Each Claudia Endler Designs piece is made in precious metals and stones. When jewelry is worn its surfaces undergo changes.
Your jewelry is precious. All jewelry needs to be cleaned regularly to maintain its beauty and luster. Film will develop from perfumes, lotions, soaps and body oils. Gold can also oxidize depending on the karat weight and other metal content.
Pearls are a softer more porous material and cannot hold up to harsher chemicals. See below for a few tips on how to keep these pure pieces looking flawless.
Wipe down after each wear.
Just a quick rub with a soft cloth will help remove some of your body oils, perfumes, or whatever you came in contact with that day. Routine maintenance after each wearing helps keep the need for major maintenance to a minimum.
Only use jewelry cleaner marked safe for pearls.
Never use any detergents or ammonia-based cleaners and never use a brush to scrub your pearls! The safest bet is to only use clearly marked “safe for pearls” jewelry cleanser. After soaking or washing your piece with the jewelry cleanser, as per the listed instructions, be sure to wipe them off with a soft cloth. Absolutely never have your pearls cleaned with an ultrasonic cleanser.
Lay them out to dry.
After washing them, lay the pearls flat in a moist kitchen towel to dry. After the towel is dry, they should be dry. Pearls are often strung on silk strings so never hang them to dry, this can stretch and weaken the string.
Wear them often.
Aside from the fact that they are gorgeous and deserve to be seen, pearls are composed of 2-4 percent water. Exposing them to extreme heat or keeping them stored in too dry conditions can dehydrate them. If your pearls become too dehydrated, they become brittle and could crack.
Store your pearls separately.
Ideally, all your jewelry should be stored in it’s own compartment or velvet pouch. If this is impossible, at the very least, separate out your pearls. As an organic gemstone, they are softer and more susceptible to scratches. The best way to store them is out of the heat or direct sunlight, wrapped in a soft cloth or velvet pouch. To avoid dehydration, do not store them in a sealed bag or container, such as a safety deposit box.
Additional Don’ts
We recommend not wearing fine jewelry while doing housework, working out, lifting weights, gardening or using chemicals and such. Or at least wearing gloves. Also we suggest avoiding direct contact with chlorine and other bleaches, including the swimming pool.
Remember, Claudia Endler Designs can refurbish and restore your precious jewels.
