All Amanda Hagerman Jewelry is made using solid 18K yellow gold due to its higher purity (75% pure gold) and beautiful glowing luster. It is an investment with high durability that lasts forever, and has great intrinsic value. Due to its higher purity, 18K gold will likely not cause skin irritations due to metal allergies. Tarnish is also not an issue. Solid gold is the superior option if you prefer a gold tone.
Care: Clean jewelry with a mild dish soap, water, and very soft toothbrush. To maintain the satin finish, avoid polishing cloths. To keep your jewelry in tip top shape, remove when: performing high impact activities, gardening, working with chemicals (i.e., household cleaners), sleeping, swimming, & applying hairspray, serums, & lotions. Over time, exposure to pool chlorine will weaken gold and cause it to become brittle. Keep pieces stored in a soft dry place, free from scratching against other jewelry. For care information on pearls, opals, and all other gems scroll below.
To ensure the longevity and luster of your pearl jewelry, proper care and maintenance are essential. Pearls are delicate gemstones formed organically, making them susceptible to damage from chemicals, moisture, and even daily wear. Here's a guide on how to best care for your precious pearl jewelry:
1. Avoid Contact with Chemicals:Pearls are sensitive to chemicals found in cosmetics, perfumes, hairsprays, and even household cleaning agents. Always apply these products before putting on your pearl jewelry to prevent chemical damage.
2. Put Pearls on Last: When getting dressed, make sure your pearl jewelry is the last thing you put on. This minimizes exposure to substances that could harm them.
3. Minimize Impact: Pearls are susceptible to scratching upon impact. Handle your pearls with care and avoid activities where they might be knocked or bumped.
4. Wipe with a Soft Cloth: After wearing, gently wipe your pearls with a soft, damp cloth to remove any oils, sweat, or dirt. Allow them to air dry completely before storing.
5. Store Separately: Pearls are prone to scratching, so store them separately from other jewelry, preferably in a soft pouch or a jewelry box with individual compartments.
6. Avoid Excessive Sunlight: Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause pearls to fade and lose their luster. Store them in a cool, dark place when not in use.
Opal doublets are composite gemstones created by combining a thin slice of precious opal with a backing material, typically a dark-colored stone, glass, or resin. This process enhances the opal's play-of-color, making it appear brighter and more vibrant than solid opals of the same thickness. To ensure the longevity and beauty of opal doublet jewelry, proper care and maintenance are essential:
1. Gentle Cleaning: Clean your opal doublet jewelry regularly with a soft, damp cloth to remove dirt and oils. Avoid using abrasive materials or harsh chemicals, as they can damage the opal's delicate surface and affect the bond between the opal and the backing.
2. Avoid Water Immersion: Opal doublets are sensitive to moisture. To prevent potential damage, remove your jewelry before swimming, showering, or engaging in activities that could expose it to prolonged contact with water.
3. Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Opal doublets can be sensitive to extreme temperature changes. Store your jewelry away from direct sunlight, and avoid exposing it to extreme heat or cold, as this can cause the opal to expand or contract, potentially leading to cracks.
4. Minimize Impact: Opal doublets are not as durable as solid opals. Be cautious and avoid activities that could cause the stone to be bumped or knocked, as this can lead to chipping or separation of the layers.
5. Store Separately: Store opal doublet jewelry separately from other pieces to prevent scratching. Place them in a soft pouch or a padded jewelry box.
Boulder opals are a unique and captivating variety of opal gemstones. They are characterized by a thin layer of colorful opal that forms naturally within cracks and voids of ironstone or sandstone boulders. To maintain the beauty and integrity of boulder opal jewelry, it's crucial to follow proper care guidelines:
1. Gentle Cleaning: Clean your boulder opal jewelry regularly with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust and dirt. Avoid using abrasive materials or harsh chemicals, as these can damage the delicate opal surface and affect its brilliance.
2. Avoid Immersion: Like other opals, boulder opals are sensitive to moisture. Remove your jewelry before swimming, showering, or any activity that involves prolonged exposure to water. This precaution helps prevent potential damage, including crazing (tiny surface cracks).
3. Minimize Impact: Boulder opals, while sturdy due to their host rock, can still be vulnerable to impact and chipping. Take care to avoid activities where your jewelry might be knocked or bumped.
4. Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Sudden temperature changes can potentially harm boulder opals. Store your jewelry away from direct sunlight and extreme heat or cold, as these conditions may cause the opal to expand or contract, leading to cracks.
5. Store Separately: Store boulder opal jewelry separately from other pieces to prevent scratching. Use a soft pouch or a padded jewelry box to protect them.
Fire crystal opals, also known as Ethiopian opals, are a mesmerizing variety of opal gemstones known for their vibrant play-of-color and transparency. Unlike traditional opals that form in rock formations, fire crystal opals are found in nodules and fissures in volcanic rock, specifically in Ethiopia. To ensure the longevity and beauty of fire crystal opal jewelry, proper care and maintenance are essential:
1. Gentle Cleaning: Clean your fire crystal opal jewelry regularly with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust and dirt. Avoid using abrasive materials or harsh chemicals, as these can damage the delicate opal surface and affect its play-of-color.
2. Avoid Immersion: Like other opals, fire crystal opals are sensitive to moisture. Remove your jewelry before swimming, showering, or any activity that involves prolonged exposure to water. This precaution helps prevent potential damage, including crazing (tiny surface cracks).
3. Minimize Impact: While fire crystal opals are relatively durable compared to some opal varieties, they can still be vulnerable to impact and chipping. Take care to avoid activities where your jewelry might be knocked or bumped.
4. Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Rapid temperature changes can potentially harm fire crystal opals. Store your jewelry away from direct sunlight and extreme heat or cold, as these conditions may cause the opal to expand or contract, leading to cracks.
5. Store Separately: Store fire crystal opal jewelry separately from other pieces to prevent scratching. Use a soft pouch or a padded jewelry box to protect them.
Hyalite opals, also known as water opals or glass opals, are a fascinating and rare type of opal characterized by their clear, colorless, or translucent appearance. Unlike traditional opals with a play-of-color, hyalite opals do not exhibit the iridescent hues commonly associated with opal gemstones. Instead, they are valued for their unique glassy and water-like qualities, often resembling tiny water droplets trapped in the stone. To preserve the beauty and integrity of hyalite opal jewelry, it's essential to follow proper care guidelines:
1. Gentle Cleaning: Clean your hyalite opal jewelry regularly with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust and dirt. Avoid abrasive materials or harsh chemicals, which can potentially harm the opal's surface or clarity.
2. Avoid Immersion: Hyalite opals are sensitive to moisture. Remove your jewelry before swimming, bathing, or engaging in activities involving prolonged exposure to water. This precaution helps prevent any potential damage or cloudiness.
3. Minimize Impact: While hyalite opals are relatively durable, they can still be susceptible to scratching upon impact. Handle your jewelry with care and avoid activities where it might be knocked or bumped.
4. Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Extreme temperature changes can affect hyalite opals. Store your jewelry away from direct sunlight and avoid exposing it to extreme heat or cold, which may lead to thermal shock and damage.
5. Store Separately: Store hyalite opal jewelry separately from other pieces to prevent potential scratching. Use a soft pouch or a padded jewelry box to protect them.
Caring for gemstone jewelry is essential to maintain its beauty and longevity. Whether your jewelry features precious gemstones like diamonds, sapphires, or rubies, or semi-precious stones such as amethyst, emerald, or garnet, proper care is crucial. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to best care for your gemstone jewelry:
1. Regular Cleaning: Clean your gemstone jewelry regularly with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove dust, dirt, and oils. For a deeper clean, use a mild, non-abrasive soapy water solution. Gently scrub with a soft brush and rinse thoroughly. Pat dry with a clean cloth.
2. Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Keep your gemstone jewelry away from harsh chemicals, such as household cleaners, bleach, and chlorine. These can damage the stones and affect their brilliance.
3. Minimize Exposure to Sunlight: Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause some gemstones to fade or lose their color. Store your jewelry in a cool, dark place when not in use.
4. Proper Storage: Store gemstone jewelry separately from other pieces to prevent scratching. Use individual compartments or soft pouches to protect the stones from contact with harder materials.
5. Gentle Handling: Handle your jewelry with care, as gemstones can be susceptible to chipping or cracking upon impact. Avoid wearing your jewelry during activities that may subject it to rough treatment.
6. Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Some gemstones are sensitive to extreme temperature changes. Avoid exposing your jewelry to extreme heat or cold.
As a designer and crafter it is important to me that the materials I use are ethically sourced whenever possible.
The 18K gold I work with comes from refiners on the LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) good delivery list, EICC/GeSI conflict –free compliant smelter list, certified members of the Responsible Jewellery Council or refiners which certify and independently audit that all gold supplies are conflict free, in accordance with one of the following standards: RJC chain of custody standard, OECD Responsible Supply Chain of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High Risk Areas Supplement or the World Gold Council Conflict-Free Standard.
Diamonds and gems come from suppliers that only offer conflict free, fair trade and ethically sourced stones.
I'm no longer producing vermeil jewelry, but am providing the details for any clients who have purchased it in the past. Vermeil, pronounced 'Ver-May', is a thick layer of gold over silver. I offer vermeil jewelry because it is the best quality gold plated finish at a more affordable price then solid gold for my larger designs. Gold plated and gold filled pieces are typically gold coated base metals (brass, steel, etc). Vermeil is intrinsically more valuable because the entire piece is made from precious metals. The industry standard for vermeil is 2.5 microns of gold over silver. At 3 microns thick, my jewelry is higher than the industry standard. All vermeil jewelry is NICKEL FREE. *For certain pieces, a reapplication of the gold vermeil finish can be done for a fee if the gold finish has worn over an extended period of time.
Tarnish: Because vermeil is gold over silver, and silver tarnishes, it can develop a tarnished appearance over time. In the case that a mild tarnish develops, use Goddard's Silver Dip (see care instructions below for how to use). The dip will safely restore the piece back to a brighter finish without harming the gold. NEVER use a polishing cloth or any type of abrasive tarnish removing product on vermeil, this will harm the gold finish. For pieces with pearls or porous stones, gently swab piece with cleaner using a q-tip to avoid the stone/pearl. Always dry pieces extremely well after cleaning. Moisture welcomes tarnish.
Care: Before placing in silver dip, I recommend cleaning the piece first with lukewarm water, mild dish soap, and a very soft tooth brush. This will remove any grime that has built up on the piece from normal wear. After rinsing well to remove all soap, place the piece in the Goddard's Silver Dip for a few seconds to remove any tarnish. After removing from the dip, rinse the piece thoroughly. I recommend one last brushing with mild dish soap and water to remove all remnants of the silver dip. Rinse and dry extremely well. To dry, use soft cloth (100% cotton or microfiber). While wearing, avoid harsh household cleaners and always remove vermeil jewelry prior to swimming, or bathing. Never use a gold polishing cloth on vermeil as it will remove the gold finish. Store jewelry in a soft, dry location free from scratching against other jewelry pieces.
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