Jewelry Care


The following are suggested best practices for the maintenance and care of your Ttereve jewelry:


GENERAL CARE

* Keep jewelry out of humid places such as the bathroom and avoid leaving in extreme environments such as a hot car. (Did you know that some natural gems can fade by prolonged exposure to the sun?)
* Apply hairspray, perfume, lotions and other beauty care products before putting on your jewelry. They can damage sensitive gemstones and tarnish metals, avoiding contact is best.
* Remove jewelry when cleaning; ammonia, detergents and other household chemicals will damage jewelry.
* Do not swim at the beach or swimming pool while wearing your jewelry; chlorine and salt will damage your gemstones and metals.

* Remove jewelry when washing your hands and showering for the same reasons as above.
* Buff gently with a soft cloth before storing to help remove skin oils and contaminates.
* Often the best way to store jewelry is inside a sealed plastic bag or container. This keeps out moisture and dust and helps prevent tarnish.
* See below for cleaning suggestions.


stones

Natural gems and stones are subject to some flaws and inclusions. These are inherent to the essential character of nature and further impart a one-of-a-kind appeal. Please be advised these, if present, are not "sub-par" but unique and beautiful the way our Earth made them. Each Ttereve stone is hand-picked and collected to ensure quality.
Your stone is one-of-a-kind, please take care to prevent knocking it against another object or sharp drops. Almost without exception, if you drop any natural material, it is likely to break. Should your stone need cleaning, rinsing under lukewarm water and buffing with a soft cloth is best. A diluted gentle detergent can be used on heavily soiled pieces but never use toothpaste or other abrasives. You will find websites that recommend toothpaste as a cleaner, but this is not an accepted practice by jewelers. They can scuff the surface of amber, lapis, turquoise and other soft stones resulting in the fine polish, which was produced by a skilled lapidary, to be marred.


METALS

Raw metals such as silver, brass, and copper are reactive by nature. This means over time and depending on the environment, frequency of wear, storage conditions, and care, the metal surface can oxidize. These color changes do not harm the integrity of the jewelry. Pieces will often brighten when worn, as the metal is buffed by clothing and skin oils, and then darken while in storage. These changes in oxidation are part of the jewelry becoming uniquely yours. Ttereve's patinas and unique finishes are all done by hand. To preserve the patina, please do not use abrasives, tarnish removers or ultrasonic cleaners. Certain designs are protected with metal sealer or jeweler’s wax to help maintain their finish. In the case of the wax being worn off over time, or for people with exceptionally sensitive skin, the wax may be reapplied at any time to create a barrier protecting both metal and skin. Renaissance Wax is the only wax recommended.
It is not suggested to use cleaners on metals that have an applied patina, they can remove design elements and leave the piece with an undesirable finish.
For general cleaning, buffing with a soft cloth is preferred and heavily soiled pieces can be rinsed in lukewarm water with a mild detergent. When using this method make sure to rinse the jewelry well and dry with a soft cloth. Do not clean your jewelry with water and immediately place in storage; allow to air dry after buffing to ensure all water has evaporated from holes and recesses.
Do not use jewelry dips or metal creams or cleaners, these often contain abrasives or chemicals that are too harsh with unpredictable or uncontrollable results. DIY cleaners such as lemon juice should also be avoided, the acid in lemons can brighten some metals but may not give the results desired. All cleaning methods carry risk when cleaning a piece that also contains a stone.
Occasionally, depending on body chemistry, some people experience a phenomenon called greening. Greening is simply a natural reaction between the metal, moisture, air, and your body’s chemistry. This reaction is different than a metal allergy, it is a superficial discoloration to the skins surface. Keeping your jewelry dry, clean, and away from sweat, beauty care products and water will help prevent greening. We are constantly releasing chemicals from our bodies and that, especially when combined with beauty care products and their various ingredients, can result in temporary skin discolorations. This is difficult to predict as everyone’s chemistry is different but will not affect the integrity of the jewelry when general care guidelines are followed.
If greening is a concern, you can apply jeweler's skin guard (available in a brush-on form) to contact areas, such as ring bands, to aid in prevention.
 




If you would like a professional cleaning, polish, or waxing, or in the event your jewelry requires repair please contact:
cassandra@ttereve.com

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