Care

JEWELRY CARE TIPS

Here are a few tips for taking care of your RedSofa jewelry pieces. Jewelry’s lifespan varies greatly depending upon how well you look after and treat each piece. Some materials and designs require more attention than others. The following pointers should help you to enjoy your jewelry for ever.

CARING FOR JEWELRY STARTS WITH PROPER WEAR

As a general rule, keep your jewelry free of chemicals or dirt that can tarnish, damage or scratch the finish. This includes cosmetics, hair spray and perfume. Make sure you put on your jewelry only after applying make up and remove jewelry such as necklaces and ear-rings when having your hair styled or colored.
Avoid contact with salt water, chlorine and other harsh detergents such as ammonia, acetone, turpentine or alcohol. Harsh chemicals as well as solvents used in common cleaning products can harm precious metals, gemstones and pearls, damage their finish, dull and even pit their surface. As such, it is prudent to always remove jewelry before undertaking tasks such as cleaning, gardening, DIY or crafts making.
Remember not to pull, tug or twist your jewelry. Always remember to take off your jewelry before doing high impact activities or sports to avoid denting and scratching the metals or chipping the gemstones.
Sterling silver wire is a delicate filament and can stretch and break if subjected to too much stress. Leather, silk and steel and precious metals stretch, so it is best not to hang jewelry when storing but to lay it flat on a soft surface.

STORING JEWELRY KEEPS IT SHINY AND LOOKING NEW

Some metals oxidize faster than others. Sterling silver is particularly prone to oxidation (tarnish), more so than platinum and gold. While oxidized metal is often part of the look of some designs you should avoid increasing the risk of oxidation wherever possible. This is particularly important for shiny finishes.
Remove jewelry after wearing it – do not sleep in it. The warmth and moisture of your skin will increase oxidation. It will also increase the risk of scratching.
We recommend storing your jewelry if you are not immediately going to wear it again (next day).
Before storing your jewelry gently wipe your jewelry with a clean, soft, damp cloth (100% cotton). This will enhance the luster and assure that your jewelry is clean of any grease, makeup or other compounds that might damage the finish.
Store your jewelry in a cool, dry, dark place. Particularly keep it away from moisture, extreme temperatures and direct sunlight. Bathrooms, kitchens and windowsills are not good places to put jewelry.
Avoid storing multiple pieces jumbled together in a jewelry box or bag. Different pieces have metals and gemstones of different hardness. Harder materials will scratch softer ones if stored together. It is best to protect jewelry from scratching by storing each piece separately in a compartmentalized jewelry box.
Always store jewelry flat: especially beaded necklaces and any wire, leather or silk mounted pieces.
If storing for longer periods of time, place your jewelry in an airtight zip-seal bag with the air gently pressed out of it.

CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS: DO's

Shiny pretty things
The shiny, polished appearance of your jewelry is created by the careful filing, sanding and buffing of the metal into a perfectly smooth surface. This unmarred surface allows the light to be bounced back smoothly giving it its high reflectivity or shininess. Therefore to keep the surface shiny you must not only keep it clean but also protect it from denting and scratching. When cleaning sterling silver remember that it is a very soft metal and can easily be marred by grit, dirt on the cleaning pad, rough fabrics/ materials or even your fingernail. Clean jewelry with care using a soft cloth designed for the purpose or soft 100% cotton cloths.

Basic principles of day-to-day care
To care for your jewelry and keep it clean and ready to wear simply gently wipe off excess make-up and skin oils after each wearing. Use a nub free, 100% cotton as a polishing cloth. Mild soap and water with a soft cloth will take care of most of your everyday cleaning needs. To remove fingerprints, light grease or dirt, add a small amount of mild liquid soap to a half cup of warm water, soak 2-3 minutes, rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry completely before storing.

USE GREAT CAUTION WHEN CLEANING YOUR PRECIOUS JEWELS: DON’TS

Do not use harsh chemical cleaners, chlorine, toothpaste or other abrasives.
Do not use paper, polyester, and other coarse fabrics. These may contain wood or synthetic fibers which will scratch soft metals such as silver and gold.
Ultrasonic cleaners are good for cleaning some jewelry but they will damage the majority of gemstones. The chemicals in the cleaning solution are not recommended for use on pearls and many other fine stones.
Soaking jewelry in chemical solutions risks damaging the finish of stones and metals, especially porous materials such as amber, coral, emerald, lapis lazuli, malachite, pearls, onyx and turquoise.
If your jewelry is tarnished take it to a professional jewelry for cleaning or use home solutions at your own risk.

SPECIAL CARE FOR PEARLS

Pearls have a soft organic surface coating or “nacre” which requires special care to avoid damage from chipping, cracking or discolouration.
Wipe your pearls with a clean, soft, dry cloth and store them in a soft pouch or cloth.
Do not store pearls in plastic since plastics can emit chemicals that damage the nacre.
Wash pearls in a very mild soap solution and rinse well. Allow them to air dry on a soft towel.
If your pearls become more heavily soiled, have them professionally cleaned.

Although we are confident that this information is reliable, please note that Red Sofa does not guarantee the accuracy of this information and in no event will RedSofa be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequencial or punitive damages resulting from the use of this information