Last on, first off. Lotions, fragrance, and hairspray are the worst enemies of valuable stones, coral and shells.

Keep it dry & avoid chemicals. Water and chemicals can damage stones and settings. Never use any type of liquid cleaner on Native American jewelry and remove rings before hand washing (pro tip: immediately after removing them, put your rings into your pocket, purse, or even inside your bra–if you wear one–to prevent accidentally leaving them in the bathroom).

No ultrasonic cleaners or jewelry steamers, especially on anything with stones, coral, or shells.

Store separately. Silver scratches silver—separate fabric pouches or zip top plastic bags help to prevent scratching.

Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth after wearing.

If needed, use a clean, soft cloth barely dampened with plain water, then dry immediately. For extra tough grime, try gently swabbing with a cotton pad moistened with rubbing alcohol.

Don’t soak turquoise! Try not to get it wet, and never use jewelry dips or chemical silver cleaners on or near it.

Do: treat turquoise like a natural stone (because it is).

Don’t: clean it like modern “everyday” jewelry.

Use a silver polishing cloth for routine shine. (insert link here to the place where I sell polishing cloths?)

For heavier tarnish, use a more robust polishing pad only on the metal—avoid touching stones as much as possible.

Store in an airtight zip-top bag or anti-tarnish pouch when not wearing. Some people also like to use anti-tarnish tabs inside their storage bags.

Tarnish is normal. It’s not “ruined”—it’s silver being silver. Some people like the look of patina on their jewelry, some don’t. It’s a personal decision and this is a judgment-free zone.

The amount of patina also depends on the age of the piece and is often considered by collectors as one indicator of age and authenticity of vintage pieces.

Store pieces in soft pouches or a lined jewelry box.

If you must stack pieces, put heavier ones on the bottom and lighter, more fragile ones on top. Use care when sifting through your collection.

Wrap pieces individually whenever possible, and especially while traveling. We’ve heard of folks putting squash blossoms into old, clean knee socks for travel, which works great! We also roll up jewelry inside packed clothing for extra protection.