CARE GUIDE
These instructions provide important information and guidelines for the care of the gemstones and metal of your jewellery. Whether its jewellery you wear everyday or for special occasions.
Cleaning your jewellery
​
Before you start it's important to never clean your jewellery over a sink, instead lay out the soft towel under your designated work station. If you think your stones might be loose do not clean, do not wear and place into a small plastic bag and bring it to a jeweler to have the stones looked at and tightened.
What you will need:
-
a small bowl
-
1/2 tablespoon of Mr. Clean, antibacterial liquid cleaner (the bright yellow one). Alternatively you can use a soft, non abrasive soap
-
3-4 tablespoons of warm water, it is important the water is not hot!
-
soft bristle toothbrush
-
soft towel
-
jewellery
Start by filling the small bowl with both the Mr Clean and warm water. Depending on the level of build up you can dip or soak the jewellery for 5-10 minutes. Once dipped or soaked lightly brush the sides for 30 seconds to 1 minute, repeat with the underside and then again for the top. To dry your jewellery lightly hold the item in the small dry cloth and set aside to dry fully, 20-30 minutes.
​
​
Store your jewellery
All jewelry should be stored securely in fabric-lined or leather-lined boxes. Pieces can also be wrapped in soft fabric.
For Fine jewellery we recommend keeping an up-to-date inventory of your collection, including photographs and any appraisals, in the event that an insurance claim or police report needs to be filed.
Although it can be tempting to wear your jewelry all the time, please remove all pieces when:
• 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. Chlorinated water can also react chemically with metals, changing the color, weakening settings, change the colour of untreated stones, or pitting gold. Something as simple as extended time in water can harm jewelry, even if the damage is not immediately apparent.
• Showering or bathing: Hard water, shampoos, and conditioners can become stuck behind settings, cause damage to your pieces and discolour your jewellery.
• 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 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 ensures 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.
Avoiding impact, pressure, and extreme temperatures is crucial to promoting the longevity of your jewelry. Gold, gemstones, and even diamonds can chip, crack, scuff, or become scratched if knocked hard enough. Special attention should be paid to stones in prong settings where the prongs can snag or bend on garments and other surfaces. Be mindful that gold is softer as the karat count increases (i.e. 18k gold is softer than 14k).
​
​
Loose Stones
​
For any item with stones, especially rings, we recommend having the tightness of the setting checked every four to six months by a professional. In between those checks, here's how you can check at home. Use a pinhead to gently tap the sides of the stone and see if they move. You can also listen for loose stones by holding your piece between your thumb and middle finger next to your ear while gently tapping it with your index finger. If even one stone is moving, refrain from wearing the piece until it can be tightened and contact juliakowpakjewellery@gmail.com. This also applies to jewellery purchased elsewhere.