Fine jewelry is a precious possession designed to last a lifetime.  Knowing how to care for your jewelry makes all the difference in maintaining its sparkle for years to come. 

General Care Tips

• Store your jewelry in a clean, dry place. 
• Keep your jewelry in a fabric-lined jewelry case or in a box with compartments and dividers.  If you prefer to use ordinary boxes, wrap each piece individually in soft cloth or tissue paper. 
• Always thoroughly rinse and dry your jewelry after cleaning and before storage. 
• Consider purchasing personal property insurance for valuable jewelry pieces to supplement the limited coverage commonly found in most homeowners insurance policies. 
• Ultrasonic cleaners clean jewelry using high-frequency sound.  They can be a convenient way to quickly clean your jewelry at home but can damage some jewelry.  Prolonged use may even loosen gemstones.  Ask our friendly staff at J. F. Kruse Jewelers for advice on if an ultrasonic cleaner is right for you.   
• The best way to keep a valuable or extensive jewelry collection secure is to purchase a fireproof safe.
• Never put jewelry in your pockets or store your jewelry near vents, grates, sinks or drains.
• Some gemstones are prone to fading, so store jewelry away from constant sunlight.
• Keep jewelry in unlikely places. Jewelry boxes are an obvious place for thieves to look.
• Remove jewelry before swimming.  Fingers constrict in water, making rings more likely to fall off.
• When traveling, keep valuable jewelry at home or store it in the hotel safe, not your room safe.
• Most burglaries happen in broad daylight.  Always keep doors and windows locked during the day.
• Pearls are easily damaged by an array of personal products like cosmetics and lotions.
• Salt water and jewelry don’t mix. Ocean water can damage some stones and metals.
• Have your jewelry appraised periodically to accommodate fluctuating values. 
• If you bump or snag your jewelry, have it inspected for potential damage that may be unnoticeable to you.
• Visit us at J. F. Kruse Jewelers at least once every six months for a professional cleaning and inspection.  We will check for loose prongs, loose gemstones, worn mountings, and general wear and tear. 

 Diamond Jewelry

• Clean your diamonds regularly using a commercial jewelry cleaner or mild detergent.  Dip the jewelry into the solution and use a soft brush to dislodge dirt from under the setting. 
• Do not wear diamond jewelry, especially rings, when doing rough work.  Even though diamond is one of nature’s hardest materials, a sudden blow can chip it. 
• Keep your diamonds away from household chemicals, like bleach, which can damage and discolor the mountings.  Do not wear diamond jewelry in a chlorinated pool or hot tub. 
• Avoid touching your diamonds.  Body oils create a film on a diamond’s surface that diminishes its brilliance. 

 Platinum Jewelry

• To clean platinum jewelry, use a cleaning solution or a mild soap-and-water solution, or come in to J. F. Kruse and have us clean it professionally. 
• Platinum can scratch and dent fairly easily, which is called a patina finish.  Do not allow pieces to touch one another when stored. 
• Due to platinum’s unique properties, there is usually little metal loss from scratches.  Bring your platinum jewelry to our expert goldsmiths at J. F. Kruse at least once a year to restore its brilliant luster and shine. 
• For platinum jewelry created with karat gold accents, care for it as you would gold jewelry, or contact us at J. F. Kruse for more information and advice. 

Colored Gemstones

• Some colored gemstones require special care and cleaning.  Ask us at J. F. Kruse for specific instructions. 
• Many natural gemstones are treated or enhanced, which can affect their care needs.  Ask us at J. F. Kruse for specific care information. 
• Almost all colored gemstone jewelry can be safely cleaned using a mild soap-and-water solution and a soft brush. 
• Apply cosmetics, lotions, or sprays before putting on colored gemstone jewelry to avoid damaging or dulling the brilliance of your gemstones. 
• After wearing, wipe your gemstone jewelry with a clean, soft, slightly damp cloth to enhance the luster of the gemstones and remove any chemicals or body oils. 
• Do not expose gemstone pieces to saltwater, pool water, or harsh chemicals such as chlorine.  These liquids may slowly erode the finish and polish of gemstones and damage their mountings. 
• Do not subject gemstone jewelry to sudden temperature changes. 
• If you have an active lifestyle, take extra precaution with some types of gemstone jewelry.  Ask our friendly staff at J. F. Kruse which gemstones are more prone to breakage. 
• Some gemstones can be damaged by ultrasonic cleaners.  Gemstones that should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic machine include emerald, tanzanite, opal, cultured pearls, jade, lapis, coral, shell, amber, turquoise, agate, and onyx. 

 Gold Jewelry

• Since some colored gemstones require special cleaning procedures, ask us our staff at J. F. Kruse before cleaning gold jewelry set with gemstones. 
• To clean your gold jewelry at home, create a solution of soap, water, and a few drops of ammonia.  Use a soft bristle brush and rinse with lukewarm water. 
• If there is a heavy tarnish on your gold jewelry, ask one of our expert goldsmiths  for the best cleaning procedure. 
• For gold jewelry without colored gemstones, an ultrasonic cleaning machine may be appropriate.  Ask us for advice before cleaning your jewelry in an ultrasonic machine. 
• Remove all gold jewelry before showering or doing housework as soap can cause a dull film to form. 
• Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can permanently damage or discolor gold jewelry.  Do not wear your gold jewelry while using chlorine bleach or while in a pool or hot tub. 
• Remove grease from gold jewelry by dipping it into plain rubbing alcohol.  Ask our friendly staff at J. F. Kruse before performing this on pieces containing colored gemstones. 
• Signs of wear, such as scratches, can eventually appear on gold jewelry.  Ask our knowledgeable goldsmiths at J. F. Kruse to determine if re-polishing will remove them. 

