Jewelry Care & Allergies
JEWELRY CARE
Handling
Green Diva jewelry is crafted by hand and will withstand reasonable wear. However, to prevent damage, avoid pulling, tugging or stretching jewelry with excessive force. Always use caution when near children and infants. Avoid applying fragrances near the area where you will be wearing your jewelry, as both natural and synthetic substances may cause pearls, gems and metals to become damaged. Jewelry should be the last item you put on and the first item you remove when dressing and undressing.
Storage
Store pearls and gems in a soft, non-abrasive cloth, such as the Wedding Dress Pouch™ you received with your order. Store these items alone, as pearls and gemstones may become scratched or damaged when placed against other sharp metals.
Tarnish
Green Diva metals include fine, sterling and argentium silver. All silver has the potential to become tarnished over time; although our fine and argentium silver will take longer to do so. However, if this is not an effect you desire, place your silver jewelry inside its jewelry pouch and store it inside an air-tight container to avoid exposure to air. Also, be sure to wipe down the metal with a polishing cloth after each use to remove any natural oils that may have transferred onto it during wear.
To prevent tarnishing, regularly clean your silver with a damp, non-abrasive cloth that has been rubbed with baking soda. Baking soda will polish up mild tarnish. It is critical that you follow this step regularly if you want to avoid tarnish. Otherwise, you may have to use harsher chemicals to remove the tarnish if it is allowed to worsen.
Cleaning
Pearls should be cleaned with lukewarm water and a soft, non-abrasive cloth. Do not use chemicals on pearls. These are organic materials and will react to various substances. The most eco-friendly way to clean silver, gold and gemstones is by rubbing them with water and baking soda using a soft, scratch-resistant cloth. Regular cleaning will ensure that the materials remain vibrant and tarnish-free. Delayed cleaning could result in the need for techniques that require the use of less environmentally-safe chemicals, so the best defense in regular maintenance.
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JEWELRY ALLERGIES
Green Diva jewelry incorporates a variety of materials, including gemstones, pearls, silver, gold and vintage glass crystals. Before purchasing jewelry you may want to consult your doctor to ensure you are not allergic to any metals or other materials, particularly if you have sensitive skin. When buying gifts for others, always consider their allergies as well.
Metal allergies often involve nickel, copper and other base metals, which are mixed with certain silver and gold alloys to strengthen them. If you are allergic to base metals, opt for purer alloys, such as fine 99.9% silver, which contain little to no base metals.
Below is a summary of the metals that Green Diva incorporates into its jewelry. All of our jewelry detail pages show lists of the materials used. However, if you have known allergies to materials, please contact us by email or phone before purchasing any products so that we can make certain you are aware of every component within that design.
Silver
Fine Silver: Pure silver, 99.9% silver, .1% other metals; much softer than sterling.
Sterling Silve: 92.5% silver, 7.5% other metals, such as copper, zinc, platinum, silicon and boron.
Argentium Silver: 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper and germanium; this is a more tarnish-resistant version of sterling silver.
Gold
24 Karat Gold: Pure gold, cannot be used in all jewelry due to softness
18 Karat Gold: 75% pure gold
14 Karat Gold: 58% pure gold
Rose or Pink Gold: 75% or less pure gold and 25% or more copper
Gold Vermeil: Green Diva gold vermeil is nickel-free. Pure fine silver is plated with 1 micron of 18K gold, 2 microns of 24K gold and 6 microns of protective coating.
Pink Gold Vermeil: Pink Gold Vermeil will contain additional copper.
Gold Plated or Filled: On very rare occasion, we must use a few tiny components that are made with a mix of base and precious metals. It isn't often, but it may happen every now and then. Again, if you have allergies, contact us directly to discuss materials used in the products you're considering.
Please note: Occasionally we do incorporate vintage materials and, in this instance, we cannot be certain of the exact composition of each materials. If you have allergies, we recommend avoiding jewelry with vintage materials, especially metals.