Jewelry Care Instructions

Every piece of jewelry from BAZK Berlin is carefully handcrafted in our Berlin studio. We believe in conscious beauty and want your ring, necklace, earring - or any other piece of jewelry to last a lifetime. To enjoy your new favorite pieces of jewelry for a long time, it is important to care for them regularly. Here you can learn how to give your jewelry the care it deserves.

Store your jewelry in a clean, dry space

This seems like an obvious tip, but at the end of the day, we’ve all been guilty of tossing our jewelry in a drawer or on the nightstand. It’s best to keep your jewelry in the fabric bag we provide with each piece or in a fabric-lined case that has compartments and dividers for your jewelry. If you don’t have a jewelry case, make sure to wrap each piece of jewelry in a soft tissue or paper before placing it in a drawer. This will prevent scratching and tangling. Especially sterling silver jewelry tends to tarnish quickly, so it is important to store it in a bag or cloth to limit exposure to air and moisture.

Avoid damaging chemicals

Hairspray, lotion, and perfume can be damaging to certain types of metals and colored gems. Precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum are especially susceptible to discoloration from these everyday care products. When getting ready in the morning or preparing for a night out, set your jewelry aside, or better yet, leave your jewelry in its case until you’re ready to wear it.

Use mild cleaners for regular cleanings

One of the best jewelry cleaning methods involves warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft brush. However, ultrasonic jewelry cleaning has become popular for jewelry lovers looking for a more thorough approach to cleaning their jewelry. If you’re considering ultrasonic cleaning, it’s best to leave your jewelry in the care of trained jewelers who understand how to use this technology safely. Ultrasonic cleaning can sometimes shake gems loose or chip gemstones if used incorrectly. Plus, organic gemstones like pearls, coral, ivory, and amber should not be cleaned ultrasonically. The same applies to gems impacted by heat and temperature changes like tanzanite, moonstone, opal, turquoise, and topaz.

When in doubt, take it off

The swimming pool isn’t an ideal place for your fine jewelry. Neither is the gym. Even when preparing a meal or doing household chores, it’s a good idea to store your jewelry in a safe place. Not only will this protect your treasured pieces from harsh chemicals and debris buildup, but it will also help you avoid losing your jewelry. You wouldn't be the first to having to retrieve your ring from the bottom of a pool drain, the Spree or the Landwehrkanal.. it is a nightmare you should never have to experience.

Oxidized Jewelry

If you own a piece of jewelry from us that has been oxidized to make it darker, this darker color will fade over time. When the oxidation wears off and you want to get the original intensity back, we recommend sending the piece back to us, and we will re-oxidize it for you free of charge. You can also do this at home; here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this.

Materials:

• Soap (dish washing soap is best)
• Glass cup
• Plastic tongs or a paintbrush with a wood or a plastic handle
• Liver Of Sulphur Extended Life Gel (available here)
• Polishing cloth
• Toothbrush of similar brush

Things To consider:

• Always do this in a well ventilated area.
• Follow the safety instructions on the bottle.
• Don't do this to pieces with soft or fragile stones.
• Don't put any other metal than your silver jewelry in the sulfur solution.

Step 1: Wash

You need to get all the oil and dirt off your jewelry. Gently scrub your piece with warm soapy water and a toothbrush. If a piece is particularly dirty, you can soak it for a few minutes first. Rinse off your piece and dry it.

Step 2: Mix

Screw the top off the sulfur (*pro tip: don't use the lid's pour spout-it's terribly messy.) Dip the end of your paintbrush or tongs into the sulfur and mix it in about half a cup of tap hot water. Don't get any water in the bottle; it'll shorten the shelf life of your sulfur. You want the color of the mixture to be a dark yellow - a bit darker than a lemon peel.

Step 3: Soak

Gently drop your cleaned jewelry in the solution and set a timer. Check on your piece about every 5 minutes until you like the color. Don't leave soaking without checking on it; you might get it too dark, and it will ruin the finish on your silver.

Step 4: Rinse

Once you've got the color you want, take your piece out and give it a good rinse and even a quick scrub with the soapy water again. If you'd like, you can dry it off and sand it down with a bit of 1000 grit sandpaper, or a piece of Stainless Steel Wool to get that authentic look and feel of your BAZK Berlin piece.

Step 5: Dispose

Rinse your sulfur solution down the drain with plenty of water and enjoy your refurbished jewelry!

Now that you know how to take care for your jewelry continue exploring, or if you have any other questions or doubts, get in touch!