Care Instructions

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CARING FOR YOUR JEWELRY AND / OR OTHER ACCESSORIES

Jewelry is one of our most intimate and cherished accessories. Understanding how to care for and protect your treasured jewelry can make a world of difference in maintaining its beauty and keeping your heirlooms sparkling for generations to come.

Just as the sun’s harmful rays can damage our skin, light and heat can affect a colored gemstone’s durability and color. Over time, and in excess, they can also fade or damage some gemstones, such as amethyst, kunzite, topaz and shell cameos. Pearls and other delicate materials, such as ivory, will bleach under extreme exposure to light. Other gems, especially amber, can darken over time when exposed to too much light.

Excessive heat and sudden temperature changes may also fracture some gems. Heat can easily remove the natural moisture these gems need to keep their beauty. Pearls, for instance, can dry out, crack and discolor. Opals can turn white or brown, develop tiny cracks, and might lose their play-of-color.

Exposure to chemicals can damage or discolor precious metals – gold, silver and platinum – and may harm some colored gems. Even everyday substances like hairspray, lotion, perfume or other cosmetics can contain chemicals that will permanently damage the surface of your pearls and other delicate or porous gems (like turquoise). Fine jewelry should be removed before diving into a chlorinated swimming pool or before using household cleaners. Many of these cleaners contain ammonia, which can be too harsh for delicate gems or vintage jewelry. Chlorine bleach, another common household solvent, can pit or damage gold alloys.

Many colored gemstones are routinely treated to improve the appearance of color and clarity. These treatments can be negatively affected by heat, solvents, steam and ultrasonic cleaners. Knowing whether your gem has been treated is the first step to knowing how to care for it. This is where a GIA report comes in – it contains important information about your gem and any detectable treatments it may have undergone.

Most colored gems can be cleaned with warm water, mild dish soap (no detergents) and a soft brush. A pulsed-water dental cleaning appliance and a soft, lint-free cloth can also be used. Be sure to rinse your jewelry in a glass of water to remove cleaning solutions since you risk losing loose stones – or even an entire piece of jewelry - if you rinse directly in the sink.
Soft gems, such as pearls, on the other hand, can easily scratch. Use a new, clean makeup brush and warm, soapy water to gently clean them. Lay a strand of pearls on a towel to dry. The wet silk thread can stretch − and attract dirt − so don’t touch your strand until it is completely dry. Pearls worn often should be restrung once a year.

Proper jewelry storage is often overlooked. Jewelry should never be tossed into a drawer or on top of a dresser − that’s asking for scratches and damaged gems.
Most jewelry pieces come in a box or pouch from the store, which is a perfect place to keep them. Sterling silver, for example, should be kept in an anti-tarnish bag or cloth. Jewelry boxes that feature individually padded slots for rings and posts for hanging necklaces and bracelets are also ideal.

Pearls and opals draw moisture from the air, so storing your opal or pearl jewelry in a dry area, such as a safe deposit box, can sometimes do more harm than good.

When traveling, protect your jewelry pieces from scratches or other impact damage by padding it in a separate box or case.
ADVICE 
Many jewelry stores offer free check-up or professional cleaning at scheduled intervals: Jewelry should be checked every six months and cleaned frequently. Look for a jeweler with professional training and a good reputation

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CARING FOR YOUR COWHIDE OR OTHER ANIMAL SKIN(S) AND / OR ACCESSORIES 

Cowhide and other animal skins rugs such as zebra or reindeer have made a dramatic comeback in interior decoration in recent years and so has the need to keep them clean and in perfect condition. Taking care of a cow hide or other animal skin rug requires careful cleaning and periodic spot cleaning. Using tools and products that you can easily find to hand at home and a simple cleaning process you can keep a cow rug looking fresh and perfect for a very long time.

What You Will Need 

• A vacuum cleaner with a suitable brush attachment
• Hard-bristled brush (an old fashioned scrubbing brush is ideal)
• A soft cleaning soap
• A normal household sponge
• Scotch Guard or a similar fabric protector
• A steam cleaner (such as a Vaporetto) will help to get deep inside the fur and clean the rug to the maximum effect. 

Step One

 Having bought your rug and installed it in your home you must ensure you vacuum it regularly to prevent your cowhide rug becoming heavily soiled and so avoid unnecessary deep cleaning. Make use of your vacuum brush attachment to clean the fur in the direction of its natural 'grain'.You need to do this while gently drawing out dust and other grime contaminants. By doing this every week you will ensure that gritty pieces of dirt will not start to cut the fur from the hide. A good old-fashioned beating of the rug outdoors will also shake out embedded contaminants.

Step Two

Don't soak the rug when cleaning, however, you can gently steam clean it with no negative after effects. The fur within the hide is of course made up of tanned (to preserve the protein of the skin) animal material. Fur hides repel water and damp and so keep the animal relatively dry. If when cleaning the hide it gets too moist, then go outdoors and naturally dry the hide under the sun. This also has the effect of killing any bacteria or germs that may be in the hair.

Step Three

Remove dirt spots with a non-alkaline cleansing soap. Leather soaps will work with stains on a smooth fur-free hide, but when fur is involved then baby shampoo or mild detergent gently scrubbed into foam when cleaning is much better for hides with hair. Apply the soapy froth to a sponge and then gently wipe the hide in direction of the grain. Finally thoroughly rinse with a moist sponge to get rid of any shampoo residue left in the fur.

Step Four

Use Scotch Guard or a similar fabric protector well before your rug becomes stained and after you have just cleaned it as this will help the fur to repel further stains and so keep your valuable and beautiful cow hide rug in a pristine condition.

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