JEWELRY CARE GUIDE & TIPS
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.
• Never bend your jewelry. Precious metals are fragile and not made to be bent, squeezed or twisted.
• Always protect your jewelry from sharp blows, scratching, chemicals, sunlight and heat/cold.
• Regularly inspect your gold jewelry for weakness or damage.
• Store your jewelry individually in a soft lined box or pouch.
• Clean your jewelry occasionally using a professional jewelry cleaning solution that is safe for gold and silver.
• Keep your plated jewelry dry and away from oils and chemicals simply wipe clean with a soft cloth and store in an airtight container.
• We do not recommend swimming wearing your jewelry as chlorinated and salt water can cause damage to all metals even gold – especially gold plated jewelry.
• Avoid wearing jewelry (especially rings) while cleaning, gardening, performing sports activities, manual labor, rock throwing, yoga, etc...
• Tarnish is a natural occurrence as a result of oxidation, caused by the exposure of silver (including gold plated jewelry) with natural elements such as oxygen as well as with certain acids and chemicals. To help prevent tarnishing, keep your jewelry dry and stored in an airtight container or ziplock plastic bag.
Proper jewelry storage is often overlooked. Jewelry should never be tossed into a drawer or on top of a dresser as this will cause your jewelry to get scratched and may even damage gemstones.
Store your jewelry pieces in a soft lined jewelry box. Jewelry boxes that feature individually padded slots for rings and posts for hanging necklaces and bracelets are also ideal. Pouches are good too but take care and keep your jewelry pouch somewhere safe so the jewelry does not get crushed.
Sterling silver, should be kept in an airtight anti-tarnish bag, cloth or boxes.
Necklaces should be hanged on a jewelry rack or carefully wrapped around a cloth to prevent tangling.
KEEP JEWELRY AWAY FROM CHEMICALS
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, abrasive liquids, perfume or other cosmetics can contain chemicals that will permanently damage the surface of your metals, pearls and other delicate or porous gems like onyx and turquoise.
Fine jewelry should be removed before diving into a chlorinated swimming pool or salty sea water as this can corrode and damage precious metals and gemstones.
Remove your jewelry before using any household cleaners. Many of these cleaners contain ammonia and other substances including abrasives, which can be too harsh for delicate gems and metals. Chlorine bleach, another common household solvent, can pit or damage gold alloys.
AVOID BENDING YOUR RINGS
The best way to prevent your ring from deforming or breaking is to take it off when you do any intense work with your hands such as exercising and when carrying heavy objects.
Always take off your rings before going to sleep.
WHY DO RINGS BEND?
The main reason most rings bend is exerted physical pressure, usually when you are doing some kind of manual work while wearing your ring. Just the act of wearing a ring and picking ordinary things up with your hands can bend the metal. Sleeping with your rings on will bend the metal. Things you should really avoid doing while wearing rings: going to bed, carrying luggage, heavy boxes, exercising, doing push-ups, punching, weightlifting, hammering, etc...).
WHAT METALS ARE MORE PRONE TO BENDING?
Even though it is a precious metal, yellow gold is one of the easiest metals to bend, and the higher the karat is, the softer and more pliable the gold is.
Another metal that is also soft and can easily bend is silver.
Gold and silver are very malleable metals and can bend easily. Not to mention that when you’re wearing it, your hands may heat up these metals making them even softer. Please take care when wearing your rings.
Platinum is a harder, less pliable metal, therefore, will be less prone to bending and scratching.
I HAVE AN OPEN BAND RING, WHAT CAN I DO TO TAKE CARE OF IT?*
Never bend or squeeze an open band ring to resize it! Open band rings are more fragile because they are a "C" shape, not an "O" shape and have an opening that makes them more susceptible to bending. Please be extra mindful when wearing an open band ring. The constant bending of the ring may cause the metal to weaken and eventually break. Always take off your open band rings whenever going to bed, doing any manual labor, and when carrying heavy objects.
* Open band rings include all of our Damian Rings and Invidia Rings
GOLD JEWELRY GUIDE
CLEANING YOUR GOLD JEWELRY
Gold jewelry of any karat can be cleaned lightly using a soft cloth. For a more thorough cleaning, soak your gold jewelry in a glass of warm water with a drop or two of non-detergent mild soap to help remove any oils and loosen buildup. Remove after a few minutes and pat dry with a soft cloth. To clean further, use a very soft baby's toothbrush to carefully remove any dirt particles or debris from more intricate components and settings.
GOLD IS DELICATE
Gold is a precious metal that will last forever but please keep in mind that it is a delicate soft metal. Gold can get scratched or dented if treated roughly. Always protect your jewelry from sharp blows and abrasive surfaces.
