Care & Storage

I use professional grade Sterling and Fine silver, Copper and brass.  I purchase my gemstones from reliable dealers to the trade.  I always consider my customer when building a piece and I always keep comfort, ease of wearing, and durability in mind when I work. 

With normal wear and tear a stone may come a little loose and that can happen particularly in handcrafted jewelry.  A slight jiggle will not cause you to loose your gemstone. 

Tarnish is the natural reaction of silver to light, air and the oils of our skin as well as chemicals in our everyday lives.  The solution to this discoloration is to clean the jewelry properly.  I have enclosed a strip of black anti-tarnish paper in your package to be included in your pouch or box - where ever you store your silver.  There is also a small polishing cloth and a couple of tarnish removing pads. 

To start, you can wipe your jewelry with a clean soft cloth after wearing it before you put it away.  When the piece begins to darken or it’s shine begins to fade, use one of the miraculous white pads and watch the tarnish transfer to the pad. When you’re finished, wipe the jewelry with the polishing cloth. 

Don’t use these products on the stones.  Polishing products have a tiny bit of abrasives.  Lastly, don’t submerge the jewelry for more than a dunk.  Not only is it bad for the metals and stones but you don’t want water to seep into the bezel under your gemstones.  Don’t wear it during workouts and try not to shower with it on.  Lastly, your gems are the real deal so be nice to them. 

Caring for Fordite

Once upon a time, cars were hand sprayed-painted on the assembly line and there would be a constant run-off from the overspray.  Layers upon layers of multiple colored auto paint accumulated over the years and the cured enamel formed slabs that some very ingenious people began cutting like you would a slab of stone.  Because cars are electroplated now and not painted, there is very little of this material around in the “wild”.  Soon, whatever has been cut will be all there is.

Because Fordidte is more of a resin than a stone, it can be a little more fragile. Try not to let it bang on things and don’t use a polishing cloth on it. Wipe it with a plain, soft cloth. Clean the silver as stated above. Just remember with rough treatment, you can damage the Fordite.  

A little more trivia - There is also a material called Surfite which is the same principal but it is colored run off from surf boards.  And more recently, I discovered Graffite, which is cut from hardened puddles of paint at graffiti sites.