Sterling Silver Jewelry
Sterling silver, like other precious metals, can oxidize with time. But properly maintained silver jewelry improves with age and develops a lush patina. Treat your silver well, care for it properly and it will reward you with a long life and a lustrous look. Clean your silver jewelry with a mild soap and water solution, allowing the water to bead up, and then patting dry with a soft cloth. For more stubborn dirt, use a jewelry cleaner designed for silver use. Ask your jeweler to recommend an appropriate brand. Store your silver in a cool, dry place, preferably in a tarnish-preventive bag or wrapped in a soft piece of felt or cloth. Store pieces individually so that they don't knock together and scratch. Do not rub silver with anything other than a polishing cloth or a fine piece of felt. Your jeweler should be able to provide these. Tissue paper or paper towels can cause scratches because of the fibers in these products. Make sure your silver is not exposed to air and light during storage _ this can cause silver to tarnish. And don't wear sterling silver in chlorinated water or when working with household chemicals.

Storage
Protect your jewelry when it is not being worn by separating it from other jewelry using a separate compartment in your jewelry box. When improperly stored, gems and gem quality items can damage each other. For example, diamonds will scratch all other gemstones including rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Additionally, most gemstones will scratch gold, silver and platinum.
Pearls deserve special attention. Separate them into their own silk or cotton pouch and be sure they are clean and dry before storing.

Wear
Rings, regularly worn, need periodic cleaning to remove the film caused by cosmetics, soap, and skin oil that may cloud the ring's beauty. Diamonds, for example, have an affinity for grease and literally collect oils in dishwater. Remove rings before routine household chores and clean rings regularly. Activity which might subject a gemstone to sharp blows-such as gardening, working with hand tools, or playing sports-may also damage a gemstone. Diamonds are also susceptible to damage from an impact, which might cause them to chip or crack. Put jewelry on after you apply hair spray or cosmetics. Chemicals present in either may cause damage, especially to cultured pearls. Wipe your pearls with a soft chamois or flannel cloth after each wearing to remove your skin's oils and salts. A few colored gemstones, such as kunzite, may fade when worn in sunlight or in a tanning booth. Few watches are waterproof, though many are water resistant. If moisture or dust has penetrated the case of your watch, have it checked only by an authorized technician. Attempts by an untrained repairperson may seriously damage the watch and invalidate factory warranties.

Cleaning
In most cases, routine home care of your fine jewelry supplemented with regular care by your AGS jeweler can result in a lifetime of pleasurable wear. Many jewelers provide cleaning as a free service to their customers along with a complimentary check-up to be certain the gemstones are secure and safe in their settings. Home Jewelry Care- A mild soap and water solution used with a soft brush is effective for most home jewelry care needs. Check with your AGS jeweler, however, before using commercial cleaning products. Chemicals in some products can damage certain gems, such as pearls, even if they are considered to be mild. Even soft brushes used in applying cleansers can do damage to pearls. Soapy water cleans your pearls, but avoid getting the string wet since it will stretch or break. There are polishing cloths specifically for karat gold or sterling silver. Do not use paper towels; they can scratch the metal. Home Ultrasonic Cleaners- Home ultrasonic cleaners are best used for karat gold jewelry without gemstones. The ultrasonic may also be suitable for some diamond-set jewelry; however, the intense vibrations can lossen gems. DO NOT use the ultrasonic on porous gems such as lapis, coral, pearl or dyed gemstones.

This information is provided by American Gem Society