Jewellery Care
Jewelry Care Instructions
Gold :
18K white gold jewelry is plated with rhodium to provide a bright white finish. With daily wear or exposure to household chemicals, rhodium plating gradually will come off over time and expose the natural, yellowish-white tone of metal underneath. Many people continue to wear white gold long after the rhodium plating has worn off, but you also have the option of having your jewelry professionally re-plated to return it to its bright white color. Please contact RJ Gems & Jewel for assistance with rhodium plating.
Cleaning Method 1: Soak the Ring in Alcohol
1.Soak the meteorite ring in a small bowl of rubbing alcohol. Soak for 30 minutes, gently scrubbing the meteorite with a toothbrush periodically.
2.Allow the ring to dry on a paper towel or cloth and then air dry for at least 20 minutes. You don’t have to wipe it off as the alcohol will evaporate on its own.
3.Finally, seal the meteorite with oil. Apply a small amount of gunmetal oil to a dry toothbrush and scrub the meteorite gently. Wipe off excess oil with a clean, dry paper towel or cloth.
Cleaning Method 2: Use a Lubricant like WD-40
1.Spray a thin layer of WD-40 on a soft cloth or use a jewelry polishing cloth and wipe your ring thoroughly with the cloth.
2.Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and gently scrub where the ring has rust.
3.Leave a slight residue of the WD-40/Jewelry polishing cloth and let it absorb into the ring overnight.
4.After letting it sit overnight, rub the meteorite with a thin layer of ring wax to help coat the ring.
- Basic care
- will help
- preserve and
- protect your
- jewelry for
- years to come.
Forged Carbon And Titanium:
Remove during activities that may subject your Titanium piece to abrasions or hard knocks. To clean:
- Mix a few drops of mild detergent (such as hand soap) with warm water.
- Dampen a soft cloth with the mixture and scrub the surface to remove dirt and oil.
- Use a cotton swab to clean any hard-to-reach grooves.
- Do not use abrasive cleaners, steamers, or ultrasonic machines.
Platinum:
With daily wear, platinum sustains small scratches more easily than other metals and may start to take on a matte appearance. Many people enjoy the visual appeal of this unique luster but you may also have the platinum surface professionally repolished to return a more reflective polish.
Silver:
Sterling silver may tarnish or dull as a result of exposure to humidity. When possible, keep your silver in an air-tight container. To remove tarnish and keep your silver bright, gently rub the piece with a silver jewelry cleaning cloth. Then rinse the silver thoroughly in warm water and dry it carefully. More extensive tarnish can be removed with liquid silver cleaner or by a jeweler. Please note: chlorine and bleach accelerate tarnishing and should be avoided.
Vermeil:
To care properly for your vermeil pieces, remove vermeil jewelry before: showering or swimming in chlorine or salt water, participating in activities that will cause you to sweat, and before bringing into contact with anything hard. It is always best to remove vermeil jewelry before applying makeup, lotion, perfume, (or hand sanitizer). Store it where it won’t rub against other hard surfaces. To clean, gently wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Please note that at this time Rj Gems & Jewel is unable to repair vermeil jewelry.
Enamel:
Enamel should not come in contact with temperatures higher than 122 degrees Fahrenheit or exposed to strong chemicals (acids, amines, mercaptans, and bases). Minor scratches in the enamel can be repolished.
Emeralds:
Emeralds require special care and should be handled and worn gently. We recommend you remove your emerald ring while using soap, such as while in the shower or washing dishes. Do not clean the ring with ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, or acetone, and avoid strong soaps, jewelry cleaners, or other cleaners. It is best to avoid wearing your emerald ring next to other rings or during activities where you might be gripping hard objects, bumping the ring
against other objects, or putting pressure on your hands. These activities might include weight lifting, rock climbing, cooking, biking, and yoga. To clean your emerald, use room-temperature running water, mild hand soap, and a soft toothbrush. Brush repeatedly on the underside of the emerald to remove dirt and grease. Finish by drying the ring with a soft cotton cloth. With proper care, your emerald will retain its natural beauty for many years to come.
Other Gemstones:
Examine your jewelry regularly to ensure your settings are secure. Timeworn prongs are especially vulnerable and may become loose when snagged or hit against a surface. Loose prongs may result in loose gemstones or may cause the loss of a gemstone. Professional inspections are recommended every six months and immediately after any time your jewelry is damaged, hit, or scratched in an unusual way, to ensure that all gemstones are secure and that the structure of the ring is intact.
Pavé Settings:
Pavé setting styles are very delicate and require proper care to support longevity. To minimize the risk of losing a pavé-set gemstone, do not wear jewelry in conditions where friction or abrasion may wear down the beads of metal, which hold the stones in place. Avoid applying strong pressure or scratching pavé settings. Inspect pavé set jewelry at least every six months and immediately after the jewelry is hit, scratched, or damaged to identify loose stones. If pavé-set gemstones are lost, they can be replaced for a fee. This service is complimentary with the purchase of an RJ Gems & Jewel Extended Service Plan.
Wearing Jewelry:
Protect your jewelry from impact against hard surfaces during sports or manual tasks—even diamonds can chip if hit with enough force or at just the right angle. Avoid contact with abrasive surfaces and keep your jewelry away from harsh chemicals such as chlorine and household bleach. Limit your jewelry’s exposure to extreme temperatures, perfumes, cosmetics, and household chemicals, which can damage jewelry. Do not wear rings when gripping items with force, such as bicycle handlebars or weights, as the pressure may cause delicate metal rings to bend or break. Similarly, avoid applying strong pressure to jewelry or hands when jewelry is worn.
Home & Professional Cleaning:
Air pollution, dirt, and daily wear can dull the surface of your jewelry and cloud the brilliance of a gemstone. Professional cleanings are recommended as frequently as once a year, depending on how often you wear your jewelry. Between professional cleanings, you may use Rj gem & jewelry cleaner to clean your diamond and sapphire jewelry. Alternatively, use a mild solution of six parts water to one part ammonia and apply it with a soft bristle brush. Carefully rinse with lukewarm water and dry with a soft cloth. Ultrasonic cleaning at home is not recommended for cleaning your Rj Gems & Jewel jewelry and can loosen the gems set in your jewelry. Pearl and emerald jewelry require special care and should not be cleaned with the cleaning methods described for diamonds and sapphires above. Pearls and emeralds can be cleaned with a mild soap and water solution and then allowed to dry. Dry pearls may be wiped with a soft, lint-free
cloth.
Vintage Style Jewelry:
Our vintage-style jewelry collection contains one-of-a-kind, original pieces from past eras. For that reason, we recommend special caution when wearing antique fine jewelry. Avoid wearing your antique fine jewelry when engaging in any strenuous activity, when around any harsh chemicals, or in the shower. Some antique rings can be cleaned with warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush, but some older pieces should not be submerged in water. Please contact us with any questions on care for your particular piece. As with all fine jewelry, we recommend getting your antique piece professionally inspected every six months, or after it sustains any damage.