How To Care For Your Jewelry
How can I clean my jewelry at home?
- Polish your jewelry with a lint-free, 100% cotton cloth.
- Gentle cleaning with lukewarm water, soap, and a soft toothbrush is also recommended.
- Always check the tightness of stones before and after cleaning, especially when using a steam cleaner.
- Never use an ultrasonic cleaner on micro pavé stones, opals, emeralds, or turquoise.
- Fine jewelry should be stored securely in fabric-lined or leather-lined boxes.
- Pieces can also be wrapped in soft fabric.
- We recommend keeping an up-to-date inventory of your collection, including photographs, insurance evaluations and any appraisals, in the event that an insurance claim or police report needs to be filed.
Permanent Jewelry Care
- Chains are custom fitted and welded onto the customer's wrist or ankle with a jump ring and no clasp.
- We offer a selection of chains consisting of 14kt gold filled, 14kt solid gold, and 925 Sterling Silver.
- Appointments have priority over walk-ins and can be made here.
- Walk-ins are welcome during normal business hours. Hours are listed at the bottom of our home page. Holiday hours can be found on google.
- Chains should require no maintenance and can be taken off permanently with scissors if desired.
- In the event that you need to take off the bracelet, we suggest that you exercise caution and carefully cut it using scissors, ideally at the small ring that connects the two ends of the chain. This will help to preserve the chain's structural integrity. Should you decide to have the bracelet reattached at a later time, we would be happy to offer this service for a nominal welding fee of $10 plus tax.
- Can I purchase one as a gift? Our suggestion would be to purchase a gift card with the value for the chain type and kind you desire to give as a gift for them to use in-store.
- DISCLAIMER: The ankle is an extremely high traffic area of the body. The putting on of tight pants, friction of high top shoes or boots, and exercising are just some examples of actions that can unexpectedly cause tugging and snagging of these delicate 14k gold chain styles and may ultimately cause the chain to stretch or break. Some of our styles are more hearty and heavy than others. We recommend these styles most for anklets (i.e. Cable Drawn and Filed Sides, Figaro Large, Flat Gucci Chain, Long and Short Links). Should something occur to your anklet, hang on to your chain and we would be happy to re-weld it back on for a small fee of $10.
- TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR RE-WELDING: All permanent jewelry bracelets and anklets are custom fit to your liking at the time of the appointment. These sales are considered FINAL SALE. Should you find that you’d like an adjustment to the length of your chain after your appointment is complete, our welding team can trim length to shorten the strand at no additional cost. To add additional length will cost a fee of $10.
Cleaning a tarnished gold-filled chain can be done effectively without damaging the material. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Materials Needed:
- Mild dish soap
- Warm water
- A soft toothbrush or cloth
- A bowl
- Baking soda or White Vinegar (optional for stubborn tarnish)
- Microfiber or soft cotton cloth
Steps to Clean:
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Prepare the Cleaning Solution:
- Mix a few drops of mild dish soap into a bowl of warm water. Avoid harsh chemicals like ammonia or chlorine, as they can damage the gold-filled layer.
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Soak the Chain:
- Place your wrist in a bowl with the gold-filled chain into the solution and let it soak for 5-10 minutes. This helps loosen dirt and oils.
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Gently Scrub:
- Use a soft toothbrush or a soft cloth to gently clean the chain. Be sure to put a barrier of either cloth, wax paper between the chain and the brush for comfort. Focus on areas where tarnish or dirt is more noticeable. Be gentle to avoid scratching the surface.
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Rinse Thoroughly:
- Rinse the chain under lukewarm running water to remove any soap residue.
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Dry Completely:
- Pat the chain dry with a microfiber cloth or soft cotton cloth.
For Stubborn Tarnish:
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Baking Soda Paste:
- Mix a small amount of baking soda with water to form a paste.
- Put a barrier between like a cloth or wax paper between the chain and the brush for comfort.
