The short version
Solid 14k gold is remarkably forgiving — it doesn't tarnish, it doesn't flake, and almost anything that happens to it can be undone at the bench. A little routine goes a long way:
- Last on, first off. Perfume, sunscreen and hairspray before your jewelry, not after.
- Take it off for: the gym (bars bend rings), the ocean (waves take earrings), cleaning products (chlorine is gold's one real enemy), and sleep if the piece has a stone.
- Keep it in: the shower, honestly, is fine for plain gold — though soap film will dull the shine over time.
Cleaning at home
Warm water, a drop of dish soap, ten minutes' soak and a soft toothbrush — that's the entire protocol, for gold and for silver. Rinse, pat dry, done. For hammered and matte finishes, skip polishing cloths: they'll shine exactly the texture you paid for right off the surface.
What not to use: toothpaste (abrasive), baking soda (abrasive), boiling water (bad for stones), and ultrasonic cleaners on anything with mother-of-pearl, opal or emerald.
Stone-specific notes
| Material | Care |
|---|---|
| Diamonds & sapphires | Nearly indestructible; soap-and-water weekly to keep the sparkle. |
| Mother-of-pearl | Wipe with a damp cloth only; no soaking, no chemicals, no ultrasonic. |
| Rutilated quartz & sunstone | Soap and water; remove for gym and gardening — quartz chips on hard knocks. |
| Sterling silver | Will tarnish in storage; keep in the pouch provided, wear it often (skin oils actually slow tarnish). |
When to bring it in
Once a year for rings worn daily — we check prongs, refinish if you'd like, and tighten anything that's loosened. Free for our pieces, forever. If a chain snaps or a stone feels loose, stop wearing it and get in touch; a $40 repair caught early is a $400 re-set caught late.