stellabluedesign.com

Stella Blue Design jewelry is comprised of some of the earth’s most precious and semi-precious gemstones, as well as fine metals. Each item is handmade with TLC in Chicago, IL, with the highest expectations of quality. 

• All Stella Blue Design jewelry pieces should be stored in box with cotton lining as received.
• Earrings are shipped with rubber backings to prevent loss during wear; however you can also “pinch” any ear wire to secure in place when in use.
• Remove your jewelry before engaging in activities that might damage the stones in your jewelry. Gardening and yard work, housecleaning – especially doing the dishes – and even exercise can put your precious gems at risk of being banged and scraped against dirt, stones, walls and other things that could damage them.
• Lotions, creams, cosmetics and perfume are meant to make you beautiful. Their effect on precious gemstones is another story. The chemicals and oils in hairsprays, lotions and other cosmetics can dull or even damage your jewelry. Remove it before applying makeup and cosmetics.
• Check your jewelry settings frequently to be sure that the components aren’t working loose and putting you at risk of losing the stones in your jewelry.
• Remove jewelry when swimming, bathing or showering. The chlorine and other chemicals in water are not kind to precious gems and metals.    

To maintain the original condition of your silver jewelry, polish your pieces regularly using a non-abrasive cleaning cloth. Soap and water will also help keep your silver looking good.  Remember do not dry silver off with paper towels or tissues, always use a soft cloth.  Never immerse your silver jewelry in chlorine, salt water, mineral springs, and suntan lotion. Remember, some household cleaners contain chlorine bleach; these will cause discoloration and also loosen the gemstones. Avoid abrasive cleaners, detergents and commercial jewelry cleaners "dips" especially if the pieces have an oxidized finish. Using harsh polishing cleaners will alter the antique look of your jewelry. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner, ammonia or any chemical solution to clean opaque gemstones, such as turquoise, malachite, onyx, lapis lazuli and opals. They are a porous stone and may absorb chemicals, which build up inside the stone and cause discoloration. Simply wipe them gently with a moist cloth until clean.

Gemstones

While most gems are sturdy, they can be chipped, cracked, scratched or even split. Keeping a few cautions in mind can help protect your beautiful jewelry for years of long life.

Cleaning gem jewelry

Oils and dust can collect in the crannies behind your gem’s setting, dulling the beautiful sparkle. Gemstones should be cleaned every one to two months – more often if you wear it every day. There’s no need to invest in special cleaning solution, cloths or machinery. The best solution for cleaning most gems is water with a little mild dishwashing soap added.  To clean your jewelry at home:

1. Check to be sure settings are tight.
2. Fill a small bowl with warm water and a little dishwashing detergent.
3. Place the piece of jewelry in the bowl and let soak for 10 to 20 minutes for hard gems like diamonds, sapphires and rubies, no more than 5 to 10 minutes for porous stones. See individual care guides for cleaning instructions for opals, pearls and other porous gems.
4. Remove jewelry from the bowl and scrub gently but firmly with a soft bristle brush. A baby toothbrush is ideal.
5. Rinse under clear water.
6. Repeat if necessary.
7. Dry well with soft, absorbent cloth.

Storing gemstones

Keep in mind that while gemstones are tough, they can damage each other. When storing your gemstone jewelry in a jewelry box, place each piece in a separate compartment, or carefully wrap it in a soft cloth or jeweler’s bag.

Pearls

Real or faux, pearls are one of the softest and easiest to scratch of all gemstones.  Therefore it is important to keep your pearls in a box or wrapped in a soft cloth to avoid scratching.  Please note NEVER spray perfume on your pearls, as the perfume will dull the iridescent finish.

Wash pearls periodically with mild soap (not detergent) and a soft cloth. When finished washing the pearls, rinse them in clean water and wrap them in a thin, damp cotton towel to dry. If the pearls are especially dirty, wipe the pearl with acetone polish remover. Acetone will not hurt pearls. Do not use jewelry cleaners with ammonia or vinegar in them.

Swarovski Crystals

Swarovski Crystals will show grease, fingerprints etc., and therefore we recommend you spray a “squirt” or two of Windex on a soft cloth and gently rub with thumb and index finger to make the crystals sparkle.  Please store apart from other jewelry in cotton or cloth, as Swarovski crystals can scratch.

Gold Fill

Products also known as rolled gold, gold-fill products are made by bonding gold with a core of brass.  Gold is essentially rolled around the brass core, which explains the term “rolled gold.”  In the U.S., gold filled items must contain 20% gold by weight.  This product has 100 times more gold than a gold plated product, and will last a lifetime if cared for properly.  The absolutely best thing you can do for your Gold Filled jewelry is to clean regularly using a little bit of warm water, and a soft cloth to dry and shine after. Many chemicals marketed for cleaning jewelry are actually somewhat abrasive or corrosive and can cause some damage or color alteration to your jewelry. The best way to avoid this is to keep it simple. Warm water and a soft cloth is the best thing you can do to maintain the beauty of your gold-filled jewelry.