Armin Lowe & Son Jewellers Ltd.

...the stories

LOOKING AFTER YOUR JEWELLERY
Considering how much is spent on dry cleaning clothes, repairing shoes etc., it is astonishing how comparatively little attention is given to our truly valuable possession -Jewellery.

REMEMBER the 10 golden rules for the care of your jewellery;

1.It is better not run pendants up and down their chain. Fiddling with pendants weakens the chain.

2.It is better not keep turning a ring round and round on your finger. Your local RJI jeweller will be able to size it for you.

3. It is better not put jewellery on before you have washed, put on make-up, perfume , prayed hairspray, dressed etc. Cosmetics contain ingredients which can react with
the alloy in the gold and result in marking on the skin and clothes, and also cause skin irritation.

4. Do take off ALL jewellery before getting undressed. It is easy to catch chains, earrings, rings and bracelets in clothing and damage not only your jewellery but your clothes too! Do remember that if your chains gets a pull it can weaken the rest of the links. So take care!
5 .Do have all settings and clasps checked regularly by your local RJI jeweller to ensure they are safe.

6. Do keep jewellery, when not worn, in a jewellery case with separate compartments for each item. Gemstones vary in their hardness and if put together they may get scratched. Rings, earrings and necklaces should be kept in their correct compartments and pearl or cultured pearl jewellery must not be put with other gemstones but wrapped separately.

7. DO have your real and cultured pearl bracelets and necklaces re-strung regularly. This can be done by your local RJI jeweller.

8. DO make sure all your jewellery is insured against loss, theft or accident and that the nsurance policy is updated at least every two years due to the ever increasing costs of precious metals and stones and to account for inflation. Where possible photograph the items insured to make identification easier should you lose them. Your local RJI jeweller can give good advice on this matter and value your jewellery for insurance purposes.

9. DO make sure that chains bought for pendants are strong enough. A fine chain may look pretty on it's own but might not be strong enough to support a pendant. Your local RJI Jeweller will be able to advise you as to the best chain to buy.

10. DO remove earrings before brushing your hair. Catching an earring, especially one on a pierced ear, can be painful and dangerous.

CLEANING
Your jewellery will require cleaning from time to time due to the collection of grease and
soap deposits especially on the underside of gem set jewellery. There are a number of proprietary products on the market which can do this job most efficiently. For a quick clean to brighten up your stones, a warm solution of soapy water will remove deposits of grease. After soaking in a bowl for a few minutes, brush lightly with a fine brush around the settings. NEVER dig into the settings with a sharp instrument as this will damage the stone and / or the mounting. Rinse your jewellery in clear warm water to make sure all soapy solution is
removed and dry thoroughly using a soft cloth or chamois. It is advisable not to clean Opals, Turquoise and other porous stones yourself. These, together with real and cultured pearl items should be cleaned by your local jeweller.

 Your local RJI jeweller will be happy to give your jewellery an expert clean every so often. After your jeweller has cleaned it your jewellery will look like new again.


The legend and magic of Pearls

Legend has it that oysters rise to the surface of the sea, open and collect a dew drop and gently sink again. If this occurs during a full moon the pearl will be of real beauty, but if the sky is overcast the pearl will be dull and of poor quality.
The pearl is the most feminine of all jewels. It symbolises love, happiness, affection, enerosity and the subtle mystery of deepest emotions. Throughout the ages it has been a symbol of beauty and purity, and has had the power of bringing good luck. Pearl is the June birth-stone but it equally enhances all the other gemstones when used in varying combinations.

NATURAL PEARLS
A natural pearl is formed entirely by the oyster as a result of natural irritation within the shell, for example sand.

CULTURED PEARLS
A cultured pearl is naturally produced by the oyster but in this case man helps the process along. He implants a nucleus into the oyster at a specific stage in its life and the oyster treats the nucleus in exactly the same way as a natural irritation. The oyster secretes nacre, the visible covering of a pearl, onto the nucleus. Therefore, a cultured pearl is a natural product aided by man's intervention.

FRESHWATER PEARLS
These pearls come from freshwater lakes and rivers as opposed to the sea as with cultured pearls. A completely different oyster produces freshwater pearls which accounts for their different shape from that of a cultured pearl. Freshwater pearls can be both natural and cultured.

SIMULATED PEARLS
Simulated pearls are man made imitation pearls. They were first made by the Venetians in the 16th century. The most beautiful imitation pearls are made with essence d'orient, a substance derived from fish scales, with which glass beads are coated.

WHAT MAKES YOUR PEARLS MORE VALUABLE
Size. The larger the pearl the more precious.

Orient: This is a deep inner glow which gives a pearl its
beauty and is caused by the light reflecting from the
layers of nacre built up on the nucleus.

Surface texture: The more smooth and velvety the
surface of the pearl the more valuable.

Shape: With salt water cultured pearls the more spherical the pearl the more highly valued. However, with freshwater pearls the fact mat they come in so many
varied shapes and colours is what makes them so popular.
 
Lustre: This is a reflection of light from the surface of the pearl which gives a surface shine which adds substantially to the value. Lustre is determined by the nutrients from the sea or lake upon which the oyster feeds.

Colour: The colour in pearls can range from white through various tints to black. Creamy white pearls with a touch of pink are the most desirable, although you can always find a pearl perfect for your skin tone.

WEAR AND CARE OF PEARLS
Never spray perfume or any cosmetics on your neck or wrist after you put your pearls on. The chemicals contained in cosmetics, perfumes, soaps and detergents attack the surface of your pearls and will cause them to lose their lustre and become discoloured. Try not to allow your pearls to come into contact with perspiration as it has the same corrosive effect. If you wipe your pearls with a soft cloth after wear this will help to keep them in good condition. Take care that your pearls are not scratched by other jewellery by being thrown loose into a jewellery box. Store your pearls in a well aired place away from direct heat. Dry heat dehydrates pearls, causing them to lose their lustre and become cracked.
Your pearls should be restrung regularly depending how often you wear them. Your jeweller will advise whether they should be restrung with or without knots. The extra security of knotting is recommended for longer ropes and all cultured pearls. Knots also prevent cultured pearls rubbing against each other and causing wear. Your jeweller can offer new design ideas through restringing - add gold beads or coloured gemstones to give a new dimension to your pearls.