JEWELRY CARE INFORMATION
Since 2005, Alexandra Corzo has maintained the highest standards in design, materials and craftsmanship, creating jewelry that is not mass-produced and is ethically sourced. She respects the time and all processes of jewelry making combining ancient techniques with contemporary tools.
Proper care will preserve and protect the beauty and appearance of your D’Corzo jewelry for years to come. So, your pieces can pass from generation to generation as a family tradition, or simply look and feel their best while you wear them.
Pollutants and tarnish affect the look of gemstones and metals. After sometime, the surface of your favorite pieces of gold and silver jewelry can look dulled and gemstones might lose their brilliance. Timeworn prongs and clasps are especially vulnerable and can result in the loss of a stone or an entire piece of jewelry as they may become loose when snagged or hit against a surface.
We advise our customers to remove jewelry prior to cleaning, bathing and swimming and ensure that the jewelry is not exposed UV light, hairspray, perfume and cosmetics.
INSURANCE:
We strongly recommend that all fine jewelry be covered by a comprehensive insurance policy to protect against theft, loss, and potential damage that can occur through daily wear. Jewelry can be added to many homeowner or rental insurance policies or insured through a standalone policy.
WEARING JEWELRY:
Protect your jewelry from impact against hard surfaces during sports or manual tasks—even diamonds can chip if hit with enough force or at just the right angle. Avoid contact with abrasive surfaces and keep your jewelry away from harsh chemicals such as chlorine and household bleach. Limit your jewelry’s exposure to extreme temperatures, perfumes, cosmetics and household chemicals, which can damage jewelry. Do not wear rings when gripping items with force, as the pressure may cause delicate metal rings to bend or break.
STORING YOUR JEWELRY
Store your jewelry in a dry place away from moisture. Place your jewelry in the provided jewelry pouch and box when not being worn. If you plan to store your jewelry for an extended period of time, gently wipe it with a cloth and place it in an airtight bag. Examine your jewelry regularly to make sure settings are snug and clasps and joinings are secure. Avoid exposing gold jewelry to household bleach, which will quickly cause gold to discolor and possibly disintegrate. To avoid scratches, each piece of jewelry should be stored separately, and bracelets should always be stored flat.
STERLING SILVER JEWELRY
Sterling silver tarnishes when exposed to humidity, water, salt air and products containing sulfur. You can restore the shine of your silver jewelry cleaning it with a silver polishing cloth, then rinse the silver thoroughly in warm water and dry it carefully. Chlorine and bleach accelerate tarnishing and should be avoided.
Sterling silver that is used regularly benefits from wear as the oils on your skin help protect from tarnishing. Good news is the more you wear your silver jewelry the less care they will need.
OXIDIZED STERLING SILVER JEWELRY
Some jewelry pieces are deliberately oxidized to create a special finish by blackening the crevices of certain details of the silver piece to make some details stand out. In this case, be careful of polishing the piece too much as it will remove this oxidized finish.
GOLD PLATED
For gold plated jewelry, gently clean it with a cotton ball or very soft cloth to remove dust and dirt. If your jewelry requires more extensive cleaning, you can use warm water and mild soap. Dry thoroughly with a cloth. Always remove gold plated jewelry before bathing and exercising and avoid applying creams/perfumes while wearing in order to maximize its lifespan. If the plating wears off after the one-year guaranty we can replate D’ Corzo jewelry with an additional fee. An estimate will be given to the client depending upon the condition of the piece.
YELLOW AND ROSE GOLD
18kt yellow and rose gold should be polished with a special polishing cloth.
WHITE GOLD:
18K white gold jewelry is plated with rhodium to provide a bright white finish. With daily wear, or exposure to household chemicals, rhodium plating gradually will come off over time and expose the natural, yellowish-white tone of metal underneath. Many people continue to wear white gold long after the rhodium plating has worn off, but you also have the option of having your jewelry professionally re-plated to return it to its bright white color.
PEARLS & SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES
Pearls benefit from daily wear — however, care must be taken not to expose them to perspiration or cosmetics. If you need to clean your pearls, simply wipe them with a soft cloth. Friction with hard materials can abrade the surface of a pearl, so make sure to store it separately from other jewelry items. Semi-precious stones should be wiped with a soft cloth and mild soap and water if absolutely necessary.
GEMSTONE JEWELRY
Take care to protect your jewelry from impact against hard surfaces and avoid contact with abrasive surfaces. Even a diamond can chip if hit with enough force or at just the right angle. Many stones such as amethyst, emerald, kunzite, opal, pearl, peridot, tanzanite and tourmaline are very delicate and easily abraded. Enamel can also chip or scratch when struck. Gemstones can scratch other gemstones and wear away at precious metals. Therefore, avoid stacking those rings and bracelets that would be vulnerable to such abrasion. Extreme temperatures, perfumes, cosmetics, ultrasonic cleaning and household chemicals can also damage jewelry. To clean diamonds, use a mild solution of six parts water to one part ammonia and apply with a soft bristle brush.
PAVÉ SETTING
Pavé setting styles are very delicate and gemstones may become loose or fall out through daily wear. To minimize the risk of losing a pavé-set gemstone, do not wear jewelry in conditions where friction or abrasion may wear down the beads of metal, which hold the stones in place. Avoid applying strong pressure or scratching pavé settings. Inspect pavé set jewelry at least every six months and immediately after jewelry is hit, scratched, or damaged to identify and tighten loose stones. If pavé-set gemstones are lost, they can be replaced for a fee.