DO NOT WEAR GOLD JEWELRY TO THE BEACH, POOLS, JACUZZIS
Gold is a soft metal and sand will scratch the surface of the jewelry and make it dull. Gold's worst enemy is chlorine. Repeated exposure can weaken gold's structure, eventually leading to breakage.
24 karat gold (24K) is pure gold.
22 karat gold (22K) is 22 parts gold and 2 parts another metal or metals, making it 91% gold.
18 karat gold (18K) is 18 parts gold and 4 parts another metal or metals, making it 75% gold.
14 karat gold (14K) is 14 parts gold and 10 parts another metal or metals, making it 58.3% gold.
10 karat gold (10K) is 10 parts gold and 14 parts another metal or metals, making it 41.7% gold. This is the minimum karat designation for a metal to be called gold in the US.
STERLING SILVER GUIDE
Important information and tips about sterling silver jewelry, how to take care of your pieces and how to help prevent them from tarnishing:
Over time, any sterling silver jewelry piece exposed to air and sulfur will tarnish. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. It’s the other metals, primarily copper, that cause sterling silver to tarnish.
The copper reacts to moisture and sulfur in the air, causing the tarnishing reaction. Silver tarnishes faster in areas with high humidity and air pollution. Chemicals like hairspray, perfume, deodorant, body lotion, bleach, etc., can speed up the tarnishing process. Be also mindful to keep silver away from rubber, vinegar, olives and fruit juice.
Store your sterling silver jewelry in a cool, dark place away from sources of sunlight, heat and moisture. To reduce scratching and tarnishing, store your pieces individually in small zip-lock plastic bags, removing as much air as possible. You may also want to put a small strip of anti-tarnish paper in each bag with the jewelry.
Don’t leave silver jewelry in the bathroom unprotected, and do not wear it the shower, swimming pool or hot tub. Humidity and moisture can make tarnish appear faster.
After taking off your silver jewelry, clean it with a dry soft cloth, or polishing cloth, before putting it back into an airtight container.
If the polishing cloth doesn’t remove all the tarnish, wash silver jewelry (without gemstones or pearls) in warm water with a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid. Immerse the sterling silver in the water and gently handwash. Use a cotton swab for tight corners.
If the jewelry contains gemstones or pearls, do not submerge the entire piece into the water. Instead, use a cotton swab with a mild dishwashing liquid to wash only the silver.
Thoroughly rinse your pieces after washing, and completely dry the sterling silver before storing, as moisture is one of the factors that contribute to tarnishing. We do not recommend using toothpaste, baking soda or anything abrasive for cleaning as it may scratch the surface of the silver. Do not use harsh chemicals such as bleach, acetone, etc, to clean your silver because they can make silver dull, and ruin the surface of the metal.
One of the best ways to keep sterling silver beautiful is to wear it! The oils in your skin help prevent tarnish. This can also depend on your body's chemistry.
Make sure to take care of your precious jewelry and keepsakes so that they can last forever.
WHITE RHODIUM + BLACK RHODIUM PLATING
Rhodium is a precious metal, a member of the platinum family. Rhodium plating, also known as rhodium dip or rhodium flashing, is used to increase the durability, luster and light reflection of a piece of jewelry, as well as to help resist tarnish. White rhodium plating is mainly used on silver-hued metals, such as white gold, palladium or silver.
Since all gold is naturally slightly yellow we will finish our white gold jewelry with a coat of white rhodium to give the piece of jewelry an ultra white appearance. Most of our sterling silver jewelry is also plated with a thin layer of rhodium.
Black rhodium also known as "black gold" is, in fact, just one of many colors of rhodium. In its natural state, rhodium is silver-white. However, by binding ink to rhodium, dark colors can be created that vary from a light gunmetal to almost black. We use black rhodium plating on some of our gold or silver base metal jewelry to create a gunmetal look.
Black rhodium is a plating that may wear off over time, especially in the presence of items containing sulfur such as leather, rubber, chlorine, and perspiration as well as lotions, perfumes and oils.
It is not advisable to polish or wipe your black rhodium silver jewelry. Wipe gently only if needed and never use anything but a clean, nub-free cotton cloth. AVOID silver polish or dip style cleaning products which will remove the plating.
If you would like to re-plate the jewelry, please contact us.
Rhodium tends to last longer on white gold than on silver jewelry. However, the durability of the rhodium plating will depend on how often you wear your piece of jewelry and how you care for it.
Typically, a ring may need to be re-plated once every 12 to 18 months, but this can vary depending on the wear and tear the piece sustains as well as the thickness of the plating and the type of base metal. Since rhodium plating wears off over time and you may want to re-plate it at some point. Most people will have their white gold rings re-rhodium plated about once a year.
