This & that | FAQ

Our mini and quick reference guide to care, metal and gem descriptions.

CARING FOR YOUR JEWELRY:

Proper storage and care of your jewelry will bring years of use and enjoyment. Here are a few tips on how to best care for your jewelry.
Keep sterling silver pieces out of damp, humid air. Jewelry pouches keep jewelry typically tarnish free.
Clean jewelry with soft cloth. If additional cleaning is necessary, we recommend Jewel Brite products. We use them here in our studio. Please follow the directions on the package. You can order directly on their website www.jewelbrite.com.
Do not use commercial jewelry cleaners other than Jewel Brite. We also don't recommend sonic cleaners as they may damage jewelry.
Make sure your jewelry is the last item you put on. Hairspray, perfume, lotions and other hair and body products will permanently damage your jewelry.
Do not leave jewelry in direct or indirect sunlight as this will cause fading of gems.
Avoid dropping since gemstones/minerals may break, splinter or crack.
Please feel free to contact us for specific questions.

STANDARD LENGTHS:

Collar: 12-13 inches long

Choker: 14-16 inches long

Princess: 17-19 inches long

Matinee: 20-24 inches long

Opera: 28-34 inches long

Rope: 45+ inches long

GOLD VARIATIONS:

Gold Vermeil: 14kt gold or higher content over sterling silver. Typically it's very thick plating and should wear beautifully for some time.
Gold filled: Jewelry or other item with a sheet of gold applied to its surface. Newer items contain markings that indicate how much and what type of gold was used in the layer. Example: a marking of 1/20 12K G.F. means that the piece is at least 1/20th 12K gold by weight. Gold filled jewelry will last a lifetime and will never fade. This is the next best thing to solid gold.
Gold plated: A thin layer of gold over base metal. Typically, the least expensive to produce and to buy.
Solid gold: Just that, 100% gold in various purities. From 10kt up to 24kt which is the purest.

Karats Purity Other Added Metals:

24kt gold 100.00% 0.000%
24kt gold 100.00% 0.000%
22kt gold 91.60% 0.084%
18kt gold 75.00% 0.125%
14kt gold 58.5% 41.500%
10kt gold 41.7% 58.300%

SILVER VARIATIONS:

Sterling is 92.5% pure silver. .999 Fine is 99.9% pure.
Sterling silver =92.5 silver + 7.5% alloy
Fine silver usually mention "Ag 99.9 " ,means with 99.9% silver.
Silver plated: A thin layer of silver over base metal. Typically, the least expensive to produce and to buy.

PEARLS:

Freshwater and Saltwater pearls vary in their lustre for starters. Freshwater pearls have a thicker nacre than the Saltwater variety, but Saltwater pearls have a more brilliant superficial lustre such as Akoya pearls. Freshwater pearls have a softer luster. The difference is due to the type of mollusk used to produce the pearl.

Both can be found naturally as well as "farmed". And both can produce beautiful quality of pearls.

GEMS:

Almost 100% of gems are heat treated. Even "natural" gems that are sold as such experience some form of heat treatment to stabilize the gem.

RECLAIMED:

We recycle our metals and re-use them in our designs. We also use recycled paper jewelry boxes as well as tissue, and any other packaging materials that we can re-use. Good for business and good for the enviroment.

FAIR TRADE:

We work very hard to procure 100% Made in the U.S. Occasionally, we require or bring in items imported from other countries. We work diligently with our suppliers to make sure they provide a equitable and sustainable work model for their employees and we are committed to continue to only do business with such entities.