Alorvia Studio
Jewelry Care Guide
Jewelry Care Guide
A practical guide to caring for natural stone jewelry, pearls, agate pieces, stainless steel designs, and jewelry-making materials. Thoughtful care helps each piece keep its quiet glow for longer.
The everyday rule: Last on, first off. Put jewelry on after perfume, lotion, and hair products. Take it off before showering, swimming, exercising, sleeping, or cleaning.
Last on
Jewelry should be the final step before leaving. Let skincare, perfume, sunscreen, lotion, and hair products dry first so they do not sit directly on stones, pearls, or plated surfaces.
- Apply fragrance and lotion before jewelry.
- Let products dry before wearing pieces.
- Avoid direct contact with sprays and oils.
First off
Remove jewelry before activities that create moisture, friction, pressure, or chemical exposure. This is especially important for pearls, natural stones, elastic beaded pieces, and plated accents.
- Take off before showering, swimming, sports, and sleep.
- Remove rings before weight training or heavy work.
- Keep jewelry away from chlorine, salt water, bleach, and cleaners.
Care by Material
Different materials age differently. Use the guide below to choose the safest cleaning and storage method for each type of piece.
Natural Stones
Natural stones can vary in hardness and surface finish. Some are more porous or delicate than others, so gentle handling is the safest approach.
- Wipe with a clean, soft cloth after wearing.
- Avoid hot water, steam, ultrasonic cleaners, and harsh chemicals.
- Store separately to prevent scratches and chips.
Pearls
Pearls have a soft organic surface and should be treated more gently than metal jewelry. Their glow is best preserved with dry, delicate care.
- Use a soft dry cloth after each wear.
- Avoid perfume, alcohol, hairspray, and long exposure to moisture.
- Store flat or gently supported, away from sharp metal edges.
Agate
Agate is loved for banding and depth, but polished surfaces can still dull from chemicals or abrasion over time.
- Clean with a soft cloth; use a slightly damp cloth only when needed.
- Dry completely before storing.
- Avoid rough contact with harder stones or metal tools.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is durable and practical for everyday pieces, but it still benefits from basic care to maintain a clean surface and polished look.
- Wipe with a soft cloth after wearing.
- Use mild soap and lukewarm water only when appropriate, then dry fully.
- Avoid abrasive pads, strong cleaners, and prolonged saltwater exposure.
DIY Materials & Supplies
Loose beads, charms, chains, findings, and unfinished materials should be kept organized and dry before use.
- Separate stones from metal findings to avoid scratching.
- Keep small parts dry, clean, and sealed when not in use.
- Avoid mixing plated, pearl, and stone materials in one loose container.
Do
- Wipe pieces after wearing to remove oils and residue.
- Store jewelry separately in a pouch, box, or soft-lined tray.
- Keep pieces dry before putting them away.
- Check clasps, jump rings, and elastic before wearing.
- Handle beaded and pearl pieces by the strand, not by pulling one bead.
Avoid
- Showering, swimming, sleeping, or exercising in jewelry.
- Perfume, lotion, sunscreen, alcohol, bleach, and household cleaners.
- Steam cleaners or ultrasonic cleaners for pearls, delicate stones, or mixed-material pieces.
- Scrubbing with toothpaste, baking soda, rough cloths, or abrasive brushes.
- Storing everything together where stones, pearls, and metal can rub.
Cleaning Guide
When in doubt, choose the gentlest method first. Many jewelry care problems come from over-cleaning, strong chemicals, or using a method that is safe for one material but too harsh for another.
Soft dry cloth
Best for pearls, plated accents, most daily-wear pieces, and quick after-wear care.
- Use gentle pressure.
- Do not over-polish delicate finishes.
Slightly damp cloth
Useful for many natural stones when a dry cloth is not enough.
- Use cool or lukewarm water only.
- Dry completely before storing.
Mild soap only when suitable
For durable metal areas or stainless steel pieces when deeper cleaning is needed.
- Use a small amount of mild soap.
- Rinse carefully and dry fully.
Avoid harsh methods
Do not use aggressive cleaning methods on pearls, delicate stones, or mixed-material pieces.
- No bleach, alcohol, toothpaste, steam, or ultrasonic cleaner.
- No rough pads or stiff brushes.
Storage matters
Store pieces in a dry place away from direct sunlight, humidity, and sharp contact. Separate storage protects stone surfaces, pearl luster, metal finishes, and chains from rubbing or tangling.
- Use individual pouches, small boxes, or soft trays.
- Clasp necklaces before storing to reduce tangles.
- Keep pearls and stones away from hard metal edges.
- Keep DIY supplies labeled and sealed.
A note on natural variation
Natural stones, pearls, and agate pieces may show differences in color, translucency, banding, glow, inclusions, and surface character. These differences are part of the material story and make each piece individual.
- Color and pattern may vary from photos.
- Small natural marks are not always defects.
- Avoid comparing two natural pieces as if they were machine-made.
Care FAQ
Can I shower with my jewelry?
We recommend removing jewelry before showering. Water, soap, shampoo, heat, and residue can dull stones, affect pearl luster, weaken elastic, and shorten the life of plated or mixed-material pieces.
Can pearls touch perfume?
Pearls are sensitive to perfume, alcohol, hairspray, lotion, and oils. Apply beauty products first, let them dry, then put pearls on as the final step.
Why does my stone look different from the photo?
Natural stones and agate pieces vary in color, banding, translucency, and markings. This is expected and is part of the charm of natural materials.
How do I clean stainless steel jewelry?
Wipe it with a soft cloth after wearing. If needed, use a little mild soap with lukewarm water, then rinse carefully and dry completely before storing.
Can I use an ultrasonic cleaner?
Avoid ultrasonic cleaners for pearls, delicate stones, plated finishes, elastic beaded pieces, or mixed-material jewelry. These methods can be too harsh for many materials.
How should I care for DIY beads and findings?
Keep materials dry, clean, and separated by type. Store stones, pearls, metal findings, chains, and charms in separate labeled containers to prevent scratches, tarnish, or mixing.