* Always remove your rings and jewelry before using chemical products, especially caustic substances such as bleach. Petroleum-based products are especially harmful and can actually "melt " amber.

* Last On/First Off : Do not apply makeup, perfume, or hairspray while wearing your jewelry. Wait for them to dry before putting on your jewelry.

* Do not leave your jewelry lying in the sun, which can discolor or fade your jewelry.

* Do not pull, tug, or twist your jewelry, especially by the jewels or pearls. Sterling silver wire is a delicate filament and will stretch and break if subjected to too much stress. Silk, satin, leather and even stainless steel will also stretch. It's best not to hang your jewelry. Place it inside a pouch or jewelry box instead.

* Most of the time, all you need to do to keep your jewelry clean and ready to wear is to use a soft, 100% cotton cloth to gently wipe each piece clean after wearing. To help retard tarnish between wearings, store your jewelry in a cool, dry place. A zip-seal bag with the air gently pressed out of it will greatly prevent tarnish.

* To remove fingerprints, oils or dirt, add a small amount of mild soap to a half cup of warm water, soak for 2-3 minutes, rinse thoroughly with clean water and use a soft cotton cloth to pat dry your pieces. Make sure they are completely dry before storing them.

* Never use toothpaste or other abrasives to clean metal or stones, and avoid abrasive commercial jewelry cleaners or "dips," especially on pieces with an oxidized finish or patina. Silver polish can remove the color, and harsh polishing cleaners will alter the antique look of your jewelry.

* Never use dips on gemstones or pearls. To remove excessive tarnish on silver, polish with a 100% cotton cloth and a non-abrasive metal cleaner. Be sure to remove any cleaner from the gemstones and rinse carefully with clean water.

* Avoid soaking porous materials such as cloisonne, pearls, amber, lapis lazuli, turquoise, emerald, malachite, or onyx. These may absorb chemicals, which can cause discoloration in the stone. Wipe them gently with a moist cloth until clean. Never place cloisonne or stones in an ultrasonic cleaner, ammonia, or chemical solution.

* Do not soak opals. Wipe them clean with a soft cleaning cloth.

* Hematite is a soft ore of iron which can rust if left damp. It should be cleaned with just a soft polishing cloth. If you must clean the silver on jewelry bearing hematite, rinse the stone in water as well, and then blow it dry in high heat and leave it out overnight to completely dry. Remember, the stone will be hot to the touch.

Gold jewelry should be kept separately wrapped in velvet or satin pouches or in boxes lined with those materials.

Clean gold chains by dropping them into boiling water containing just a pinch of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) for just half a minute, one piece at a time. Immediately wipe each chain dry with a soft cloth.

Pearls need special care:
The surface coating, or "nacre" of cultured pearls is a soft organic material which requires special care to prevent chipping, cracking or discoloration.

* In addition to working with chemicals, never wear pearls while bathing or swimming.

* Use a clean, soft, dry cloth to wipe your pearls clean after wearing, and store them in a soft pouch or cloth. Do not store pearls in plastic.

* If your pearls become more heavily soiled, have them professionally cleaned or restrung. You should have this done every year or two at any rate, and more frequently if you wear them often. Wear and pollution weaken the silk fibers on which they are strung.

Which cleaner to use?
Jewel Brite has been recommended to us to safely clean all components of your Dragonfly jewelry, including pearls and soft stones. We have not used it ourselves at this time, however, and can not vouch for either its safety or effectiveness. Though Jewel Brite claims to be safe for pearls, we would not recommend dipping them or opals in the solution. Carefully remove the tarnish on the silver near the pearls using a soft cloth and rinse both the silver and pearls with water and thoroughly pat them dry.