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Product Care Sterling Silver:
Sterling silver is unlikely to tarnish when worn daily. However, your silver jewelry may develop a darker patina over time, especially in storage. To prevent this from happening, we recommend wearing your sterling silver jewelry often! The natural oils in your skin will form a protective layer on the metal’s surface. When it comes to storing jewelry for a long time, an airtight plastic bag can work wonders to prevent tarnishing. Using a polishing cloth frequently will also maintain the inherent shine in your sterling silver. If you notice tarnish and a polishing cloth isn’t doing the trick, you can use a liquid polishing agent for sterling silver. Please be cautious: silver polish may damage precious gemstones or pearls. There are liquid polishing agents out there that are safe for gems and pearls, but all in all, following our preventative advice will generally keep your sterling silver jewelry happy and tarnish-free for many years to come! Satin Finish Sterling Silver:
Satin finish sterling silver is unlikely to tarnish. However, all metals have the potential to develop the darker patina over time, especially in storage. To prevent this from happening, we recommend wearing your sterling silver jewelry often! The natural oils in your skin will form a protective layer on the metal’s surface. When it comes to storing jewelry for a long time, an airtight plastic bag can work wonders to prevent tarnishing. Use a polishing cloth to clean the piece before storing it. Not only will a brief rub remove accumulated dirt and debris, but it also maintains the inherent glow in your satin finish sterling silver. If you notice tarnish and a polishing cloth isn’t doing the trick, you can use a liquid polishing agent for sterling silver. Please be cautious: silver polish may damage precious gemstones or pearls. Some abrasive polishing agents will also remove the satin finish of your piece, so we caution against using this kind of technique to care for your satin finish sterling silver. Since satin finish is made using a wire brush to make tiny, uniform scratches in the metal, it is possible to wear away the soft patina over time, especially in places where the piece sees a lot of friction. It is possible to have your satin finish jewelry refinished. Included with some satin finish pieces is a small piece of finishing paper. One side is slightly shiny and has a rough texture like very, very fine sandpaper. Use this finishing paper to smooth out any shiny scuffs that may appear on the surface of the metal. All it takes are a few strokes in the direction of the original grain to maintain that beautiful, velvety glow! Oxidized Sterling Silver:
Some of our products are made of oxidized sterling silver. Even though oxidized sterling looks different from high-polish sterling, it is the same metal. Oxidized sterling silver has been intentionally tarnished by the artisan to create a desirable dark patina. Obviously, your oxidized sterling is not really at risk for tarnishing, but you can still give it a gentle glow with a rub of a polishing cloth once in a while. In fact, you may find that the more you wear your oxidized piece, the more it glows. Over time the oxidized finish may lighten slightly, but this is only a sign of your jewelry aging well! Gold:
Gold is unlikely to tarnish. However, all metals have the potential to develop the darker patina over time, especially in storage. To prevent this from happening, we recommend wearing your gold jewelry often! The natural oils in your skin will form a protective layer on the surface of the metal. When it comes to storing jewelry for a long time, an airtight plastic bag can work wonders to prevent tarnishing. Store each piece of jewelry separate from other pieces to keep it pristine. You can also maintain your gold’s inherent shine by using a polishing cloth frequently. If you find you’d like to clean your gold jewelry, use warm water and a mild soap. A soft-bristled toothbrush can be used to get into hard-to-reach places. Dry your jewelry with a soft polishing cloth to restore that brilliant shine people have cherished for millennia. White Gold:
White gold is a beautiful variation of this precious metal, typically an alloy of gold and a light-colored metal such as palladium, silver, platinum, or a combination of these metals. The purity of white gold is indicated in carats, on the same scale as yellow gold. White Gold is unlikely to tarnish. However, all metals have the potential to develop the darker patina over time, especially in storage. To prevent this from happening, we recommend wearing your white gold jewelry often! The natural oils in your skin will form a protective layer on the surface of the metal. When it comes to storing jewelry for a long time, an airtight plastic bag can work wonders to prevent tarnishing. Store each piece of jewelry separate from other pieces to keep it pristine. You can also maintain your white gold’s inherent shine by using a polishing cloth frequently. If you find you’d like to clean your white gold jewelry, use warm water and a mild soap. A soft-bristled toothbrush can be used to get into hard-to-reach places. Dry your jewelry with a soft polishing cloth to restore that brilliant shine people have cherished for millennia. Why We Don’t Rhodium-Plate Our White Gold Many commercial jewelers rhodium-plate their white gold jewelry. Rhodium is an extremely hard, highly reflective precious metal with a brilliant white appearance. However, rhodium plating is a toxic process; it is bad for the environment, and bad for the jeweler using rhodium. And, like any plating, the rhodium will wear off within a few years. That’s no fun. We don’t want you to worry about expensive and toxic upkeep! Diamonds:
