Beads of Cambay's Tips & Guides

Indepth articles written on behalf of our staff on helpful tips and topics relevant to our products, plus subjects to inspire your creativity and sharpen your understanding of the beading industry.

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Bead Care Guide

Maintain the beauty and prolong the life of your beads through a cleaning and maintenance routine based upon the best care method for your gemstone, metal, or pearl.

Beadsofcambay Gemstone Beads Care Desktop Banner

Gemstone Beads

Most gemstone beads can be cleaned using a washing solution of slightly tepid water and mild soap such as Ivory Dish Liquid.

Dip a lint free cotton cloth into the liquid to dampen and wring out excess water.

Using a circular motion, gently wipe the cloth over the full body of the bead to remove dust or buildup on the exterior.

Cleaning of beads with exceptionally heavy buildup, may require that you disassemble the necklace to clean the beads. The best care for your beads is the proper care during wearing your gemstones.

A rule of thumb is to add your jewelry as the last item on and first item off while dressing which will diminish environmental or accidental damage.

We do not recommend the use of commercial "cleaning immersion solutions" as they will remove titanium metallic or aurora borealis coatings on beads.

We do not recommend the use of Commercial Ultra Sonic Cleaners as they can damage beads or metal finishes.

Beadsofcambay Metal Beads

Metal Beads

Metals react with the environment through a natural process of oxidization that occurs when exposed to sulfides in the air.

This process will affect most metal beads and plated beads in the same manner.

Some prefer the antiqued or oxidized appearance that results from environmental reactions. Those who prefer the natural unoxidized appearance can apply a coating of Urethane Spray to each bead before use in jewelry.

To remove the oxidation or tarnish, we recommend a jewelry grade 'Tarnish Removal Solution' on the metal beads only.

If the beads are in a finished piece of jewelry then a solution may ruin the finish of a gemstone, a coral, or a pearl.

Store your beads with an 'anti-tarnish' pouch or anti-tarnish strip to diminish the oxidation.

Beadsofcambay Freshwater Pearls And Opals

Freshwater Pearls And Opals

Pearls and Opal thrive when worn because they absorb the natural oils and moisture from your skin!

However, A rule of thumb with pearls is "last on, first off" when dressing to avoid chemicals or damage.

Store pearls and opals in a non-airtight container within a soft pouch to avoid drying out and exterior damage.

Clean by gently rubbing each bead using a slightly damp, soft cloth to remove debris such as perfume, makeup, or perspiration.

Be sure to completely dry the strand before restoring to avoid thread deterioration.

When cared for and stored properly, pearls and opals will retain their beauty and luster providing you with heirloom quality organic beads.