American Indian jewelry is one of the most popular styles of jewelry sold throughout the United States. In fact, American Indian jewelry is so popular that men and women all around the world purchase it. Despite the fact that a large number of individuals purchase American Indian jewelry, most individuals do not know how to properly care for their prized possessions.

When it comes to cleaning and caring for American Indian jewelry, it is important to remember that are a wide variety of different jewelry pieces. Jewelry can come in the form of necklaces, bracelets, pendants, earrings, rings, and more. While each piece of jewelry may be unique, they are often cleaned and cared for the same way.

The most important way to care for American Indian jewelry is to keep jewelry pieces clean. There are many individuals who do not care for their jewelry as much as they should. This is often because many feel that it is easy to clean their jewelry if needed. It is true that you can clean all pieces of American Indian jewelry, in one way or another, but constant cleaning may cause damage to a unique item.

To prevent normal wear caused by excess amounts of cleaning, American Indian jewelry owners are encouraged to take precautions to ensure the appearance and value of their jewelry stays the same. The easiest way to do this is to not wear jewelry pieces when doing a number of tasks or activities. These tasks and activities include, but are not limited to, doing dishes, taking a bath, swimming, or housework. Water combined with multiple chemicals could severely damage a fine piece of American Indian jewelry.

Preventative care can also include keeping American Indian jewelry stored in a cool, dry location. Instead of leaving a piece of jewelry out on a dresser or a kitchen counter, jewelry owners are encouraged to at least keep it in a jewelry box. If American Indian jewelry is being stored along side other jewelry pieces, it may be a good idea to place it inside a cloth. A wide number of jewelry stores and traditional retail stores sell small cloth jewelry bags. These bags can be effective at protecting a treasured piece of jewelry.

When cleaning American Indian jewelry, it is important that certain chemicals not be used. Chlorine, salt, and other household cleaning products can severely damage American Indian jewelry. If not properly cleaned, a piece of jewelry could experience discoloration or lose settings. Most American Indian jewelry suppliers and sellers recommend cleaning their jewelry with water and a small amount of soap.

Many individuals make a large mistake when it comes to cleaning their American Indian jewelry. That mistake is using commercial jewelry cleaning products. These commercial products are sold in a wide variety of retail locations. A large number of these jewelry cleaning products contain chemicals that can be harmful to American Indian jewelry. It is important to note that not all jewelry products are harmful to American Indian jewelry, but a large number are. When in doubt, it is advised that an American Indian manufacturer or jeweler be contacted.

Owning a piece of American Indian jewelry is a treasure in itself. If properly cared for and cleaned, a piece of American Indian jewelry can become a family heirloom that can be passed down from generation to generation. In this day and age, family heirlooms are few and far between, making them even more important then ever.

Edward Charkow is the administrator for American Indian History. For more information please visit: http://www.americanindian-history.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Charkow