or abrasive cleaners on beaded jewelry. They can damage stones, pearls and thread.
• Wearing silver regularly actually helps: gentle friction slows down tarnish.

Shown: Turquoise Tale Ring – Freeform

How to clean natural stones

For stones like red agate, black onyx, red jasper or aquamarine, wipe them with a soft, dry or very slightly damp cloth, then dry immediately. Softer and more porous materials such as turquoise and coral are best cleaned with a dry cloth only. Never soak beaded necklaces, and avoid ultrasonic cleaners and steam.

How to care for pearls

Freshwater and baroque pearls, like those in our pearl jewelry, love to be worn: natural skin oils keep their lustre. After wearing, wipe them gently with a soft cloth to remove traces of perfume or sweat. Store pearls flat rather than hanging, so the thread does not stretch, and keep them away from harder stones that could scratch their surface.

Storing your jewelry

• Store each piece separately in its pouch or box, so stones do not scratch each other or the silver.
• Keep jewelry in a dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat. Strong sunlight can fade some stones over time.
• Close clasps before storing to prevent tangling.
• A small anti-tarnish strip in your jewelry box helps slow down silver tarnish.

Rings and earrings

Rings are exposed to more knocks than any other jewelry. Take rings off before gardening, cleaning or lifting heavy things, and when washing hands, to protect both the stone and the setting. For earrings, clean the hooks or hoops gently with the polishing cloth and store pairs together so you never lose one.

Shown: Turquoise Tale Ring – Oval

Travelling with jewelry

When you travel, pack each piece in its own pouch, ideally in a small hard case. Avoid throwing necklaces loose into a bag, where clasps can catch and stones can chip.

When to ask for help

If a clasp feels loose, a stone seems unstable, or the thread of a beaded necklace looks worn, stop wearing the piece and contact us at gleeartstudio@gmail.com. It is always better to check early.

Quick checklist

• Last on, first off.
• No water, perfume or lotion on your jewelry.
• Polish silver with a soft cloth; wipe stones and pearls gently.
• Store pieces separately, dry and out of the sun.

With this little bit of attention, your handmade jewelry will keep its colour, shine and character for many years. Discover our new collection or read more in our FAQ.