- Apply the paste to the tarnished areas using a soft toothbrush or cloth.
- Gently rub, then rinse thoroughly and dry.
- Vinegar : Put a barrier between with a cloth or wax paper between the chain and the brush for comfort.
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- Dip toothbrush in white vinegar and scrub then thoroughly rinse and dry.
Preventing Future Tarnish:
- Keep it away from perfumes, lotions, and harsh chemicals.
- Clean it once a week to keep from tarnishing to remove built up soap, oils, or residue.
With proper care, your gold-filled chain should maintain its shine for years!
When do I need to remove my jewelry?
- Exercising | Any strenuous activity including cardio, yoga, lifting weights, swimming, etc. These activities, particularly ones using your hands, put pressure on your pieces, causing them to bend, warp, or for stones to become loose in their settings.
- Showering or bathing | Hard water, shampoos, and conditioners can become stuck behind settings, causing damage to your pieces. Soap scum can be hard to remove and causes jewelry to look discolored and grimy.
- Sleeping | The extended heat and pressure that occurs during sleep can wreak havoc on delicate and fine jewelry. Keep a jewelry-appropriate container next to your bed so that you can remove your pieces every night.
- Applying perfumes, lotions, oils, makeup or hair products | Products can build up on the jewelry, damaging certain stones, dulling their appearance, and requiring more frequent cleaning.
- Cooking, baking or doing the dishes | These activities can cause debris to become lodged in settings and diminish the appearance of your pieces.
- Cleaning, especially with bleach or other harsh chemicals | Harsh chemicals such as bleach can pit metals and weaken settings, causing stone loss.
- Gardening | The pressure from holding gardening tools can cause damage to settings even when wearing gloves. Removing your pieces before gardening also ensures that they remain free from dirt and debris.
- Painting, throwing pottery, or play | These activities are best done with your jewelry safely out of the way.
- Depending on your lifestyle and occupation, consider removing your jewelry during working hours. Contact with potentially damaging materials can be a daily reality. Professionals in the food, art, or medical industries, for example, may use their hands much more actively than those with office jobs. Please refer to our care instructions when deciding what works best for you.
What if my earring backs are too loose from wear?
- We are happy to tighten loose backs free of charge.
- We also offer screw-back posts if you’d prefer a little extra security.
- Please inquire with our store staff for screw-back pricing.
How do I know if my gemstones are loose?
- To check for loose gemstones on any pieces of jewelry with stones, especially rings, it is recommended to have the tightness of the stones checked regularly by a professional.
- Depending on the amount of wear the piece receives, stones should be checked every 4 to 6 months.
- Stones should also be checked more frequently at home.
- We are happy to provide a virtual demonstration for these techniques upon request.
- You can use a simple pinhead to gently tap the surface and sides of the stone and see if they move.
- We also recommend listening for loose stones by holding your piece between your thumb and middle finger next to your ear.
Tips for Caring for Precious Stones
Opal Care
We use fine Opals in our jewelry. Opals are brittle stones, approximately as hard as glass. They should be worn with special attention, as they are extremely susceptible to damage if worn all the time. Opals should not get wet or be exposed to excessive heat or changes in temperature, and should be stored in cool, dry areas in tissue. Take these pieces off when washing hands, showering, using soaps or lotions, and during exercise. For cleaning, we recommend using a soft linen cloth to polish the stones.
Pearl Care
Pearls are extremely fragile, and because of this, are both set and glued into their settings. They should be worn with special attention, as they are susceptible to damage if worn all the time. Pearl jewelry should not be worn under hot water, be exposed to excessive heat, and should be stored in cool, dry areas in tissue. Take these pieces off when washing hands, showering, using soaps or lotions, and during exercise. If hit with any force, the pearls can break in their setting or become loose. It is not unusual to have to replace chipped, cracked, or missing pearls throughout the lifetime of the jewelry. For cleaning, we recommend using a soft linen cloth to polish the stones.
