Jewelry Care
Care for the Pieces That Carry Your Story
Your Shirley’s Designs jewelry is handcrafted with natural gemstones, metal components, and thoughtful details. A little intentional care can help preserve its beauty for years to come.
Jewelry with meaning deserves meaningful care.
Everyday Jewelry Care
Put your jewelry on last and take it off first. Allow lotions, perfumes, body oils, hairspray, makeup, and other beauty products to dry completely before wearing your jewelry.
Remove jewelry before showering, swimming, exercising, sleeping, cleaning, gardening, entering pools or hot tubs, or spending extended time in water.
Water, perspiration, chlorine, saltwater, cleaning products, and other chemicals can affect gemstones, metals, finishes, elastic, cords, and other components over time.
Polishing Cloth Included With Every Order
A jewelry polishing cloth is included with every Shirley’s Designs order to help gently clean, protect, and restore shine to metal surfaces.
Use the cloth with light pressure on silver, gold-plated, and other metal surfaces. Gently rub the metal only. Avoid aggressive rubbing on plated or delicate finishes, and avoid using the polishing cloth directly on porous or sensitive gemstones.
If you are unsure whether a cleaning method is appropriate for a particular gemstone or finish, contact us before cleaning.
Caring for Natural Gemstones
Natural gemstones can vary in color, pattern, texture, veining, transparency, and other characteristics. Some stones are also more delicate or porous than others.
- Handle gemstones gently.
- Avoid dropping or striking them against hard surfaces.
- Keep them away from household chemicals.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to water and do not soak gemstone jewelry.
- Keep perfumes, lotions, oils, and hairspray away from the stones whenever possible.
- Wipe gently after wearing to remove body oils and residue.
Caring for Metal Components
Shirley’s Designs uses different metals and finishes depending on the individual design, including sterling silver, gold-filled components, stainless steel, gold-plated finishes, and other jewelry findings.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver can naturally tarnish when exposed to air, moisture, body chemistry, and cosmetics. Use the included polishing cloth gently on the metal surface to help restore shine, then store the piece in a dry, enclosed pouch or jewelry box.
Gold-Filled & Gold-Plated Components
Avoid harsh or abrasive cleaners. When using the included polishing cloth, use light pressure and avoid aggressive rubbing that could affect the finish.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is durable, but it should still be protected from harsh chemicals, chlorine, and abrasive cleaning products. Wipe gently with a soft cloth when needed.
Caring for Personalized & Engraved Jewelry
To protect personalized components, avoid abrasive cleaners and aggressive polishing. Keep engraved areas away from harsh chemicals, use gentle pressure when cleaning metal surfaces, and store pieces separately to help minimize scratching.
Caring for Beaded Bracelets
Gently roll stretch bracelets over your hand and onto your wrist rather than pulling or overstretching them. Repeated excessive stretching can weaken elastic over time.
How to Store Your Jewelry
- Store jewelry in a pouch, bag, or box in a cool, dry place.
- Keep pieces separated whenever possible to help prevent scratching and tangling.
- Secure necklaces before storage.
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight.
- Do not store jewelry in damp areas such as bathrooms.
What to Avoid
Unless specifically recommended for the materials in your particular piece, avoid harsh chemicals, bleach, alcohol, acetone, household cleaners, abrasive products, toothpaste, harsh jewelry dips, ultrasonic cleaners, and steam cleaners.
Natural gemstones respond differently to heat, moisture, chemicals, and cleaning methods. A method that is safe for one gemstone may damage another.
Lifetime Repair Service
Shirley’s Designs offers a Lifetime Repair Service for eligible handcrafted jewelry, subject to our repair policy. Most approved repairs are completed within approximately 5–10 business days after your jewelry is received and the repair is approved. Shipping costs to and from Shirley’s Designs are the customer’s responsibility unless otherwise determined by Shirley’s Designs.
Have a Jewelry Care Question?
Not sure how to care for a particular gemstone or Shirley’s Designs piece? Contact us before trying a new cleaning method.
Wear it with love. Care for it with intention. Keep the story close.
Shirley’s Designs Handcrafted Jewelry