At JULIETTE KOR, we believe that jewelry should be worn and enjoyed on a frequent basis and be passed from one generation to the next. In order to ensure that we provide you with the enclosed information to guide you in the proper treatment of your fine jewelry.
Certain precaucions should be followed in caring for any piece of gemstone jewelry. These include avoiding: wearing during activities that will cause impact or abrasion (i.e. gardening, weight lifting or sports), extreme temperatures (cold or hot), and contact with cosmetics, perfumes or household chemicals.
Prongs in particular are vulnerable to bending or breaking during wear and can result in lost gemstones if not checked and repaired when necessary.
PEARLS CARE
Pearls require a special type of care and certainly can’t be treated in the same way as diamond jewelry might be.
You must remove your pearls before swimming or sport, before sleep of a nap, when applying products, such as hair spray, perfume, makeup or hand soaps, or when using household chemicals.
Always take your pearl jewelry off when you wash your hands or shower. This will ensure you avoid getting cosmetics, hair products and perfume on your pearls.
Avoid doing any sport and extreme activities while wearing your pearl jewelry.
Avoid abrasive clothing. When you wear your pearl jewelry, it's important to avoid clothing that may abrade the surface of the gems. Rough wool, sequins, beading, metalic threads, and other materials can actually scratch your pearls, eventually dulling the surface. Wear your jewelry with softer fabrics to keep it looking beautiful.
Don't cook in pearls. Take off your pearls when you're cooking. Acids like lemon juice and vinegar will eat into the nacre, or irridescent outer layer, of the pearls. Grease and heat can permanently stain their surface as well. Don't put the pearls back on until after you've cleaned up the kitchen, too. Certain dish soaps, especially those with lemon, will also damage your jewelry.
Check the string. Every time you wear a pearl necklace or bracelet, check the condition of the stringing material. If it appears worn or damaged in any way, have the pearls professionally restrung. If you wear your pearls often, you may need to have them restrung about once a year.
PEARLS CLEANING
Pearls should not be cleaned in water or with soap or detergent; this will do more harm than good.
The best way to keep pearls looking radiant is to wipe them gently with a clean, soft, dry cloth when necessary. This will remove any surface dirt, keeping the pearls’ lustre visible.
Even when you follow all of these precautions, pearls are prone to scratching when they come into contact with sharp, rough or hard surfaces, so it also essential that you to store them separately from any other jewelry.
STORAGE
Always store your jewelry, at home or when travelling, individually in separate compartments in your jewelry box or pouch. When improperly stored, diamond jewelry items can damage each other. For example, diamonds will scratch all other gemstones including sapphires, rubies, emeralds and other diamonds. Additionally, gemstones will scratch gold and platinum.
Pearls in particular are sensitive and should be separated in an individual cotton or silk pouch to ensure they remain clean and dry.
Don't hang pearl necklaces and bracelets. Hanging may seem like a great way to store pearl jewelry, but it actually weakens the stringing material. After time, this can result in breakage. Always store your pearls flat to prevent this type of damage.