Designs By Pin

Hand-Crafted & Custom Jewellery

“Every Piece Is Created With Love”

Jewellery Care

As I mentioned in Jewellery Tips - lovely jewellery really is “art”. Someone - somewhere designed it, made it and then sent it out into the world to find a woman in need of a jewellery “fix”. Oh just admit it - you’re addicted!

If you keep the following tips in mind, your jewellery will have a long and happy life.

• Sterling Silver will tarnish. Keep your pieces in quality jewellery boxes or bags.
• Oxidized Sterling Silver achieves its colour through an oxidization process involving heat and chemical solutions. To keep the tones vibrant store your jewellery properly. Never immerse oxidized pieces in a commercial cleaning solution as it will strip the oxidized portions. Instead wipe with a rouge polishing cloth. Baking soda and toothpaste will also remove tarnish built up.
• Buff your pieces carefully with a quality jewellery polishing cloth.
• Many designers, myself included, do not solder the silver jump rings that hold a piece together. If you tug, pull or catch a necklace or bracelet, it will come apart, so be careful when you handle your pieces It’s not difficult to repair an item, but it is an aggravation for you when it happens.
• Semi-precious stones, pearls, minerals, crystal, quartz, glass and gemstones can be fragile. If you toss all your jewellery in a drawer or hang it on a hook inside your closet door - it will eventually get damaged. Little chips will come off the pearls, crystal and other beads, the silver will tarnish, and your once beautiful pieces will have lost their lustre. It just takes a moment at the end of the day to put your jewellery away where it belongs, and you won’t be disappointed when you go to retrieve a piece you haven’t worn for awhile.
• Always put on a necklace or bracelet while sitting down. Lobster claw closings and toggles can be tricky and if you’re having a day when you’re all thumbs (and who doesn’t from time to time) - it’s easy to be a fumble-fingers and drop a piece of jewellery. The ceramic floor in the bathroom will not be kind to your pearl or crystal jewellery. You won’t be a happy camper when bits of your once beautiful piece are strewn about at your feet. Better to have your favourite necklace or bracelet land in your lap. You can shake your head at your clumsiness, then try again with a smile on your face and your nimble fingers at the ready for another go. I once dropped a crystal necklace five times before I got it on properly - sort of like Miss Marple on speed .
• If you’re using commercial products or machines, be sure they are appropriate for the piece of jewellery you’re cleaning. Take great care with pearls and opals.

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