Gems and precious metals are gifts of nature, which need special care. The harder the gem, the less vulnerable it is to potential damage.

A diamond is the hardest gem known to man. Hardness is based on a gem-trade standard called the Mohs Scale, developed in the early 19th century. Diamonds are rated the highest, at 10; rubies and sapphires are Mohs 9; emeralds and topaz, 8; and garnets, tourmalines and quartz. Anything softer than a 7 can be scratched very easily, including opal, turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral, pearl.

Gold, silver, and platinum are softer than many stones which means that they require special care when wearing, storing, or cleaning.

To keep your jewelry clean and ready to wear. Use a smooth soft 100% cotton cloth to gently wipe each piece of jewelry clean of make-up and skin oils after each wearing. Always use 100% cotton since paper, polyester, and coarse fabrics often contain wood fibers or synthetics, which impart fine scratches.

To help retard tarnish on sterling silver, wrap in soft cotton cloth or special non-tarnish tissue and place in a plastic zip locked bag and seal. To remove fingerprints, oils or dirt, add a small amount of mild liquid soap to a half cup of warm water, soak for 2-3 minutes, rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry completely before storing in an air tight plastic bag.

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. Be very careful with patina or darkened areas on silver, Silver polish can remove the color. Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner or harsh chemicals on cloisonné or opals.

Here Are Some Do's and Don'ts:

DO' S

DO check for loose stones frequently by gently tapping the piece with your finger near your ear.

DO get pearls restrung every two years or annually with frequent use.

DO clean fine jewelry often to maintain its sparkle and beauty. All fine jewelry can be safely cleaned by soaking for 10 minutes in warm soapy water (using a non-detergent soap). Use a soft brush on harder gems to loosen any dirt around the prongs. To reduce greasy build-up on diamond jewelry dip it in plain alcohol or vodka before soaking.

DON' TS

DON'T use toothpaste the abrasives can damage softer gems and metals.

DON'T wear fine jewelry when doing housework or gardening.

DON'T heap your jewelry into one drawer. Remember a diamond ring can scratch that pearl necklace. Keep them separate and, ideally, wrapped in velvet, paper, or silk.