Jewelry Care
Claire's Bead Wear designs are made with high quality precious metals and gemstones, and should give you a long time of wearing pleasure. However, as with everything else in life, the lifespan of your jewelry depends on the care with which it's treated. In order that you might enjoy your designs as long as possible, here are some suggestions for taking care of them.

Always avoid contact with chemicals, such as pool and sea water, hair spray and perfume, household cleansers, even tap and well water. Water leaves nasty mineral deposits behind (look at your chrome faucets at home). You can help avoid this by not swimming with your jewelry pieces on (chlorine & salt) and by not putting your jewelry on until you are finished with your hair and makeup.

Don't wear your jewelry to bed or to the gym. Exercising, swimming or doing household chores while wearing your jewelry will cover them with cooking grease, smoke, sweat and perspiration, and will eventually leave a film behind, dulling the color and shine.

This is why it is necessary to clean your jewelry periodically. Try to remember to wipe your jewelry pieces with a soft, damp cloth after wearing.

All silver and gold jewelry will tarnish or discolor if left out in the open air. I have had silver develop a dull haze in one week. If you want your jewelry to be ready to wear at a moments notice, you should store your jewelry pieces in zip lock bags, or in a jewelry box or jewelry case with the lid closed. Using Anti-Tarnish Sheets are a good idea too. One will be shipped with each order.

Some More Tips
* Always remove your jewelry before using chemical products, especially caustic substances such as bleach. Petroleum-based products are especially harmful and can actually "melt " amber.
* Last On/First Off : Do not apply makeup, perfume, or hairspray while wearing your jewelry. Wait for them to dry before putting on your jewelry.
* Do not leave your jewelry lying in the sun, which can cause discoloration or fading. * Do not pull, tug, or twist your jewelry, especially by the jewels or pearls. Even 49 strand wire is a filament and will stretch and break if subjected to too much stress. It's best not to hang your jewelry. Place it inside a pouch or jewelry box instead.
* Never use toothpaste or other abrasives to clean metal or stones, and avoid abrasive commercial jewelry cleaners or "dips," especially on pieces with an oxidized finish or patina. Silver polish can remove the color, and harsh polishing cleaners will alter the antique look of your jewelry.
* Never use dips on gemstones or pearls. 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.
* Avoid soaking porous materials such as cloisonne, pearls, amber, lapis lazuli, turquoise, emerald, malachite, or onyx. These may absorb chemicals, which can cause discoloration in the stone. Wipe them gently with a moist cloth until clean. Never place cloisonne or stones in an ultrasonic cleaner, ammonia, or chemical solution.
* Do not soak opals. Wipe them clean with a soft cleaning cloth. * Hematite is a soft ore of iron which can rust if left damp. It should be cleaned with just a soft polishing cloth. If you must clean the silver on jewelry bearing hematite, rinse the stone in water as well, and then blow it dry in high heat and leave it out overnight to completely dry. Remember, the stone will be hot to the touch.
The surface coating, or "nacre" of cultured pearls is a soft organic material which requires special care to prevent chipping, cracking or discoloration. Glass pearls are also prone to chipping, cracking or discoloration, so the same rules apply.
* In addition to working with chemicals, never wear pearls while bathing or swimming.
* Use a clean, soft, dry cloth to wipe your pearls clean after wearing, and store them in a soft pouch or cloth. Do not store pearls in plastic; in addition to deliterious moisture levels, many plastics emit chemicals which are damaging to pearls.
* Wash pearls in a mild soap solution and rinse well. Allow them to air dry laying on a soft towel.