It is important to have your jewelry inspected and cleaned regularly by a jeweler you can trust. However, there are many things you can do on your own to care for and protect your jewelry. The information offered below will help you protect your valuable investments by avoiding some very real problems that arise from improper storage, heat, light and exposure to harmful chemicals.

Perhaps the easiest, and yet most often overlooked, way to care for you jewelry is ensuring it is properly stored at the end of each day. Precious metals and gemstones possess varying levels of hardness. In addition, some pieces possess sharper corners or design elements than others. For these reasons, one must avoid the temptation to simply toss one's jewelry together in a drawer or box. Piling one's jewelry together will most certainly result in scratches and even fractured gemstones. We recommend the following rules of thumb:

• Remove rings before performing household chores, such as cleaning, gardening or working with hand tools. Not wearing your jewelry around the house saves a lot of wear and tear.
• Jewelry pieces should be stored separately from each other to avoid scratches and damage.
• Store necklaces, chains and bracelets flat so as to avoid kinks and knots.
• Always store bead jewelry and pearls flat and in a soft pouch. Never hang them in a vertical fashion as this will cause the silk in the stringing material to stretch.
• Do not sleep in your jewelry.
• Keep silver in an airtight plastic Ziploc bag to prevent air from coming in contact with it.

• If possible, have Serengeti West clean your jewelry. It's always complimentary.
• When cleaning your own jewelry, it is important to remember that precious metals like gold and silver are susceptible to damage from exposure to chemicals found in many household cleaning agents. These and other common chemicals, such as chlorine found in most pools and hot tubs, can also damage or discolor gemstones. Clean your jewelry and colored gems with warm water, a soft brush, and use only a mild soap, if at all. A soft, lint-free cloth works well for drying and polishing. A list of cleaning tips follows:
• Clean ear wires with rubbing alcohol.
• Use a soft cloth to clean your pearls and gemstone jewelry - chemical paste, liquid and bath cleaners are too harsh.
• Avoid wearing jewelry when spraying hair spray, perfume, and when coloring your hair; different chemicals in beauty products cause jewelry to dull or discolor.
• Use an appropriate cleaning solution to keep your pieces clean and untarnished. Ask Serengeti West what we recommend.
• Never use cleaners on organic materials (amber, bone, coral, horn, ivory and pearls). This is also true for opals and turquoise. Their porosity allows the cleaners to alter the surface. Do not soak glued items.