Try not to wear jewelry while applying your makeup or hair spray..

Chlorine can cause damage to some gold and stones, so never wear jewelry while swimming.

Do not hang pearls/bead necklaces, always store them flat since silk stretches over time.

Have the prongs and settings in your rings checked every six months, to make sure a stone is not working itself loose. With all the knocks and bumbs they receive, it's amazing that set stones stay put for as long as they do! Jewelry should be checked once a year.

Remove your jewelry before doing any household work or manual labor

Store your jewelry in pouches, boxes or ziplock bags- it is a good idea to wrap each piece individually (in tissue or cloth) to avoid scratching

Periodically bring your jewelry in to your jeweler for a professional cleaning with an ultrasonic cleaner and steam- home versions of these are available for those who love to keep their gems at peak sparkle.

Diamonds are the only stone with a Mohs Hardness rating of 10. They are incredibly durable, which is why they are the most popular stone for wedding sets. during strenuous activity. Even though diamonds are the hardest stone, they CAN be chipped by a sudden blow. Diamonds can scratch precious metals, other gemstones, or other diamonds, so they should be stored in such as way as they cannot touch or rub against other pieces.

Sapphires and Rubies are both forms of the same stone: Corundum. Sapphires can range in color from blue to green, yellow, orange, pink and white, but once they turn red, they are known as rubies. Corundum has a hardness rating of 9, so it's second only to diamonds in hardness. You can use sapphires and rubies on a daily basis with no worries. They are safe to use in sonic cleaning machines, and you care for them much like you would a diamond. They do chip more easily than diamonds, so do not wear them during strenuous activity.

Emeralds & Aquamarines are both forms of Beryl. They have a hardness rating of 7.5 to 8, but they are brittle and not very tough, so they can scratch or chip easily. Emeralds commonly have lots of inclusions, and are sometimes treated with resins or oils to fill tiny cracks, strengthen the stone, and enhance its beauty. They are best worn as earrings or necklaces, where they will receive less impact. Bezel settings are best for emerald or aquamarine rings and bracelets, because they provide more protection from chipping. Only wear during gentle activity, and do not expose them to harsh chemicals (like chlorine). Exposure to too much sunlight can also cause discoloration. The best way to clean them is with warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush (hard bristles may scratch them). DO NOT put them into a sonic cleaning machine, as the vibrations may cause them to crack.

Tanzanite are heat treated to bring out their lustrous color, but that color can fade when exposed to too much sunlight. These stones are best worn in the evenings. Tanzanite is a brittle stone, with a hardness scale of only 6.5 to 7. It chips and scratches easily, so it is best worn in a bezel setting when worn in a ring or bracelet. Soak a tanzanite piece in a solution of warm soapy water, then scrub with a soft toothbrush, rinse, and wipe with a soft cloth. Do not expose to chemicals, heat, or a sonic cleaner. Store in a soft, dry, dark place, and out of contact with other jewelry that can scratch it.

Topaz, Citrine, Amethyst, Garnet, Peridot are among the more popular colored gemstones used in jewelry. They range in hardness from 6.5 to 8, so they can be chipped and scratched more easily. These stones should only be worn for gentle activity. Soak them in a solution of warm water and mild detergent, scrub with a soft toothbrush, and wipe with a soft cloth. Do not expose them to chemicals or a sonic cleaning machine. Store in a dry, dark place, where they cannot touch or be scratched by other stones.

Opal, Lapis, Coral, Jade, and Onyx are softer, delicate stones, with a hardness rating between 5 and 6.5. Depending on the setting, they are usually not hardy enough for daily wear (especially on the hands), and should only be worn for gentle activity, like an evening out. Wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth. Commercial jewelry cleaners or sonic cleaners can damage these stones. Do not expose to lotions, soaps, perfumes, cleaners, make-up, or other chemicals. Do not expose to extreme temperatures. Don't wear them in a swimming pool, because chlorine can actually strip these stones of their lustre, exposing a gritty, porous surface. Store in a soft, dry place, away from sunlight, where they cannot touch or be scratched by other stones.

Pearls are actually not gemstones, but organic by nature. Pearls are delicate and can be damaged easily, so they are better suited to special occasions and gentle activity. Wipe them clean with a soft, damp cloth as soon as you take them off, and do not expose them to lotions, soaps, perfumes, cleaners, make-up, or chemicals. You can purchase a special pearl cleaning solution from most jewelers (which can also be used for other delicate stones). Do not wear pearl jewelry next to other metals or gemstones, because they can be scratched easily. Store in a soft pouch, away from other jewelry.

Precious metals require special care, too. Remove all gold, silver and platinum jewelry before bathing, showering, or applying lotion, because gunky film can build up and hide it's lustre (it also builds up under prong or settings, and can be very difficult to get out once it hardens). Metals can be cleaned in a sonic machine (depending on the stones set into them), scrubbed with a soft toothbrush, and polished with a soft cloth. hat "brand-new" shiny allure..