Diamonds

Diamonds are well known for their hardness on the Mohs scale, they take the lead at a 10. However, they can chip or crack when knocked or hit and care should be taken to avoid harsh contact when worn. Diamonds can be easily cleaned using a soft brush, soap and water. If you don't already have a special brush for cleaning jewelry, you can use a (soft, old) toothbrush, an eyebrow or even a lipstick brush; these are soft, small and make a good substitute. Make sure that any brush you use is clean and does not have makeup/grease on it.

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Ruby & Sapphire

Corundum (ruby and sapphire) is relatively hard—9 on the Mohs scale. It has excellent toughness and no cleavage, which is a tendency to break when struck. This makes it a great choice for rings and other mountings subject to daily wear. You will want to clean your ruby or sapphire ring from time to time at home, remember that warm soapy water is always safe. When you bring your jewelry in for a cleaning at la'LOR we use a professional grade ultrasonic and steam cleaner that is safe for untreated, heat-treated, and lattice diffusion treated stones. Fracture-filled, cavity-filled, or dyed material should only be cleaned with a damp cloth.

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Emeralds

Emeralds are infamous for their history and the deep luscious green color is one that cannot be matched by another stone. Emerald is 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale and has fair to good toughness, making it a stone that requires more care in wearing than ruby or sapphire. Even so, emeralds are beautiful stones for all types of jewelry and with proper care will last for generations. As a general rule, you should clean your emeralds a few times a year. Some people take their jewelry in to have it cleaned, but you can also take care of your emeralds yourself. Just follow these instructions:

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1. Use a soft micro-fiber cloth to remove the oil and dirt accumulated on the emerald jewelry.

2. Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and put some mild soap (hand soap) in it. Place the jewelry into the soap and water mixture.

3. Use a soft toothbrush or a jewelry brush to clean off the jewelry. Be sure to use the brush to get into those hard to-reach areas and clean them thoroughly. 

4. Fill a second bowl with lukewarm rinse water. Submerge the jewelry fully in it and check to make sure that no soapy residue is left on the emeralds.

5. Dry the jewelry with a soft clean micro-fiber towel. Once the jewelry is dry, it is ready to be stored or worn again.

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Do not use an ultrasonic cleaner on emerald jewelry. Also, avoid using commercial jewelry cleaner on your emeralds. Ultrasonic devices and commercial jewelry cleaners will remove the oils that the emeralds have been treated with and will cause damage to the gemstones. Your emerald jewelry can be easily scratched, so be sure to store it separately from other gemstones.

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Wearing and storing your emerald is key in the longevity of your gemstone. Follow these simple guidelines:

1. Never wear your emeralds while showering, swimming or sleeping.

2. Always put your jewelry on after you’ve applied make-up, hairspray or perfume, or the chemicals may damage the emeralds.
 

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling Silver jewelry will naturally tarnish over time, the amount of tarnishing (oxidation) that occurs is dependent on the skin and care habits of the wearer. We recommend cleaning your jewelry using lukewarm soapy water and a soft brush and then finish by polishing with a soft cloth to prevent the natural process of tarnishing.

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14k | 18k Gold

To prevent damage to your white, yellow or rose gold jewelry, we recommend you store it safely away from other pieces to avoid unnecessary scratches. Gold should be kept away from harsh chemicals, such as cleaning and beauty products, to avoid discoloration to the metal. All la'LOR products in 14k | 18k white gold has been plated with a white rhodium finish, this is a layer of plating applied to the metal to emphasize the bright white finish of the metal and can be especially susceptible to discoloration when brought into contact with chemicals. Should this occur, you contact la'LOR at accardijewels@gmail.com where we can offer you a rhodium plating service to bring back that white shine.

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Platinum

Platinum has the advantage of being a harder and a more durable than most wearable metals, however, it needs caring for in a similar way to your gold pieces. It is still prone to scratching so should be suitably stored to prevent it from rubbing against other jewelry pieces you may have. Again, we recommend you keep this away from any strong chemicals to avoid damaging or weakening the metal.