How to Care for Your Modern Whimsy Jewelry

How to Care for Your Modern Whimsy Jewelry

Every piece of Modern Whimsy Jewelry is designed and crafted with intention — from the choice of materials to hand-selecting every stone, and using construction techniques that enhance longevity. And because I consider every pair of earrings, every bracelet and every necklace a lifetime piece — your jewelry deserves the care to stay as stunning as the day you first put it on.

Materials matter

To keep your pieces looking beautiful for years to come, understanding the materials used and how to care for them is essential.

Sterling Silver is a classic, versatile and beautiful precious metal, but it does tarnish over time when exposed to air, moisture, and other materials containing sulphates. Even paper (really!) and rubber. The good news: tarnish is completely normal and easy to manage.

14K Gold Fill is a durable, high-quality alternative to solid karat gold. The advantages of gold-filled jewelry are many — it's far more resistant to tarnish (and wear) than gold-plated jewelry, and will maintain its warmth and shine with minimal upkeep. 

Freshwater Pearls are an elegant staple in all styles of jewelry. I use them frequently and source the prettiest pearls I can find. Considered organic gems, pearls are more sensitive than stones when it comes to acids, perfumes and humidity, so a little TLC is always advisable when it comes to their care and storage. 

Natural, Untreated Gemstones are rarer than their treated counterparts. One of the things that makes them special is this. Other than cutting and polishing, what you see is what Mother Nature created. So handle them with the same care you'd give something genuinely irreplaceable — because they are.

Tips on everyday wear 

  • Put jewelry on last. Apply perfume, lotion, hairspray, and makeup before you put on your pieces. Chemicals in these products can dull gemstones and accelerate tarnish on silver.
  • Remove jewelry before water. Take off your jewelry before showering, swimming, or washing dishes. Chlorine, saltwater, and even tap water can affect both metal and stones over time.
  • Avoid heat, direct sunlight, and indirect or ambient light exposure. Don't store jewelry near windows, on sunny vanities, or in display cases with consistent light. Even diffuse UV exposure can permanently fade certain stones over time. When you're not wearing your jewelry, store it in a dark, dry, cool place.
  • Last on, first off. Make it a habit — your jewelry should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.

Limiting exposure to sun and light  

Most of us know to keep jewelry away from harsh direct sunlight, but indirect sunlight and ambient UV exposure can be just as damaging over time — especially for certain gemstones, causing gradual, irreversible fading.

The effect is cumulative. A stone won't visibly fade following one afternoon in the sun, but months of casual exposure can significantly shift its color — and because it happens slowly, it's easy not to notice until the change is dramatic. This is a lesson I learned the hard way with a much-loved brandy opal necklace!

Gemstones that are particularly vulnerable to fading include:

  • Amethyst — one of the most well-known light-sensitive stones. Its purple hue, caused by iron impurities and natural irradiation, can fade to a pale lavender or even colorless with prolonged sun exposure. Keep amethyst stored away from light when not being worn.
  • All varieties of opal — precious opal, Ethiopian opal, boulder opal, and common opal are all sensitive. Beyond fading, opals can also craze (develop fine surface cracks) when exposed to fluctuations in heat and light, particularly Ethiopian opals. Store your opal jewelry in a cool, dark place.
  • Amazonite — this lovely blue-green feldspar can lose its characteristic color with sustained UV exposure. Its color comes from trace amounts of lead and water within the crystal structure, both of which are affected by light and heat over time.
  • Aquamarine — lighter-colored stones are especially susceptible; prolonged sun exposure can wash them out.
  • Kunzite — this lilac-hued stone is notoriously light-sensitive; sometimes called an "evening stone" precisely because it's recommended for wear after dark to preserve its color.
  • Rose quartz  — the pale pink color can fade with extended light exposure, particularly in lighter, more translucent stones.
  • Fluorite — highly variable in color and often significantly affected by UV light.
  • Topaz (certain colors) — some treated blue topaz is stable, but natural pink and yellow topaz can fade with prolonged exposure.

