Jewelry Care

 

Created using the finest gemstones and precious metals, your Poppy Finch jewelry requires a little care and attention to keep it looking its best. Dust, pollution and daily wear all conspire to cloud the brilliance of a gemstone and dull the surface of precious metals.

 

A few rule of thumbs for caring for your jewelry:

Always put jewelry on after applying makeup, perfume and hairsprays.
Don’t wear jewelry in swimming pools, spas, and shower.  
Wipe your jewelry clean and dry with a soft polishing cloth.
Store your jewelry separately to prevent them from getting tangled or scratched.
Travel with care and invest in a travel jewelry case.
Avoid chlorine, detergents, salt water, perfume, cosmetics, and hairspray.

CARE OF GOLD

Gold does not tarnish. However, it is a relatively soft metal and care should always be taken with your gold jewelry.
Generally, the higher the carat weight, the softer the metal; 14K gold tends to be more resistant to scratching than 18ct or 24ct gold.
Gold should be cleaned regularly in order to maintain its beauty and patina. A soft polishing cloth is an effective way to keep gold jewelry looking its best.

 

CARE OF STERLING SILVER

Sterling silver will tarnish due to oxidization.  However, it is less likely to happen as quickly if regularly worn.  Clean your silver jewelry in warm soapy water, ensuring that it is rinsed thoroughly and dried before storing. Alternatively polish your silver jewelry with a soft cloth.  Like gold, silver is susceptible to damage by chlorine and you should avoid wearing silver jewelry when using chlorine or bleach.

 

CARE OF PEARLS

Pearls are the world’s only organic gemstone, and therefore, tend to be quite delicate. Proper care of your pearl jewelry is essential to ensure your investment will last a lifetime.  The following is a list of do's and don'ts:

 

DO

Do wear your pearls. As an organic material they react well to the natural oils in your skin and it is the best way to maintain their lustre.
Do put your pearls on last after makeup and perfume.
Do wipe your pearls with a soft cloth after wearing, and occasionally wipe clean with mild soapy water. Allow the pearls to dry before putting them away.
Do have your pearl necklace re-strung every few years; to prevent abrasion, most jewelers knot pearls on silk thread which wears in time.

 

DON'T

Do not store your pearls with other jewelry as they can easily be scratched when metal or gemstones rub against them.
Do not store pearls in plastic bags, always store in the box or soft cloth pouch.
Do not clean your pearls in an ultrasonic cleaner; the vibrations can shatter them, especially if the nacre is thin or cracked.
Do not use chemical cleaners; especially those containing ammonia and bleach, as this will destroy their lustre.
Do not expose to excessive heat; because they contain organic material and water, pearls can also crack if exposed to excessive dryness.

 

TYPES OF PEARLS

We are picky about our pearls.  Our collection of modern pearl pieces combine classic femininity with minimalist approach.  We work closely with our pearl suppliers to select gem-quality pearls with great lustre, clean surface, and desirable shapes.  There are four types of pearls we use in our jewelry:

Freshwater Cultured Pearl

Freshwater cultured pearls are the most versatile type available on the market.  Cultured Freshwater pearls present a rainbow of natural colors, a huge range of sizes and unique shapes that range from free form baroques to perfect rounds.  

Akoya Cultured Pearl

Akoya pearls are made in salt water that are perfectly round in shape, naturally white with pinkish undertone and shining with bright, mirror-like luster.  Black akoya pearls are color treated through gamma treatment or treatments with organic dye. 

Tahitian Pearl

Tahitian pearls grown in French Polynesia are the only naturally dark pearls.  These pearls are large in size and shimmer with gorgeous, iridescent overtones (secondary colors) of Peacock, Green, Blue-Green, Silver/Steel and Cherry.

South Sea Pearl

Grown primarily in Australia the Philippines and Indonesia and ranging in color from white to gold, South Sea pearls are the largest saltwater pearls grown today.  Because of their tremendous size, South Sea pearls are quite rare and are considered very valuable.  The most common shapes are drops, baroques and ovals.

 

CARE OF DIAMONDS

We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that our diamonds are conflict-free.  Our diamond suppliers follow the Kimberley Process, which is an industry initiative to prevent "conflict diamonds" from entering the markets.    

While diamonds are extremely hard, they can still suffer chips and fractures from sharp blows.  It is possible to scratch a diamond with a diamond, so please take care when wearing and storing your diamond jewelry.

Clean your diamonds with warm soapy liquid and a soft toothbrush, rinsing the stone and setting afterwards to ensure no soapy residue.

 

CARE OF GEMSTONES

The build-up of hand cream, finger prints and general dirt is common amongst your most loved jewelry, and can easily be cleaned. Most gemstones can be cleaned with warm water, a touch of mild detergent and a soft cloth. 

 

CARE OF CHAINS

Just like all fine chains, our chains can be delicate and should be treated with the utmost care. Do not pull or tug on them. Chains should be treated delicately in order to prevent damage.