Mia Rose & Co., Jewelry Care Tips: General Rules

Fine, custom crafted jewelry has been an important feature of civilization and the antiquities, art and cultural fashions that have survived eons of time to reveal mankind's priorities, going well back before the days of written history. Jewelry was not only merely amazingly pleasant to the eye and a sign of power, position and prestige, but it was also believed to have numerous mystical powers held within the precious metals, diamonds, gems and artistically designed amulets and trinkets. Therefore, fine jewelry has always been greatly treasured, highly admired, strongly envied, much sought out and carefully protected. Clearly, every single piece of jewelry that Mia Rose & Company sells is expertly crafted to last a lifetime. However, just like your lifetime ... your Mia Rose designer jewelry will certainly last a lot longer if you make sure to care for it properly. This means learning to implement a few very simple, 'easy to follow rules' when it comes to carrying out a confidently calm yet cautious, 'common-sense' care campaign for the 'crown jewels.' Take It Off ...Take It 'ALL' Off: There are particularly important times that you should be in the habit of making sure that you always take your jewelry off, wipe it clean and be sure to safely store it away in an air-tight storage case of container. If all else fails, even a re-sealable baggie or freezer bag. When Cleaning: First of all, always be sure to remove your jewelry when you are cleaning, especially when you are using cleansing solvents or potentially harsh chemicals. When you're cleaning, your focus is naturally on doing whatever it takes to get the mess cleared up, so jewelry can quite easily get accidentally entangled, pulled on, bumped, scratched, smacked, chipped, banged or tugged on in such a way as to do damage and potentially lose diamonds, gems, or other ornamental accessories. When Bathing, Showering or Swimming: Many of the beauty products and oil essences that women use in the bath these days, may be really great for your skin and sense of relaxed satisfaction, but they can wreck havoc and do damage to your jewelry. Baths can do everything from creating seemingly mild, but definitely detrimental chemical combinations that can damage your jewels to actually loosening up the bonding components that hold the pieces together. Swimming pools are notorious for being full of wild and unpredictable physical activity and anything from an accidental collision to smacking your jewelry on a hard surface of the pool, from the side or bottom to the diving board or Jacuzzi jets, can do some damage. Then there are the chemicals that people keep in their pools to maintain proper sanitary and PH conditions. Most importantly, when it comes to bathtubs, showers and pools, you most always consider the ultimate destination of any and every piece that inadvertently comes loose or comes off while in the water. That destination is ... 'The Drain!' When Beautifying: many of the numerous applications of various perfumes, creams, jells, lotion, sprays, dyes, and other beauty products, can do serious damage to your jewelry. Even if those products claim that they are 100% all organic and completely natural. Remember, just because it's natural, doesn't make it good for your jewelry. Acid, fire, ice, rock, mold, sand, etc. are all totally, 100% completely natural and organic, and could all mean disaster for your jewels. When Cooking: Cooking tends to center around the kitchen and that's one place where your jewelry is not a peace. Extreme temperature change is bad for jewelry, so in and out of the oven and freezer is no vacation for your jewels. Various implements like sharp knives, can openers, cleavers, tenderizers, compressors, blenders, graters, mixers, etc. tend to be the kinds of confrontations that your jewelry, no matter how expertly designed and artisan crafted, will come up on the short end of. Cleanliness Is Next Goddess-ness! Your jewelry will always last so much longer and remain absolutely stunningly sparkly and luminescent if you always are careful to keep it clean and free of various oils, dirt, grainy dust, food particles, sauces and other random forms of acids, alkalines and other basic messy goos! Keep It Clean: The simplest and most common way to clean your fine jewelry is to simply do so in a 'medium sized' porcelain or clay based bowl or bowelled vessel and absolutely NEVER in a metal mixing bowel, where your jewelry can get scratched, or in the sink, as you can't afford to forget about 'Mean Mister Drain!' Soak: Simply use warm water and a mild soap. Allow the jewelry to soak for a few minutes in order to loosen up any sticky or clingy substances and then wash carefully by hand. Swish and Wash: If you want to swish the piece around in the water, that's fine but please be careful not to bang the jewelry it on the side or bottom of the bowel. A good, active but gentle, 'hand wash' is your safest bet. Do NOT use a washcloth on any piece of jewelry that has setting or additional attachments as it parts of the piece could be tangled into the cloth and pulled loose. Remember, if you usually are in the habit of using a specially purchased 'Jeweler's Cloth' to keep your jewelry clean and shiny, be sure to always use a perfectly 'fresh' cloth each time you clean, because the dirt and grit left on the cloth from a previous cleaning will scratch, pit, scrape or leave unwanted residue on the piece that you are now trying to clean. Never use toothpaste or other abrasive materials to clean metal or stones. While toothpaste is awesome for cleaning your teeth, it can severely damage the surface of precious metal and require the skilled refurbishment of a professional to buff and refinish the damaged piece. Ultrasound / Ultrasonic Cleaning: This process may be OK for 'SOME' jewelry, however, it can severely damage many gemstones and repeated usage can loosen the settings of many fine pieces of jewelry, meaning lost gems and broken dreams. Avoid