All Unhandled jewellery are made by hand in my atelier in Breda. Sustainable precious metals such as 925 silver, 14 carat gold, precious stones and pearls are processed into unique jewellery. Nevertheless, jewelry is fragile and you will enjoy it the longest if you wear it with care.
Here are some tips to keep your jewelry beautiful for as long as possible:
Take off your jewelry when you go to sleep.
Do not spray perfume on your jewelry or on the place where you wear your jewelry.
Avoid contact with cleaning agents and other chemicals.
Do not wear your jewelry when exercising, swimming or during other strenuous physical work.
Cleaning and cleaning jewelry
Silver
Silver discolors (aka oxidizes) when it comes into contact with sulfur or oxygen, causing it to darken. This is a natural process and can be cleaned again with a polishing cloth or silver polish.
If you are not wearing jewelry, it is best to store it in a plastic bag with a ziploc closure to keep it oxygen-free.
Gold and gems
Gold jewelry that contains stones can trap dirt in the setting. Usually this is easy to remove with soapy water and a very soft brush, for example an old children's toothbrush. The soap then dissolves the grease and you simply brush away the dirt residues. Even with a polishing cloth, your gold jewelry will shine again!
Some gemstones need special care, for example pearls and opals.
- Pearls are fragile, avoid contact with chemicals in make-up, hair spray, hair dye and perfume. Exposing pearls to hot-cold differences can cause pearls to become loose. Take them off as much as possible when you swim, wash your hands and shower. Avoid contact with vinegar and other acids. Pearls will shine extra when they come into contact with your skin. Do you want to clean them? Then use a soft, slightly damp cloth.
- Opals are more fragile than other gemstones. Their hardness (scratch resistance) is significantly lower. They require a little more care and more gentle handling when worn. Do not expose the opal to chemicals, especially chlorine and bleach, as this can affect the color of the stone.
