Cleaning and Care of Custom Handcrafted Jewelry

Sounds funny doesn't it - the care and feeding ofTo clean your crystals: A polishing cloth may be
jewelry. Well the fact of the matter is this - if weused regularly. If soiled, use a soft brush to wash
truly enjoy something and want it to last longer ityour crystals in lukewarm water with a small
will require some effort on our part.amount of liquid detergent. Rinse thoroughly and
The following are some hints that should, with adry with a soft, lint free towel and finish with a
little effort, keep your handcrafted custompolishing cloth to remove fingerprints.
jewelry sparkling and ready to be worn for anyDo NOT use sonic cleaners, boiling water or
occasion.commercial jewelry cleaners as they contain
It is important to remember there are manyalcohol or ammonia and may cause damage to
types of materials used in creating handcraftedthe crystal or plating.
custom pieces. There are colorful and uniqueOPAQUE GEMSTONES:
stones, glass, crystals, sterling silver, base metals,Clean opaque stones, opals, lapis, jade, turquoise
bone, ceramic, wood as well as man-madeand malachite by wiping them with a soft cloth
treasures. Some gems are treated or dyed toafter each use. Avoid soap and water as they
enhance the quality and durability. This is ancould possibly be absorbed by the gemstone.
acceptable practice in the industry.TRANSPARENT GEMSTONES:
Today there are so many jewelry options thatTransparent gemstones we are most familiar with
are popular. For instance necklaces, uniquewould be: rubies, sapphires, amethyst, garnet,
earrings, stretch bracelets, beaded bookmarkstopaz, crystals, emeralds and moonstones, just to
and decorative fan pulls. Just to mention a few.mention a few.
The most popular handcrafted beaded jewelry inFill a container (not a sink) with water and a tiny
the market place today is made of crystal oramount of liquid soap. Allow gemstones to soak,
gemstones.then use a soft brush to clean the stones. Rinse
CRYSTALS:thoroughly and lay on a soft cloth to air dry.