Chemicals: Especially acetone, ammonia, chlorine bleach, denatured alcohol and all forms of turpentine, as these chemicals can easily dull or even possibly pit the surface of some precious metals and softer gemstones. Many petroleum based products can actually 'melt' or dissolve some portions of jewelry, so beware. Rinse: Carefully take your jewelry out of the soapy water and place in another bowl to ensure its safety, then rinse the soapy water and any residue out of your washing bowl and refill the bowl with warm water for your piece to rinse in. Allow the jewelry to soak in the fresh water for a few minutes and then rinse it by hand and remove from the bowl to place on a soft cloth. Dry: It's so very important that you dry your jewelry before putting it away in. Both gold and silver can tarnish very easily if left wet and water can leave residual water stains on most of your precious metals. Use a very soft cloth or towel, without a lot of long, luxurious towel 'fur' that can catch or tangle your gems or settings. Mildly pat dry and polish only those surfaces that would necessitate a polishing. Never use a blow dryer, as the extreme heat will do damage to the piece. Store Up For Yourself Treasures ...Where Neither Moth Nor Rust Destroy! Jewelry is almost as vulnerable to being damaged when its NOT being worn, as when it's out there, being proudly shown in the real world and taking whatever licks, nicks, and kicks that life and nature can serve up. Question: If diamond is the hardest substance on the planet, then how can it possibly ever get scratched during storage? Answer: It can get scratched by 'Other Diamonds' if not carefully and cleverly stored away safely! If your diamond jewelry can so very easily scratch up your other diamonds, then just imagine the damage that it can do to your other fine pieces of softer precious metals and delicate gems. This is why it's so very important to store your jewelry so that all of your pieces remain safely and securely separate, and do NOT come in contact with each other. Storage: Always be sure to wrap individual pieces in soft tissue or soft cloth or put them in separate compartments in your jewelry box. A lot of jewelry comes with specific storage directions, so always store your jewelry by carefully following any and all specific instructions that may be provided when purchased. Generally, the best policy is to keep all pieces separate and air tight. Avoid letting pieces touch one another, as they can quite easily scratch each other or tangle and pull portions of one or both pieces apart. If your jewelry comes in its own unique pouch or box, definitely trust the experts who put their expertise into the storage strategy and use it to your and your jewelry's advantage. When & Where To Wear Your Jewelry - So You Won't Wear It Out! Warning: If you aren't careful, the simple practice of wearing your jewelry 'out' could really, truly 'wear your jewelry out!' There are a lot of hazards out there that can damage jewelry, from low tree limbs and burgeoning bushes, to overly affectionate animals and friends. Not to mention automatically activating doors, seatbelts and more electronic gadgetry and complexly refined furnishings than we have time to mention. The truth is, the only place a fine piece of jewelry is actually safe is locked securely in an airtight, maximum security safe with 24 hour a day armed guards on watch ... but hey, we all know that's no fun at all and certainly not what jewelry, fashion and high culture are all about. That's because your jewelry, just like you, needs to get out and mingle, to be seen and have some excitement and adventure. So that means there are a few simple rules to keep in mind when wearing your fine, custom designed pieces 'out in public' or for that matter, inside, for a quiet, intimate evening! Last On First Off: The main rule to always remember is 'Last On First Off!' That basically means that your jewelry is always the very last thing you put on before going out. Apply your lotions and creams, use your hairspray, get dressed, put on your makeup, spray your very favorite perfume, whatever it is that you plan to do, do it ALL before you put on your jewelry and be sure to wash your hands and dry them before doing so! Then, when home, no matter how romantic the situation becomes or how extremely tired, sick, drunk, or whatever you may be, the jewelry always comes off and is carefully stored away before anything else. If there is a desperate need for a quick trip to the bathroom, then fine, but be very careful and do so at your own peril. ;-) Always Be Aware: Keep vigilantly attuned to the specific circumstances of your jewelry for the outing about to be experienced. Is there a long necklace that needs to be considered when bending over and picking something up? Could one piece accidentally tangle with another and create a knotty situation? Does this particular bracelet hang more loosely or possibly dangle more precariously away from your wrist? If so, think ahead about what hazards and actions need to be thoughtfully avoided or worked through meticulously with care and class? If you end up in a situation where you are going to be getting a massage or shoulder rub or someone is going to comb, brush or style your hair, be sure to remove any dangling earrings in advance and securely place them where they will be safe and easy to find later. It's always important to have a pre-arranged place where you place your wallet, keys and other significant items of value; when you are out in the world, and clearly your jewelry should be given the very same equal consideration. Right handed women should consider wearing their watches and bracelets on the left wrist while left handed ladies should be sure to put them on their right wrist. Sometimes it's really nothing more than simple, common sense pre-assessments and planning ahead for what the specific nature of your outfit, accessories and jewelry bring into play for the event, before you ever even walk out the door!