Diamonds have a renowned invincibility– based on the fact that they are the hardest natural mineral in the world – so they do not require much special care. Your diamond jewelry can be cleaned with warm water and a gentle soap. Use a soft-bristled brush (like an old toothbrush) to clean hard-to-reach crevices around the gemstone setting. You may want to use a commercial diamond-cleaning product, but a diluted detergent, like your dish soap or glass cleaner, will work well. Always dry your jewelry with a soft, lint-free polishing cloth. When it comes to storing your diamond jewelry, give it a special place away from other pieces. This will prevent the hard diamond from scratching your other jewelry or getting a scratch from another diamond. With your tender loving care, your diamond will dazzle for many generations! Precious Gemstones:
Any piece of jewelry with a gemstone should be treated with special care. Avoid wearing your precious gemstone while gardening, swimming, playing high-impact sports, or using harsh cleaning products. Definitely wear it at all other times, especially when a spark of glamour is called for. Your gemstone jewelry can be cleaned with warm water and a gentle soap. Use a soft-bristled brush (like an old toothbrush) to clean hard-to-reach crevices around the setting. A diluted detergent, like your dish soap, will work well to break up dirt and accumulated oils. To dry your gemstone jewelry, use a lint-free polishing cloth. If you intend to store your jewelry for a while, it is a good idea to keep it in its own safe place away from other jewelry and direct sunlight. This will keep your gemstone, as well as your other jewelry, pristine and scratch-free. With your tender loving care, your gemstone will sparkle for years to come! Moonstone:
Moonstone has certain qualities that call for a little extra TLC. As usual, avoid wearing your moonstone while gardening, swimming, playing high-impact sports, or using harsh cleaning products. Moonstone comes from a relatively soft mineral, registering a 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness (most precious gems used in jewelry are around 8 or 9, with diamonds at 10): this means that moonstone is more susceptible to scratching than harder gemstones. Scratches can be remedied with refinishing by a professional jeweler, but it is an especially good idea to store your moonstone in a secure place away from other jewelry. Your moonstone can be cleaned with warm water and a gentle soap. A diluted detergent, like your dish soap, will work well to break up dirt and accumulated oils. Rather than scrubbing the moonstone, simply let it sit for a few minutes in the soapy solution, swishing the water every so often. This should do the trick! Rinse with warm water and dry your moonstone jewelry using only a lint-free polishing cloth. With your tender loving care, your moonstone will shimmer with a gossamer light for years to come! Pearls:
Pearls are utterly unique in the world of precious gemstones. These organic gems are formed within the protective shells of living mollusks, made up of concentric layers of calcium carbonate. The thin, translucent layers break up light in such a way as to create the iridescent pearly luster that has been treasured for millennia. Unlike other precious gemstones that are mined from the earth, pearls require no cutting or polishing to enhance their pure beauty. However, being made of an organic material, pearls are delicate and require some extra tender loving care. Keep in mind that pearls are especially susceptible to the effects of acidity, heat, and very dry air. Pearls, being made of a softer material than most metal and gemstones, are easily scratched by your other jewelry, so be sure to store your pearls in a separate jewelry pouch. Always apply make-up, perfume, and other beauty products before putting on your pearls, as the chemicals in some beauty products can dry out these sensitive treasures. If you wear your pearls frequently - and we recommend it! - it is a good idea to wipe them down with a soft polishing cloth when you take them off, to remove any dirt accumulated throughout the day. You can even apply a dab of olive oil to the cloth before wiping them down, as the oil will restore luster and keep your pearls from drying out. If you feel your pearls require cleaning, soak them in warm water and a very mild soap you might use for sensitive skin - never dish detergent - for a few minutes, then lay them flat to dry. With your tender, loving care, your pearls will gleam radiantly for many years to come! |
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