If your jewelry contains any of these stones, make a habit of storing it in a pouch or box away from light sources whenever it's not being worn. It only takes seconds — and a bit of preventative care makes a significant difference over the life of the piece.

Gemstones that resist fading:

Some gemstones do a good job of resisting fading and are highly durable due to their stable crystal structure, Moh's hardness (a measure of resistance to scratching), and inherent colorfastness. 

Diamonds, rubies and sapphires fall into this category (Moh's hardness of 10, 9, and 9 respectively). Likewise black spinel (Moh's hardness of 8) and garnet (Moh's hardness of 6.5 to 7.5 depending on the variety).

Cleaning your jewelry  

Sterling Silver: Use a soft polishing cloth to buff away tarnish. Be careful to avoid nearby gemstones and pearls as you do so. For a deeper clean, a few drops of a mild soap — I use Dawn — and lukewarm water works well. Swish gently with your fingers for a minute or so, rinse in lukewarm water thoroughly, and pat dry immediately. 

Avoid silver dips or ultrasonic cleaners, especially on pieces with gemstones or pearls.

14K Gold Fill: A soft cloth and mild soap solution are all you need. Gold fill is low-maintenance — just avoid abrasive cleaners that can wear down the surface over time.

Freshwater Pearls: Wipe gently with a slightly damp, soft cloth to remove skin oils and residue. Never submerge pearls or use any chemical cleaners. Allow them to dry fully before storing. Pearl jewelry strung on silk should be laid flat — not hanging — to prevent the silk thread from stretching.

Gemstones: A soft, slightly damp cloth is safe for most stones. Avoid soaking, ultrasonic cleaners, and steam cleaners. Porous stones like turquoise, opal, and lapis need extra caution — keep them away from water, oils, and chemicals entirely, as they can absorb liquids and change color permanently. Stabilized turquoise (which is what I work with) is more forgiving, but still requires gentle care. 

Storage

  • Store your individual jewelry items in soft pouches or a lined jewelry box to prevent scratching.
  • Keep sterling silver in an airtight bag or anti-tarnish pouch when not in use — this dramatically slows tarnishing. Be sure to verify that any anti-tarnish products have been tested on pearls, if your sterling jewelry includes pearls.
  • Store pearls flat if strung on silk (not hanging) to prevent the thread from stretching, and away from other jewelry that could scratch their surface.
  • Pearls actually need moisture from the air; personally, I store my sterling and pearl jewelry in pouches and I don’t mind an occasional silver touch up if needed.
  • Store light-sensitive stones — amethyst, opal, amazonite, rose quartz, kunzite — in opaque pouches or a closed jewelry box, away from windows and light sources.
  • Keep your jewelry out of humid environments like bathrooms.

Gemstone treatments 

I primarily source natural, untreated colored gemstones — no heat, no chemicals, no color or clarity enhancements. I love the fact that untreated gemstones are rarer, and the color and character you see is exactly what Mother Nature created!

Another reason to prefer untreated gemstones: generally speaking, untreated gemstones are less likely to fade than treated gemstones. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), certain common appearance-enhancing gemstone treatments — dyeing, irradiation, and surface coating among them — may in fact introduce vulnerabilities making the stones more susceptible to fading or changing color when exposed to sunlight. Kunzite, aquamarine and some topaz fall into this category.

It’s worth noting that in the broader jewelry world, most colored gemstones are routinely treated — color or clarity enhanced, or stabilized — largely to make more material available and affordable. 

Stabilization is standard industry practice for some gemstones that would otherwise be too soft or porous for use in most jewelry. Turquoise is a prime example. Because natural (unstabilized) turquoise is porous and relatively soft, it's extremely common (and widely accepted) to stabilize it with resin to improve durability, longevity, and protect it from oils and moisture. 

While a great deal of information has been provided here, keeping your jewelry in beautiful condition really only takes a little bit of thought and a few minutes of your time.

Curious?

If you'd like to know more about any of the jewelry illustrated in this post, including those items not yet linked on the site, get in touch!  

Jewelry shown above:

Note: All Modern Whimsy Jewelry gemstone treatments are disclosed on the Gemstone Treatments page.

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