Jewelry Care

Sterling Silver and stones:

We recommend silver polishing cloth which is infused with a special compound to help keep precious metals bright. Silver is safe to wear day to day, and with proper care and attention, your silver piece can last a lifetime while avoiding heavy tarnishing.

Hang on to the packaging materials that come with your Liliam Higa pieces, when removing your jewelry at night, you can use your packaging items to delicately store your silver jewelry. If your bag is unavailable, we recommend storing your jewelry in an airtight bag.

The oils found in your lotion, perfume, sunscreen and even body, will cause the silver to tarnish even quicker. Wiping down your jewelry after wear will help with keeping its luster. 

We suggest removing all jewelry while bathing, washing dishes, using chemicals while cleaning, and working out. Our rule of thumb is if you wouldn’t wear a silk shirt to perform a certain activity, then we recommend not wearing your jewelry either. 

If cleaning piece with stones at home, polish your jewelry with a lint-free, 100% cotton cloth. Gentle cleaning with lukewarm water, natural dish soap, and a soft toothbrush is also recommended. 

Pearls:

Pearls should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. It's safe to use warm, soapy water (diluted Dr. Bronner's) for occasional, thorough cleaning. For routine care, it's best to wipe pearls with a very soft, clean cloth after each wearing. Wait until lotion is dry before wearing your pearls. Avoid swimming in chlorinated or salt water and spraying perfume on pearls. If you do, make sure you rinse and dry it. Store flat in a cool, dry place to maintain its integrity.

So, when should you remove my jewelry?

Depending on your lifestyle and occupation, consider removing your jewelry during working hours. Contact with potentially damaging materials can be a daily reality. Professionals in the food, art, entertainment, or medical industries, for example, may use their hands much more actively than those with office jobs. Please refer to our care instructions when deciding what works best for you.

• Exercising: Any strenuous activity including cardio, yoga, lifting weights, swimming, etc. These activities, particularly ones using your hands, put pressure on your pieces, causing them to bend, warp, or for stones to become loose in their settings. Chlorinated water can also react chemically with metals, changing the color, weakening settings, or pitting gold. Something as simple as extended time in water can harm jewelry, even if the damage is not immediately apparent.
• Showering or Bathing: Hard water, shampoos, and conditioners can become stuck behind settings, causing damage to your pieces. Soap scum can be hard to remove and causes jewelry to look discolored and grimy.
• Sleeping: The extended heat and pressure that occurs during sleep can wreak havoc on delicate and fine jewelry. Keep a jewelry-appropriate container next to your bed so that you can remove your pieces every night.
• Applying perfumes, lotions, oils, makeup or hair products: Products can build up on the jewelry, damaging certain stones, dulling their appearance, which in turn will require more cleaning.
• Cooking, baking, or doing the dishes: These activities can cause debris to become lodged in settings and diminish the appearance of your pieces.
• Cleaning, especially with bleach or other harsh chemicals: Harsh chemicals such as bleach can pit metals and weaken settings, causing stone loss.
• Gardening: The pressure from holding gardening tools can cause damage to settings even when wearing gloves. Removing your pieces before gardening also ensures that they remain free from dirt and debris.
• Painting, throwing pottery, or play: These activities are best done with your jewelry safely out of the way.

If you have any questions on how to care for your jewelry, please contact us and we'll be happy to assist you.