Caring for Silver Jewelry
1. A Sunshine cloth or a soft polishing cloth meant specifically for silver is a very good way of caring for your handmade jewelry. However, do not use a Sunshine cloth for polishing gold, it can abrasive. Polish your jewelry after every few wearings and your pieces will remain looking like new.keeping your jewelry in a plastic bag is a good way to keep oxidation to a minimum
2. A few drops of mild dishwashing liquid, a cotton swab and a very soft toothbrush can also be used if your jewelry is dirty . If the jewelry contains gemstones or pearls, do not submerge the entire piece into water or the cleaning liquid. A cotton swab with mild dishwashing liquid can also be used for cleaning silver jewelry.
3. Do not clean your jewelry in bleach. Bleach makes metals brittle and will break down your jewelry. Chlorine bleach, alcohol, turpentine, acetone, and ammonia are also harmful to gemstones and pearls. These chemicals will dull and possibly pit the surface of softer gemstones (opals, lapis, turquoise, apatite) and pearls.
4. Despite common advice- do not use toothpaste or other abrasives to clean metal or stones. The abrasives in toothpaste can damage surfaces of metal, pearls and stones.
5. On occasion a silver dip can shine silver to a lustre- but NEVER DIP pearls into silver dip, the lustre will immediately disappear!
6. Store you silver jewelry in a ziplock plastic bag with anti-tarnish strips, and clean often to keep things looking new.
7. Keep jewelry items separate to avoid rubbing and scratching of surfaces.
Caring for Gold filled & Vermeil Jewelry
1. Store your gold-plated jewelry in a soft fabric-lined jewelry box or wrap it in soft material and store it in a re-sealable plastic bag to prevent scratches & oxidation. Since real gold plate is on the surface of these pieces, it is prone to scratching and rubbing off. Keep pieces separate from each other to prevent scratching.
2. Remove all gold-plated jewelry before showering, applying lotion, make-up, hairspray and perfume. Soap and lotion usually won’t harm gold, but it can cause a film residue to form, making it appear dull.
3.Remove all gold-plated, gold filled or vermeil jewelry before cleaning. Household cleaners and harsh chemicals will reduce the luster & can permanently damage your gold flled and vemeil jewelry.
4. Always remove gold filled or vermeil and silver jewelry before entering swimming pools, hot tubs & before using chlorine bleach or chlorine-based cleaning solutions.Chlorine at high temperatures found in hot tubs can erode, discolor and permanently damage your gold filled or vermeil jewelry.
5. To clean your gold filled or vermeil jewelry at home, you’ll find many commercial jewelry cleaners available. Choose a non-abrasive cleaning material as abrasives can remove the layer of gold-plating that is on both gold filled and vermeil jewelry. Make sure any cleaning products you use are safe for gold.
6. Buffing your gold-plated jewelry with a soft cloth is an effective and inexpensive way to keep your pieces lustrous. If you use a jewelry polishing cloth, make sure the cloth is meant for gold. A Sunshine Polishing Cloth is formulated for silver and contains micro-abrasives- they are not suitable for gold jewelry.
7. Gold filled or vermeil jewelry may get dirty, making it appear dull. You can remove the dull film with a jewelry cleanser, soap and water or window cleaner (Windex), which contains ammonia. Use a soft cloth to carefully clean the item. After cleaning, rinse with warm water and allow it to dry completely.
8. If the gold has developed spots use a cleaning product is designed for cleaning gold and follow the instructions carefully.Tarn-X is a product that can remove reddish brown spots that may develop due to chemical reactions. If a cleaning substance is too strong it can remove the gold, so test and clean gingerly.
Caring for Pearls
1. Treat pearls gently as they are sensitive gems. Store them separately in a cloth bag or wrap them in tissue. Metal jewelry and harder gems can scratch pearls.
2. Do not store in airtight containers; pearls need to breathe.
3. Do not wear your pearls while bathing or showering, swimming or playing sports. This can damage the nacre.
4. Put pearls on last to avoid contact with hairspray, cosmetics or cologne. This too can damage the nacre.
5. Clean with a soft, damp cloth.
6. Contact with skin keeps pearls moisturized and improves the appearance of the luster.
Our Fine Jewelry
Our expert jewelers handcraft all of our custom and engagement rings and bands working with high quality materials – 14k and 18k solid gold set with select gemstones and ethically sourced diamonds.
Our diamonds are all graded by GIA (The Gemological Institute of America) certified gemologist.We offer stone cutting services as well as ethically sourced Diamonds (Canada Mark) and Lab Created Diamonds.