Jewelry Care
As a general rule, the better you treat your jewelry, the longer it will last. Chemicals found in hot tubs and in certain perfumes or lotions can cause some metals - and even stones! - to discolor, and can also cause your jewelry to turn your skin green. To keep your jewelry looking its best, avoid spraying perfumes or applying lotions near your jewelry. We advise against wearing any Mineral + Mine jewelry in the shower, swimming, or while exercising.
STERLING SILVER
Sterling silver will tarnish when exposed to oxygen. As a preventative method, store sterling jewelry in a jewelry pouch or ziplock bag. To clean sterling, pieces without gemstones can be dipped into a liquid silver polish aka 'silver dip' (our preferred brand is Goddard's Silver Dip) and then rinsed under running water. Most jewelry with gemstones can not be dipped in polish (the chemicals can destroy and/or discolor some gemstones). Gemstone jewelry can be soaked in a mild soap and water solution, then scrubbed gently with a toothbrush. Rinse with water & dry with a soft cloth. All silver jewelry can be polished using a jewelry polishing cloth, which is available here for purchase.
14K GOLD FILL
Gold fill will never tarnish or chip, but it will get dirty. To clean gold filled jewelry, use mild dish soap and water to create a wash solution and scrub gently with a toothbrush. Dry with a soft cloth. Do not use a jewelry polish cloth to clean your 14k gold filled jewelry as it can polish away the layer of gold!
BRASS
Brass can absorb skin oils and become cloudy and fingerprinted. To clean, polish with a jewelry polishing cloth (our preferred brand is Sunshine). Jewelry polish cloths are available for purchase here.
DELICATE / SENSITIVE STONES
Some stones such as turquoise and opals are extremely delicate, and are even sensitive to mild elements such as water. For example, Ethiopian Opals are hydrophilic (interact with water) and will absorb water. This can cause the stone to become cloudy and lose its fire. Turquoise is porous and can also absorb water, causing color changes and weakening of the stone over time. When in doubt, remove your jewelry! This includes exercise, swimming, showering, etc.
COVID-19 ADDENDUM
All Mineral + Mine jewelry is made by clean and healthy hands. If you wish to clean your new jewelry as an extra precaution, you can do so with warm soapy water. Rinse or scrub gently with a nonabrasive brush (ie an old toothbrush) and a mild soap (diluted dish soap works great), then pat dry with a soft cloth.