Turquoise Care
Turquoise is a soft porous stone, and can be susceptible to damage, depending on the lifestyle of the wearer. The natural turquoise we use may change color over time -- the amount of color change depends on the wearer and things like, amount of sunlight, heat exposure, if you are washing your hands with the rings and the type of soap you are using, and even the body chemistry of the wearer. Improper care can cause the color change of turquoise to happen more quickly. Because of the soft porosity of the stone, they are both set and glued into their settings. Turquoise jewelry should be worn with special attention, as it is susceptible to damage if worn improperly. It should not be worn under hot water, worn when cleaning or using soaps (even some hand soap), be exposed to excessive heat, and should be stored in cool, dry areas in tissue. Take these pieces off when washing hands, showering, using soaps or lotions, and during exercise. It is not unusual to have to replace chipped, cracked, or missing turquoise throughout the lifetime of the jewelry. For cleaning, we recommend using a soft linen cloth to polish the stones.
Emerald Care
Emeralds are more fragile than sapphires or diamonds due to naturally-occurring inclusions. While these inclusions contribute to the beauty of the stone, they also make it so emeralds require a little extra love.
Heat and chemicals can intensify these inclusions. As with all fine jewelry, you should avoid impact, hard pressure, and extreme temperatures when wearing your emerald jewelry. Emerald pieces should be worn with attention to our care instructions. The safest way to clean an emerald is gently, with lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush. Do not use ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, harsh soaps, detergents, or acetone, even if the packaging says "jewelry cleaner."
Diamond Care
We recommend cleaning your diamond jewelry with warm water, a soft toothbrush, and dish soap. Gently scrub the top and underside of the diamonds with the brush, and rinse with water to remove grease over time. If you are planning on steam cleaning or using an ultrasonic cleaner, we highly recommend checking for loose stones prior to use. Like any fine piece of jewelry, we recommend taking off for strenuous exercise, or any activities in which you may be excessively using your hands.
Gemstone Care
We recommend cleaning your gemstone jewelry with warm water, a soft toothbrush, and dish soap. Gently scrub the top and underside of the stones with the brush, and rinse with water to remove grease over time. If you are planning on steam cleaning or using an ultrasonic cleaner, we highly recommend checking for loose stones prior to use. For emeralds, do not put these stones in ultrasonic cleaners or under harsh heat or pressure conditions, as these stones are considerably more fragile than other secondary stones.
Watermelon Tourmaline Care Instructions
Watermelon tourmalines are beautiful yet delicate gemstones, requiring special care to preserve their vibrant colors and integrity. Follow these instructions to maintain their beauty:
Daily Care
- Avoid Impact: Watermelon tourmalines have a hardness of 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale, making them prone to chipping or cracking upon impact. Avoid wearing them during activities like sports, gardening, or heavy lifting.
- Keep Away from Heat: Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or high heat, as it can cause fading or structural damage.
- Prevent Chemical Exposure: Protect your tourmaline from chemicals like perfumes, hairsprays, household cleaners, and chlorinated water.
Cleaning Instructions
- Gentle Cleaning Only: Clean your watermelon tourmaline using lukewarm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth or a soft-bristle toothbrush.
- Avoid Ultrasonic Cleaners: Do not use ultrasonic or steam cleaners, as vibrations and high temperatures can damage the stone.
- Dry Thoroughly: After cleaning, pat the gemstone dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Storage Tips
- Store Separately: Keep your watermelon tourmaline separate from other gemstones to avoid scratches. Use a soft pouch or lined jewelry box.
- Avoid Direct Sunlight: Store in a cool, dark place to prevent color fading.
Professional Maintenance
- Inspect Regularly: Have the gemstone’s setting inspected by a jeweler periodically to ensure it remains secure.
- Professional Cleaning: If your tourmaline becomes excessively dirty, consult a jeweler for professional cleaning rather than attempting harsh cleaning methods yourself.