Security: Because you use your hands all the time, center stones take a little abuse. This may cause them to loosen in the setting. You might not even notice that the stone is loose, if the stone is dirty, and the dirt is keeping it from rattling around. Whenever you can, stop by any jewelry store to get your stone steam cleaned. Tap gently on the stone. This will help you notice if the stone is moving in the setting. Have your stone checked professionally once a year to determine if the stone is safe and secure.
Pearls are organic gemstones. Due to their porous nature, contact with the following should be avoided: all acidic substances, perfume, hairspray, vinegar, fruit juices, detergents, or alcohol. Perspiration can also harm the beauty of pearls, dulling their beautiful luster. Therefore, after wearing them, they should be wiped with a damp (not wet), soft cloth or a silicon cloth. Avoid getting your pearl jewelry wet, as water can weaken silk thread and epoxy. Pearls in rings are almost always glued in place, so removing your pearl ring as specified above can help prolong its’ security. Tap on your pearl to make sure that it is not loose. Even though pearls are exceptionally cohesive and shock-resistant, they rank only 3.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, so they may be scratched by contact with sharp objects or other gemstones.
High Polish: A high polish ring will take on small scratches pretty quickly, and scuff up uniformly over time. If you want to bring back the shine, a polishing cloth or cream will do the trick. It won’t remove small dents and dings, but it will brighten the surface considerably.
Brushed Finish: A brushed finish will show scratches pretty quickly. Fortunately, it is easy to refresh with Scotch-Brite. A nice way to resurface the ring whenever you desire is to take a small square of scotchbright (the green scouring pad available at the grocery, drug or hardware store), soften it up in water and soap, and run it gently around the ring.
Mixed Finishes and non-uniform surfaces: Mixed finishes are the most beautiful and the most difficult to repeat at home. We frequently achieve a mixed finish with a combination of masking, blasting, and fine hand work. Polishing cream is great for around bezels, and other designs with recessed areas. You can use a combination of a small square of scotchbright on the mokume, and polishing cloth on the high polished surfaces, or use a soft toothbrush, polishing cream and a gentle hand around the whole ring, or forget about it and just send it in to us.
Darkened Recess : If your ring has a darkened recess, avoid polishing cream. If the surface is brushed, a quick swipe with scotchbright will do; if the surface is high polish, a quick buff with a polishing cloth is the ticket.
Mokume: Mokume rings wear differently for each person. Here are some pointers on how to take care of your ring, depending upon what kind of finish you have:
High Polish: High polish mokume is very easy to take care of. A polishing cloth or polishing cream (available in our maintenance package) will do the trick to polish it up. Of course, the cream and the cloth will not remove dents and dings, which are a product of normal wear on all precious metal rings.
Matte Finish and Etched Finish: There is very little to do to care for a matte and etched finish mokume ring. The finish that your ring has upon arrival is a bead blasted finish, one that cannot be mimicked at home. If you have a simple mokume band, without stones or any other features, a nice way to refresh the surface after a year or two is to take a small square of scotchbright (the green scouring pad available at the grocery, drug or hardware store), soften it up in water and soap, and run it gently around the ring. This will help refresh the metal and make the colors stand out again.
How to darken mokume: Mix a cap full of fresh bleach and a 1/4 cup of hot water together in a small glass. Submerge the ring for a minute or two until desired darkness is achieved. This is only possible on mokume that has a layer of sterling in it. Do not bleach dip jewelry that contains pearls and the soft porous stones like emeralds, opals, aquamarines, tanzanite, garnets, coral, turquoise tourmalines, quartz, topaz and beads. Safe for diamonds, sapphires, alexandrite and spinel.
How to remove and avoid darkening on the sterling bearing mokume types: Darkened sterling occurs in a few scenarios: when the jewelry is worn in a pool or jacuzzi, when the ring comes in contact with bleach and some sunscreens, and with some uncommon skin ph balances. Avoid exposing your ring to these conditions. To remove the darkening, refinish the ring according to its’ finish type (see above). If this does not work, you may wait a couple of weeks for the surface to return to natural, or you may return the ring to Krikawa for a professional refinishing. If this is recurring and bothersome to you, or if you prefer to wear your ring when swim, you may prefer a non-sterling mokume or a heavy etch.
Rings with stones: Have your stones steam cleaned and checked for security once a year.
When to have your ring professionally refinished: Whenever you wish, but no more frequent than once a year. Some people go 2 years, some 5, and some let their ring age naturally. It is totally up to you.