In general, jewelry items are precious metals and gems.The most resistant, hardest and rarest mental is platinum. Therefore, it is used in the finest jewelry with most costly gems. Then goes gold, followed by silver and copper. When exposed to moisture and sulfur, silver and copper will tarnish easily.

 

* Mild soap or washing powder solution will clean gold and easily remove the dust

 

* To clean, detarnish and shine silver and copper, use only commercial silver cleaner and copper cleaner

 

* Porous gems like pearl and turquoise need special care while cleaning.  Only clean the string pearls with soft cloth and never put them into water as water weaken the string significant

 

* Heat is destructive to pearls and turquoises, so remember to take off the coral jewelry before going to bath, hot yoga or sauna

 

* Ivory, amber and coral can be cleaned with a soap and water solution. Dry immediately with soft cloth after cleaning

 

* Emeralds should not be treated with soap-water-solution as it may cause emeralds to change color

 

* For storage, keep jewelry in closed jewelry boxes. Don’t use plastic bags to store pearls and corals as they need air to retain their beauty.

 

* Keep the jewelry far away from the heating and dust

 

* Don’t expose rubies and garnets to sun as UV-rays make their color less intense
 

Some antique jewelry are for sale on eBay.