Frequently Asked Questions

Necklaces strung on silk will need to be restrung periodically, depending on how often you wear them and the weight of the piece (pearls tend to be heavier so may need to be restrung more often than a light necklace. Keep an eye on the silk; if it becomes stretched or discolored, then it is time to restring (before it breaks). Pay extra attention to the silk near the clasp -- this is the area that takes the most wear as you open and close it.
 
If you get your necklace wet (caught in the rain, too much champagne escapes with the cork...), take it off right away and lay it out to dry on a light colored (preferably white or neutral) towel. When wet, silk will stretch very quickly, shortening the life of the silk, and making it much more likely it will break.

First, a diamond's value is different depending on whether it is for:
1) Resale purposes. Here the value is always less, because a diamond dealer will not pay more to buy it from you than they pay to buy many diamonds at once from diamond cutters & miners.
vs.
2) Personal Insurance purposes. Here it needs to be at the full retail value. A formal valuation should come from a certified independent jewelry appraiser (we can recommend a good one), which means an expert who is not involved in the manufacture, purchase or sale of jewelry.

We can give an idea of the "ballpark retail value" which may help you determine if it is worth trying to sell them, or we can work with you to create a special and beautiful new piece of jewelry using your family heirloom diamonds. At Eve's we call these redesigns "Transformations" -- think of it as another form of recycling. It's good for the environment and fun for you! This is a very special way to be remembered in family history and lore. You will be creating a wonderful story to pass down to your children and your children's children along with that fabulous one-of-a-kind Eve piece!

• All jewelry should be removed before doing housework, gardening, workouts and sports. Be especially careful with rings – you may choose to wear gloves.

• Periodically check for loose gems by gently shaking the piece, or by tapping it with your finger near your ear. Prongs may be checked by trying to insert a thin piece of paper between the gem and the metal prongs. When in doubt, have it professionally checked. Have all loose stones tightened before wearing the jewelry. Check clasps and fasteners often.

• Restring necklaces regularly, at least every two years or annually with heavy use. If gems move easily along the string or the string is discolored, it’s time to have the piece restrung.

• Do not store jewelry together. Keep each piece in a soft pouch or cotton lined box. Diamonds, rubies and sapphires will scratch or abrade every other thing they touch. Likewise, metal will scratch other metals.

• Scratching and other damage can occur from improper cleaning. Do not over clean. Never use bleach or household cleaners. When in doubt, do not use chemicals.

• Avoid wearing gold jewelry in chlorinated water, such as swimming pools & hot tubs, because chlorine attacks the alloys in gold jewelry.

For jewelry cleaning, we recommend rubbing alcohol, a simple solution that is readily available. Put the jewelry in a dish covered with alcohol for a few minutes, then use a soft brush (like an old soft bristle toothbrush) to remove the film left by lotion, soap, dirt and oils, then rinse again with alcohol (or water) and let air dry on a clean soft towel. DO NOT use rubbing alcohol on porous gems (like emeralds which contain oil and must only be cleaned with lukewarm water; opals, which have a high water content; or turquoise, bone, etc.). Porous gems should only be cleaned with lukewarm water and a soft brush, then dried as above. If in doubt, have it professionally cleaned.

• Pearls are delicate precious jewels. Protect them against scratches from other gemstones or metal.

• Keep your pearls in a chamois bag, protective pouch, or individual softly lined box when not being worn. DO NOT store them in an airtight place, such as a vault or a sealed plastic bag.

• Avoid storing pearls in sunlight, extreme dryness or humidity. Never expose pearls to hair sprays, cosmetics, perfumes, sun lotions or insect repellents – the acids in them will attack the pearls.

• Never clean pearls using chemicals or abrasives. Do not swim wearing pearls.

• Pearls should be the last to go on and first to come off when dressing.

• Pearls are usually strung securely with silk, and are knotted between each pearl to avoid abrasion and prevent loss if the string should break. If your pearls seem to “travel” loosely on the thread or if the thread has discolored, it is time to restring. Have the pearls restrung once a year, if worn frequently. Heavier pearls may need to be restrung more often.

• If the pearls seem to become dingy, it is time for a cleaning. Pearls can be cleaned professionally or you can wash them gently with Woolite in warm water, being careful not to stretch the thread. Rinse thoroughly and let air dry on a towel until the thread is completely dry (usually at least 24 hours).