Jewelry Tips: Titanium, tungsten or stainless steel jewelry is best cleaned with a simple soak in warm, soapy water or detergent and wipe down with a soft cloth. Do not use any harsh abrasives on stainless; they can damage its natural protective oxide coat.

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Jewelry Tips: Unlike precious metals, titanium uses a complex industrial grading system; three of these grades are used in jewelry: “Commercially pure” titanium, called CP or ASTM Grade 2 (in jewelry terms, 990 fine) is the most hypo-allergenic and could be called medical grade. Ti-6/4, also called ASTM Grade 5 or aircraft grade (900 titanium 60 aluminum 40 vanadium), and Ti-6/6/2 (860 titanium 60 aluminum 60 vanadium 20 tin) are the extremely hard alloys. These designations are not always included in descriptions.

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Jewelry Tips: When buying diamonds, always buy from reputable retailers that you trust and who can attest to the origins of the gold, diamonds and gemstones they sell.

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