Rhodium will wear off of rings the quickest because of constant wear and friction on objects coming into contact with your the palms of your hands.
If you want your jewelry re-plated, please contact us at info@diabolikill.com
BLACK GOLD
"Black Gold" jewelry is in fact black rhodium* or black ruthenium plating that is bound to either a gold or sterling silver base metal using a coating process called electroplating. We use black rhodium plating on some of our gold or silver base metal jewelry to create a unique gunmetal look.
To create the black rhodium finish, the item is first crafted in fine gold or sterling silver and is then coated in black rhodium or black ruthenium using the process known as electrolysis.
*Black Rhodium: Also known as "black gold" is just one of many colors of rhodium. In its natural state, rhodium is silver-white. However, by binding ink to rhodium, dark colors can be created that vary from a light gunmetal to almost black hue.
When you aren’t wearing your black gold jewelry, store it in a soft-lined jewelry box, or a soft cloth away from other pieces of jewelry or objects that may scratch the surface.
Avoid exposure to heat, humidity, water, chlorine, all chemicals, oils, lotions, nail polish removers, perfume or hairspray. This will weaken and damage the surface of the plating.
GOLD VERMEIL
With proper care, vermeil jewelry should maintain the look of yellow gold for many years. We recommend that you store your gold vermeil jewelry in an airtight soft lined box or pouch, or an airtight plastic bag when not in use. This will help avoid scratches and premature tarnishing of the jewelry or oxidation of the silver underneath. We do not recommend repeated exposure to water, chlorine, harsh chemicals, oils, lotions, nail polish removers, perfume or hairspray. This may weaken the surface of the plating. To clean, use a mild dishwashing liquid diluted with water, if the cleaning substance is too strong it may rdamage the gold plating or change its color. Thoroughly dry your gold vermeil jewelry after exposure to water. Use of a polish cloth, paste or strong jewelry cleaner is not recommended.
Gold vermeil jewelry is sterling silver plated with a thin layer of pure 18 karat or 24 karat gold.
PEARL CARE
Pearls are very soft and need special care. After wearing, gently wipe the pearl with a soft cloth or chamois and store in the jewelry box provided away from other jewelry. Keep away from rough surfaces and scratchy fabrics as pearls are soft and delicate by nature and may be prone to scratching. Only use cleaners labeled safe for pearls. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner or steam-clean pearls.
Besides, pearls are easily damaged by chemicals like perfume, vinegar and lemon juice. Heat can turn pearls brown or dry them out and make them crack. Dry air can also damage pearls. Most safe deposit vaults have very dry air and can damage pearls.
Only use jewelry cleaners labeled as safe for pearls. Many of commercial jewelry cleaners contain ammonia, which will cause deterioration.
Do not expose to to dish or wash detergents, bleaches, powdered cleansers, baking soda, or ammonia-based cleaners (like Windex). Do not wear when applying cosmetics, hair spray, and perfume, or when showering or swimming
ENGAGEMENT RING CARE
The daily build up of dirt or oil from lotions and cosmetics will block the light interactions in the diamond. Regularly giving your ring a gentle cleaning will have your ring sparkling.
CLEANING YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING
Soak your gold jewelry in a glass of warm water with a drop or two of non-detergent mild soap to help remove any oils and loosen buildup. Remove after a few minutes and pat dry with a soft cloth. To clean further, use a very soft baby's toothbrush to carefully remove any dirt particles or debris from more intricate components and settings.
A professional steam cleaning is recommended about every six months.
Prong settings or tension settings, where the diamond is held in place by pressure from the shank, shouldn’t be vigorously scrubbed, so be gentle with the soft toothbrush. Then, just rinse your diamond jewelry with water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Take care not to clean your engagement ring ring over a sink, as to avoid it falling into the drain.
Chlorine bleach or abrasives (such as household cleansers or toothpaste) should never be used when cleaning diamond jewelry. Chemicals like chlorine can damage some of the metals used to alloy gold for diamond settings and abrasives can scratch gold and other metals.
Sometimes an ultrasonic cleaner is necessary to remove encrusted dirt on diamonds. By sending low frequency sound waves through a solution, ultrasonic cleaners cause vibrating fluid to remove accumulated dirt and grime. But they can also shake loose stones from their mountings or chip the girdles of diamonds that are set next to each other.
While diamonds are considered to be one of the hardest natural metals in the world, they can still fracture, bruise, and chip. The table of a cut diamond can be susceptible to wear and tear. Be sure to take care to not knock it against other hard materials.
JEWELRY REPAIRS
We encourage you to send your Diaboli Kill jewelry back to us for professional servicing and repairs. For more information and assistance contact us at info@diabolikill.com