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Care and Support – General Notes.    See also special page on Taking Care of Your Knot Bracelets.

Taking Care of Your Jewelry

No doubt you will be keen to keep your jewelry in top condition, so that it continues to look as good as the day you bought it. There are a few things which you should always bear in mind, in order to prevent any piece of jewelry from becoming damaged.

Firstly, it is important to remember to clean your jewelry thoroughly each time you wear it. Make-up and skin oils are likely to rub off on you jewelry each time you wear it, but they can be easily removed by simply wiping with a cotton cloth.

Silver jewelry can be particularly prone to tarnishing, and you will want to pay special attention to taking care of it. Silver should be polished regularly without the use of chemical cleaners, and it is usually a good idea to store it in a small jewelry box whenever you’re not wearing it.

With any jewelry, however, you should be careful about where it is kept. Avoid leaving jewelry in direct sunlight, or in areas which are likely to become damp, such as the bathroom. If you have a jewelry box, then make sure each item is kept separate, in order to avoid pieces scratching each other.

You should also think about the occasions in which you choose to wear your jewelry. With jewelry of any material, it is usually advisable not to wear any piece whilst showering, or swimming. You should also avoid wearing pieces of fine jewelry whilst completing household cleaning, or carrying out other similar tasks. If you wear perfume, moisturiser, or other skin-based products, then make sure they have been fully absorbed before putting in your jewelry in order to prevent chemical damage.

Silver Jewelry:

Sterling silver will tarnish over time, regardless of what care you take of it. However, this can be greatly minimized on pieces that you do not wear daily by storing them in a clean air tight plastic bag. Ziplocs are great for this.

For bracelets and other items you wear a lot, do not be scared to keep them on always… hot water and soap is good for them. But to really clean them, first use hot water and dishwashing liquid. An old tough toothbrush will do great as a srubber. Dry properly afterwards with a lint free paper towel.

For even more sparkle, pick up a silver cleaning cloth or kit at the local jewelry counter of any discount department store. A few simple rubs, and you will have that mirror finish return. You can do this many times over.

For higher end and very intricate pieces, you may want to take them to a professional jeweler for cleaning. All Safari Gold products are safe to be cleaned in a sonic cleaning machine (but not steam cleaners).

Note: If you are in a continuously salty water environment (like a sea faring fisherman) your silver items will tarnish very quickly and be difficult to clean. Perhaps they should best be left ashore in such cases.

Gold Jewelry:

Gold jewelry may slowly lose its magic luster. This can be minimized on pieces that you do not wear daily by storing them in a clean air tight plastic bag. Ziplocs are great for this.

For even more sparkle, pick up a gold cleaning cloth or kit at the local jewelry counter of any discount department store. A few simple rubs, and you will have that lovely glossy finish return. You can do this many times over. If you can, find a cloth specifically marked for Argentium silver.

Most gold products on this site are now 14/20KY gold fill due to the extremely high prices of real solid gold.  DO NOT put these products in a sonic cleaning machine. The metal combination might attract more dirt than it repels, especially on small flat pieces! But feel free to wash thoroughly with a dishwasher soap and/or ammonia mix and a toothbrush if need be, before repolishing.

Copper Jewelry:

While all our copper bracelets are made with shiny new copper, they will slowly change patinas and darken as they age. You can alleviate this if you don’t like naturally patined copper by polishing occasionally with common Brasso. An old tooth brush can help you get between the strands, else use a finger nail wrapped in a piece of paper towel. In fact, it is a bit of a messy process, so we prefer paper to any old fine cloth.

For some people, new copper leaves a green mark on their skin. This is entirely safe and cannot be felt at all. Soap and water will easily deal with the markings which will slowly not recur.

Giraffe Hair:

Giraffe hair is a natural fiber, and giraffe spend most of their lives outdoors – even when it is raining hard! So it is quite OK to swim or shower with your giraffe hair bracelet on. Giraffe hair is best cleaned with hot water and dishwasher soap.

For items that are a combination of silver or gold and giraffe hair, simply clean as mentioned above. Giraffe hair itself can also be cleaned in professional jewelers sonic baths – but not steam cleaners at extreme temperatures.

Artificial Elephant Hair:

The artificial elephant hair products sold on this site are extremely durable and may be washed and cleaned many ways over. The only caution is that as a fiber product it may be susceptible to knives, cuts and sharp edges. Otherwise it should endure for many years.

Otherwise:  Connect with us.

See also special page on Taking Care of Your Knot Bracelets.

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Elephant Hair Knot Bracelets and Safari Jewelry

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