Sustainable jewelry, especially pieces crafted with lab-grown diamonds and fair-trade gemstones, are not only ethical choices but also timeless treasures. With a bit of regular care, you can ensure they remain as stunning as the day you got them. Here’s a guide on how to maintain your lab-grown diamonds and gemstone jewelry.

1. Understanding Lab-Grown Diamonds

While lab-grown diamonds are just as durable and beautiful as their natural counterparts, they still need care to maintain their sparkle. Here’s how:

• Regular Cleaning: Diamonds can attract dirt and oils from your skin, dulling their shine. Clean your diamond jewelry at least once a month. A gentle soak in warm water mixed with mild soap followed by brushing with a soft toothbrush will restore the brilliance.
• Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Avoid exposing your diamonds to household cleaners like bleach, chlorine, or acetone. These chemicals can erode the metal setting and compromise the diamond’s appearance over time.

2. Caring for Fair-Trade Gemstones

Gemstones are beautiful, but they require more specific care depending on their hardness and structure. Here are some tips:

• Know Your Gemstone: Some gemstones, like sapphires and rubies, are very durable (rating high on the Mohs hardness scale), while others like opals and pearls are softer and more prone to scratching. Understand your gemstone’s hardness to care for it accordingly.

• Store Separately: To avoid scratching, store each gemstone piece separately in soft cloth pouches or lined jewelry boxes. Harder stones can easily scratch softer ones.

• Cleaning Techniques:

  • Softer Stones: For softer stones like emeralds, opals, and turquoise, avoid ultrasonic cleaners. Instead, wipe gently with a damp cloth and avoid long exposure to water or chemicals.
  • Durable Stones: Harder stones like sapphires or rubies can be cleaned similarly to diamonds. Use mild soap, warm water, and a soft toothbrush for a deeper clean.

• Avoid Exposure: Gemstones can be sensitive to heat and light. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can fade stones like amethysts, while excessive heat can cause cracking in stones like opals. Be mindful of where you wear and store your jewelry.

3. Daily Habits to Protect Your Jewelry

Your jewelry goes through a lot during daily wear. Implementing these habits will ensure its longevity:

• Remove Before Activities: Take off your jewelry before exercising, or doing household chores to avoid exposure to chemicals, sweat, and hard surfaces that could damage both the stones and metal settings.

• Store Properly: Store your jewelry in a cool, dry place. For extra protection, use anti-tarnish pouches for gold or silver pieces to prevent oxidation.

• Last On, First Off: When getting ready, make your jewelry the last item you put on after makeup, perfume, and hair products, which can leave residues on your jewelry. Similarly, when undressing, jewelry should be the first thing to come off.

4. Polishing and Maintenance for Gold Settings

Gold is a soft metal that can tarnish and scratch over time. Here’s how to keep your gold settings and bands shiny:

• Use a Jewelry Polishing Cloth: These are specifically designed to remove tarnish from gold without damaging the surface. Regular polishing will keep your gold jewelry looking new.

• Professional Polishing: Every year or two, bring your pieces to our studio for professional cleaning and polishing. We’ll buff out any scratches and restore the shine.

5. Eco-Friendly Jewelry Cleaners

Given that you’ve chosen sustainable jewelry, it makes sense to use eco-friendly methods to clean and maintain your pieces. Opt for non-toxic, biodegradable jewelry cleaners, or make your own at home using baking soda, vinegar, and mild soap.