Caring for your jewelry

To ensure the longevity of your ANICA LIN JEWELRY we recommend the following steps:

Jewelry should be the last item you put on and the first item you take off. 

Jewelry is a luxurious and delicate item and should be handled with care. If you treat your pieces well they will last forever. 

NOT IDEAL: moisture, rough handling and chemicals. 

• Moisture:
• Our bodies release moisture, in the form of sweat when exercising and it is advised to remove your jewelry before you exercise and to put it back on once you are done.
• Showering with your pieces is not advisable but if you forget to take it off once in a while there shouldn't be a problem. The metal (mostly silver) will oxidize faster when you have it constantly in contact with water. 
• Chemicals:
• Swimming pools have a lot of chemicals including chlorine, which in the long term could affect the quality and appearance of your jewelry. 
• Make sure to remove your jewelry when you are cleaning or wear gloves. Household chemicals are extremely harmful to your jewelry and gemstones.
• Avoid contact with moisturizers and perfume with your jewelry. 
• Rough Handling: 
• Precious metals such as silver and gold are soft by nature and sometimes after prolonged periods of continuous wear and tear result in a change of shape. 
• If you know you are about to do a lot of manual labor and or work with your hands, make sure to remove your jewelry as the precious metals can dent and become deformed when put under a lot of continual stress.

Tarnish

• Tarnish is when the metal from your jewelry reacts to the air and elements it is exposed to, which causes it to oxidize. This makes the metal, in particular silver, to change color and become darker. The fastest easiest way to get rid of tarnish on your silver jewelry is to use your polish cloth.
• Make sure the jewelry you are about to polish is nice and dry before using the polish cloth. Wipe down the entire surface of the item with the polishing cloth and for places that have more tarnish, you may wipe it continuously until its gone and the area has returned to its original bright sheen. 
• For items that are really tarnished you can use a small amount of toothpaste and rub it along the area or the entire item until it is entirely cleaned. To get into the nooks and crannies of your piece you may use a soft, old toothbrush to gently brush it with the toothpaste. Once the tarnish has been removed, rinse it with warm water and wipe it dry with an old cotton rag. 

Gemstones

EXCEPT: turquoise, pearls, meteorite, malachite, coral and carnelian

• Most gemstones can be cleaned using warm water, detergent and a soft brush. Below is a step by step guide on how to care for your gemstones. 
• Step one: Take off your jewelry and let it soak in warm water and mild detergent for about 15-20 minutes. 
• Step two: Use a soft brush (an old toothbrush "soft or extra soft" will work just fine) to gently scrub your jewelry. Remember to gently scrub and not put too much pressure as it might scratch the surface of your jewelry. 
• For areas that are hard to get to, a shaved toothpick or match will do the job to scrap out the accumulations. Be patient and don't scrap with excessive force as this could damage the setting and or the gemstone. 
• Step three: After scrubbing your jewelry dip it back into your solution for a couple of minutes before running it under some warm water (which should be at a similar temperature to your solution as the difference in temperature could be harmful to your gemstone). 
• Step Four: Dry off your jewelry and remove any excess liquid by shaking or blowing it. 
• Step five: Use a lint free, cotton cloth to wipe down your jewelry or you can use the complimentary chamois (jewelry polishing cloth) that comes with your purchase, to wipe down your item.

How to clean other Gemstones: 

• Turquoise: Wipe with a damp cloth and dry immediately. 
• Pearls: Wipe with damp, soft cloth. Remove stains with a mild soapy solution on a rag. Do not dip the pearls into liquid and blow out the holes to make sure there isn't any liquid trapped. The liquid can lead to discoloration.