Jewelry Care

We create timeless pieces of jewelry made to last a lifetime.

We suggest having your piece professionally cleaned and having your gemstone settings checked at least once a year. We offer this service complimentary if your piece was created in our studio. This will prevent the loss of gemstones and will make your pieces feel brand new again.

• General Rules for Safekeeping your Jewelry:
• 
  
• -  Store your jewelry in an environment free of humidity 

• - Store your jewelry in a jewelry box or in an airtight plastic bag 
• - Avoid direct contact with water and chemicals, such as perfumes, body creams and cleaning products 
• - Take your jewelry off while doing any activity that could physically damage your pieces such as exercising, cleaning, gardening and moving heavy objects
• 
  
• We highly recommend removing your jewelry when you get home as the home is where most damage to jewelry occurs.
  
• 
  
• Gemstones
  

Precious stones are evaluated based on hardness and durability. It is important to consider these factors when selecting a stone for your special piece.  This decision is made based on your lifestyle and most often your profession.

Hardness - refers to the durability of a gemstone on a scale of 1 to 10.  This is measured using the Mohs Scale of Hardness.

-

Wearability based on Mohs Scale of Hardness

10-8 Everyday Wear (‘I never take this off’) 

7-5 Occasional Wear (‘I usually put this on when I go to work or out with friends’)

4-1 Once and a While (‘I only wear this on special occasions’)

-

Examples of gemstones in regards to hardness (10 being the hardest)

10 - Diamond

9 - Sapphire, Ruby

8 - Spinel, Topaz, Aquamarine, Emerald

7 - Quartz, Amethyst, Citrine, Peridot, Garnet, Iolite, Moonstone

6 - Opal, Hematite

5 - Apatite, Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli

4 - Pearl

3 - Coral

1 - Talc

2 - Amber

How to Clean Your Jewelry at Home

Solid gold jewelry with gemstones of a hardness of 7 - 10

Mix a little dish soap and warm water in a small bowl. Let your jewelry soak in the mixture for a few minutes and then with a soft toothbrush delicately scrub your jewelry. Rinse your piece in some warm water (always make sure to push down the stopper in your sink so as not to lose anything down the drain) and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

To restore the polished finish of your piece gently shine your jewelry with our reusable Polishing Cloth.

Jewelry with gemstones of a hardness of 1 - 6

These stones are more delicate and cannot be left in water, therefore you can restore the finish of your piece with our reusable Polishing Cloth.  For gemstone cleaning you can visit us in store.

Sterling silver jewelry

Sterling silver jewelry will tarnish over time. This process is natural and can be accelerated in humid environments. Wearing your jewelry often can prevent it from tarnishing, however this will vary depending on your body chemistry.

If your piece is tarnished, restore the finish by gently shining your jewelry with our reusable polishing cloths. Another option for removing tarnish on sterling silver jewelry is Tarn-X, a product which is available at most home hardware stores. We suggest applying the product on a soft toothbrush and gently brushing your piece. Rinse your piece immediately in some water (always make sure to push down the stopper in your sink so as not to lose anything down the drain) and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

If you have any other questions concerning the care of your jewelry, please email info@pilaragueci.com.