Jewellery &
Pearl Care

All my silver jewellery is white rhodium plated - unless stated otherwise. The rhodium plating gives a platinum shine to the jewellery and also works as a thin film between the metal and the air, protecting your jewellery against most factors that can cause tarnish or corrosion. However, you still need to treat your jewellery with care to preserve the plating in good condition.

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Preventive Care

Wear: You can avoid tarnish by wearing your jewelry often. The oils in your skin will "clean" the silver and keep it looking shiny.
 

Avoid Exposure: Contact with household chemicals, perspiration, rubber, chlorinated water, or any substances that contain sulfur (e.g., mayonnaise, eggs, mustard, onions, latex, wool) will cause corrosion and tarnish. Additionally, lotions, cosmetics, hair spray and hair products, and perfumes, as well as direct sunlight, will accelerate tarnishing.
 

Storage: Jewelry should be stored away from natural sunlight and heat, in a protective (lined) jewelry box or a tarnish-resistant pouch. It can also be stored in a plastic zip lock bag made of Mylar or polyethylene. Never use polyvinyl plastic bags, such as trash can liners, as they contain sulfur compounds or rubber containers, which will make sterling silver tarnish faster and possibly turn black. Link or chain bracelets should be kept unclasped or unhooked.
 

Make sure that the storage area has low humidity. Place a piece of chalk, a packet of activated charcoal, or a container of silica gel in the storage area to minimize tarnish. Do not store your jewelry in the bathroom. Please note that KATERINA PIMENIDU jewellery boxes are safe and made for long-term storage as they do not contain tarnish-accelerating chemicals and also come with a silica bag inside.
 

WARNING: I do not guarantee that gold-plated and rhodium-plated jewelry will last forever. Electroplated pieces are, by default, more fragile and liable to lose their color over time. The speed at which the plating fades will depend on multiple variables, including chemical products used for skincare, level of perspiration, or even your natural skin pH. For this reason, it is particularly important to take special care of your plated jewelry.

Cleaning

Clean your jewelry pieces with a microfiber cloth only, NOT with chemicals. Do not use paper towels or tissues to polish your jewelry, as they contain fibers that can scratch the silver.
 

When polishing, use long back-and-forth motions that mirror the grain of the silver. Do not rub in circles, as this will magnify any tiny scratches. Also, change to a different section of your cloth frequently to avoid placing tarnish back on the silver. You can use a Q-tip to get into small, detailed areas.
 

Be careful with plated items, as excessive polishing can remove the plating and leave pieces worse than when they started.
 

Pieces of the collections that have pearls should be handled with special care (please read below for special pearl care).
 

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PEARL CARE

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Daily Care

Pearls are organic gemstones that are vulnerable to acid, alkaline, and extremes of humidity. To preserve your pearls' radiance, avoid letting them come into contact with cosmetics, hair spray, or perfume. Always put on your jewelry as a final touch, after applying make-up and styling hair. The pearl's luster can also be harmed by perspiration. To prevent this, before returning your pearls to the jewelry box, wipe them gently with a soft, lint-free cloth. The cloth can be dampened with water, or it can be dry. If damp, allow the pearls to air dry before putting them away. Never submerge pearls in liquid.

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• Never clean your pearls with solutions that contain ammonia or harsh detergents.

• Don't under any circumstances put pearl jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner. The vibrations can severely damage the nacre coating.

• Don't use abrasive cleaners or rub pearls with an abrasive polishing cloth. Both can wear away the nacre coating, leaving you with a dull-looking bead.
   

If in doubt, do nothing with your pearls. It's better to be on the side of caution than to over-clean and ruin your jewelry. As long as you store your pearls properly and wipe them down gently after use, they should look beautiful for generations.
 

Professional Care

Gold and silver are soft metals and become worn with use. This is true for all genuine jewelry. Depending on the degree of use, it is recommended that your jewelry is inspected at least once a year by a goldsmith. In particular, it is important that clasps, mounts, soldering, and pearl settings are checked.
 

In case you have questions, you can always write to info@katerinapimenidu.com.