 Sterling Silver Jewelry

• Clean your sterling silver jewelry with a mild soap-and-water solution.  For more stubborn dirt, ask one of our expert goldsmiths at J. F. Kruse to recommend an appropriate silver jewelry cleaning solution. 
• Only rub sterling silver with a polishing cloth, a very soft cloth, or a fine piece of felt.  The rough fibers from tissue paper or paper towels can create scratches. 
• Store sterling silver pieces individually in a tarnish-preventive bag. 
• Do not expose sterling silver jewelry to air and light during storage; this can cause it to tarnish. 
• Do not wear sterling silver in chlorinated water or when working with household chemicals. 

 Cultured Pearls

• Wipe your cultured pearl jewelry with a damp cloth using mild soap and water.  Do not use any chemicals. 
• Apply all cosmetics, lotions, and sprays before putting on cultured pearl jewelry.  When you remove the jewelry, wipe it with a soft cloth to remove any traces of these substances. 
• Always lay cultured pearl strands flat to dry; hanging may stretch the threads. 
• Ordinary wear and body oils weaken and stretch the threads of cultured pearl strands.  Have our expert goldsmiths at J. F. Kruse inspect your pearls annually to determine if they need re-stringing. 
  Cultured pearls should be strung with a knot between each bead to prevent loss if the strand breaks. 

Watches

• Only an expert jeweler or watchmaker should be entrusted to repair your watch. 
• A mechanical watch should be checked regularly and serviced according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. 
• Have the battery in a quartz watch replaced before it runs out.  Dead batteries left in a watch can leak or corrode, ruining the timepiece. 
• If your watch is water-resistant, a water-resistance test should be performed after replacing the battery. 
• Give your watch a quick inspection on a regular basis, making sure that the strap or bracelet is securely attached. 
• Wind your watch in a clockwise direction about the same time each day.  Remove from your wrist when winding. 
• Replace broken or scratched crystals immediately.  Even a hairline crack can threaten the timekeeping mechanism’s accuracy. 
• Unless the degree of water resistance is clearly specified when you purchase your watch, do not expose it to water or moisture. 
• Oils from your skin can build up on a watch.  If your watch is water-resistant, clean it with a damp cloth and a mixture of warm water and mild soap.  For watches with non-metal straps, consult us at J. F. Kruse on how to clean. 
• Although many watches are equipped with shock-resistant devices, it’s not wise to subject it to overly vigorous treatment. 
• If you have any questions, feel free to stop in or call.  At J. F. Kruse, we value you as a customer and are always happy to be of service to you.   

Protecting Fine Jewelry

Protecting your fine jewelry is about more than just proper care and cleaning.  You should consider obtaining an appraisal or insurance evaluation document that describes and assigns an accurate replacement value.  In addition, consider purchasing personal property insurance to cover your precious jewelry against theft and other perils.  Most insurance companies will require a recent appraisal or insurance retail replacement document before providing insurance coverage. 

If you have any questions about insurance or appraisals, please feel free to contact us.  Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will always be happy to be of service to you. 

Insurance

Buying jewelry insurance for your most valuable and treasured pieces is the best way to honor the memories and emotions that the jewelry represents, while protecting your financial interests. 

Standard homeowners or renters insurance usually provides limited jewelry protection, often excluding coverage for breakage or loss.  A standard policy will have high deductibles and low limits for fine jewelry theft, typically around $1,000. 

For total peace-of-mind protection personal property insurance is a wise choice.  This supplemental coverage will often insure an item against damage, loss, theft, and mysterious disappearance.  Ask our friendly staff at J. F. Kruse how to obtain the appropriate appraisal documentation required for this insurance. 

When obtaining insurance for your precious jewelry, be sure to ask your agent the following questions:

• What perils are covered (e.g. if stolen, accidentally lost)?
• How will the insurance company replace your jewelry item?  What jeweler will be used?  What if an exact replacement is not available?
• Is coverage available if an item is vintage or antique?
• What proof is required for replacement if the jewelry item mysteriously disappears?
• Under what circumstances are damage and loss not covered?
• Are there options for deductibles, and how do different deductibles affect policy costs?
• What documentation is required to insure the items?
• Does the policy cover jewelry during international travel?
• Does the policy cover the cost of any necessary repairs if an item is damaged?

Appraisals

A jewelry appraisal is a document that describes a jewelry item, assessed its relative quality, and assigns a value to it.  Descriptions usually cover the item’s measurable and analyzable characteristics and describe subjective features, such as gemstone quality, relative rarity, and overall quality of manufacture. 

The vast majority of jewelry appraisals are for insurance replacement (retail replacement) purposes.  This type of appraisal should reflect the realistic cost of replacing an item from a store similar to where it was purchased.  You should have your jewelry inspected and your appraisal updated on a a regular basis, particularly if you purchase personal property insurance coverage. 

At J. F. Kruse Jewelers, we adhere to the highest levels of professional behavior.  We take pride in the education of our appraisers and the accuracy of our work.  For further questions, please contact us; our Certified and Graduate Gemologists are happy to  be of service to you and provide you with more information.  

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