caring for your jewelry:
basic care:
Jewelry should be treated with love and care. It should be treasured and enjoyed every time you put it on. There are, however, some important things to keep in mind so your jewelry will last for generations. The following are basic guidelines for keeping you and your jewelry happy:
- Unlike the perfect boyfriend, it does not like to get wet, take showers with you or frolic in the sea.
- It is probably allergic to perfumes, lotions and hairsprays so slather yourself up in areas where your jewelry will not touch it.
- Your jewelry likes to lounge about, so it should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.
- Jewelry is already in amazing shape, so do not take it with you to hot yoga, swimming class, lacrosse practice, rock climbing or other strenuous physical activities.
- Believe it or not, regardless of price, jewelry that looks delicate ... is.
- Your jewelry loves to travel, but not in the bottom of your handbag or in your pocket. It prefers instead to rest in its special pouch by itself. And while you sleep, give your jewelry its beauty rest too - in its pouch or stored carefully in a box.
- It is also adverse to performing chores of certain kinds, so think about it before you mow the lawn, haul rocks or wash dishes.
- Of course jewelry is meant to be worn, seen and enjoyed - just do so with care!
caring for gold jewelry:
Gold jewelry of any karat can be cleaned lightly using a soft cloth. For a more thorough cleaning, soak your gold jewelry in a glass of warm water with a drop or two of non-detergent soap (Ivory, Dr. Bronner's, etc) to help remove any oils and loosen buildup. Remove after a few minutes and pat dry with a soft cloth. To clean further, use a very soft, worn toothbrush to carefully remove any dirt particles or debris from more intricate components and settings.
For jewelry with a high-polish or matte finish, please contact us and we can give you more specific cleaning advice.
caring for sterling silver jewelry:
Follow the directions for cleaning gold jewelry above.
For silver jewelry with a high-polish surface, you can use a special silver cleaning cloth to restore the shine.
For silver jewelry with a matte finish, make a watery paste of baking soda and water and rub gently to restore surface.
Again, if you have any questions, or would like more assistance and advice, please contact us - and don't be embarrassed, we've heard it all!
black rhodium sterling silver:
Black rhodium is a plating that may wear off over time, especially in the presence of items containing sulfur such as leather, rubber, chlorine, and perspiration as well as lotions, perfumes and oils.
It is not advisable to polish or wipe your black rhodium silver jewelry. Wipe gently only if needed and never use anything but a clean, nub-free cotton cloth. AVOID silver polish or dip style cleaning products which will remove the plating.
If you would like to re-plate the jewelry, please contact us.
caring for your wedding / engagement ring:
First of all, congratulations!!! Since you will probably be wearing your ring on a daily basis, it will need to be cleaned every 1-2 weeks at least. Doing this at home is very easy and inexpensive. Most rings made of gold, platinum, diamond, sapphires and rubies can be cleaned by following these directions (the same method we suggest for cleaning gold jewelry):
Place your ring in a dish of warm water with a few drops of non-detergent soap (Ivory, Dr. Bronner's). Let your ring soak for 5-10 minutes to loosen any buildup. Use a baby toothbrush and gently clean around the stone settings. Be sure to clean under the stone setting as well. Rinse in warm water and pat dry with a soft cloth.
Getting a tune up:
All the cleaning in the world won't take the place of getting your ring professionally cleaned and inspected. We recommend having this done every 6 months. You can do this by either coming into one of our stores or sending your ring to us. This is complimentary, as we want your jewelry to remain as beautiful as when it left us!
Wearing tips:
Jewelry, especially your ring, should be the last thing you put on after clothing, make-up, hairspray and perfume. The chemicals and oils in cosmetics can dull its shine, and prongs or pave settings can catch on clothing.
Let your ring rest in a safe place while you do chores around the house, garden, work out or play sports. Make sure to store your jewelry properly. Diamonds can scratch other stones, so store each piece separately in a jewelry box or soft pouch.
Be sure to remove your ring when showering or swimming. Soap buildup from the shower can cause your ring to look dull. Swimming in chlorinated water, such as a pool or hot tub, can cause damage and pitting to gold and platinum. If you are swimming in the ocean, the cold water may cause your fingers to shrink enough so that your ring actually slips off!
Wear with caution! We do things every day that can cause our rings to break or bend. Clapping (with ring on each hand) can cause surprisingly excessive damage. Moving heavy items, hoisting luggage, handling heavy pots and pans, lifting weights, biking and many other every day activities should be done while taking care not to put strain on your rings. When in doubt take it off and put in a safe place.
caring for your pearls:
Pearls are beautiful, organic gems and need very special care and treatment to maintain their natural beauty and luster.
Please follow these basic instructions:
Your pearls should be the last piece of jewelry you put on and the first thing you take off.
Wipe them with a clean, soft cloth or chamois.
Never clean with commercial jewelry cleanser or put in an ultra-sonic cleaner.
Do not steam clean.
Pearls can be washed in water with a mild, non-detergent soap (Ivory, Dr. Bronner's) and cleaned with a soft cloth. Lay them on a clean towel to dry.
Do not wear strand while it is wet as the silk or string can stretch. Likewise, do not hang them to dry.
For more detailed cleaning and care directions, please read this: Tips on Caring for Pearls