Each piece of Wings Hawaii jewelry is handcrafted, and often with rare and unique shells, pearls, crystals, gemstones, beads, and components that require delicate handling. Here’s how to clean, store, travel with, and care for your Wings Hawaii jewelry, so it can be treasured for a lifetime.
Cleaning your Wings Hawaii jewelry:
Our easiest and #1 tip is to use a soft polishing cloth. (We sell them at the register for $5!) After each wear, gently wipe down your Wings jewelry with the polishing cloth to remove any dirt, natural oils, sweat, etc. These cloths are great for regular maintenance, and they work with all our metals (sterling silver, gold-filled, and solid 14k golds).
Our favorite lazy-girl hack is to keep one right in our jewelry box, so we remember to do a quick wipe-down on our favorite pieces before stashing them away. Do this daily if you wear the piece often; it prevents buildup that dulls the surface.
Deeper cleaning can be done with warm soapy water and a toothbrush (gently!). You’ll want to do this especially if you wear a lot of lotions or oils. Any fine chains will need this kind of maintenance. A pearl-safe jewelry cleaner can be used on all jewelry. We’ve even found that whatever soap they stock in the airport bathrooms always shines up our rings!
If your piece has hard-to-reach buildup or a super-intricate setting, take it to a professional jeweler rather than forcing aggressive cleaning at home. Regular light cleaning prevents most stubborn deposits.
Storing your Wings Hawaii jewelry:
Be sure to store your special Wings Hawaii pieces in a jewelry box to keep them safe, protected, and clean. Please note that many of our pieces are made with wire-wrapping techniques, which should be delicately handled and stored in an appropriate space. Storing items separately helps prevent scratches and tangles. Opt for a cool, dry space for storage. (Hint: Wings Hawaii has cute jewelry boxes!)
Caring for and Maintaining your Wings Hawaii jewelry:
Regular gentle care preserves shine and reduces the need for professional polishing. All metals can tarnish over time when exposed to chemicals and certain elements, such as pool chlorine, sea water, hair spray, perfume, sunscreen and lotions. It's recommended to put your jewelry on last to minimize contact with these chemicals.
We don’t recommend swimming, surfing, exercising, or gardening with any jewelry, because we’ve heard too many stories about priceless pieces getting lost! We also recommend removing jewelry before showering or washing your hands, especially with certain stones like opals.
Shells and pearls require especially delicate handling. They’re porous, and can absorb chemicals. Keep them away from harsh chemicals, extreme heat, and abrasive surfaces. Treat them like organic living materials – moisture, oils, and rough contact can change their appearance over time. But with proper care, they endure beautifully!
Traveling with your Wings Hawaii jewelry:
Most of our jewelry comes in a silky drawstring sachet, which is great for travel too. For traveling with necklaces, we recommend putting 90% of the necklace in the sachet, then cinching it shut with 10% of the chain hanging out. This suspends it in the bag and helps prevent the chain from getting tangled. When we transport jewelry for Wings, we always bag each piece individually. Nobody likes a tangled chain!
We also always keep our high-value jewelry with us in our carry-on instead of checked luggage.
Bring a small care kit: a soft cloth, a gentle brush, and a sealed plastic bag for wet items. If a clasp or stone loosens while away, stop wearing the piece and seek repair rather than improvising fixes that may cause more damage.
About our metals:
At Wings Hawaii, we work only with the highest-quality sterling silver, 14k gold, and 14k gold-filled. We NEVER use gold-plated, gold-dipped or gold vermeil, because they tarnish faster and simply don’t hold up to everyday wear.
Gold-filled jewelry is far superior to plated and vermeil, but if it’s worn every day for years and years and tears, it will eventually start to dull. That’s why maintenance is key! The better you care for your jewelry, the longer the gold brilliance will last. This is also why some people prefer 14k gold fine jewelry– although it’s far more expensive, it will last a lifetime.
Other jewelry care tips:
Rotate pieces if you have several similar items; this reduces constant wear on one piece. Use anti-tarnish strips in storage if you live in a humid climate. Inspect settings regularly so stones don’t loosen from impact.
We know it can be humbug, but try to remove your jewels before washing your hands, washing dishes, using cleaning products, or applying lotions. Soap can build up in settings and can dull gemstones over time. Your jewelry will thank you!
Got more jewelry care questions? Ask away at info@wingshawaii.com!
Shop in-store at the Wings Hawaii boutique at 100 Hana Highway in Paia, Maui and online at www.wingshawaii.com
0 comments