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QUESTION: Is this jewelry hand made?
ANSWER: Yes! Each piece that you order is hand made one at a time in my Dallas studio! I have 16 years experience, having worked with a contemporary art jeweler, also as a bench jeweler specializing in repairs and custom work and lastly in Gemology specializing in Diamond grading. I use traditional jewelry making techniques such as hand sawing which is done with a jewelers hand held saw frame with a tiny saw blade for details. I hand stamp each individual letter and drill each hole. I bend, hammer, solder, sand, finish, and polish the metal into a finished piece of jewelry. I use various hammers, files, a flex shaft machine and jewelry polishing equipment. I also do casting and etching techniques. Since each piece is hand made, no two are exactly alike, they are close but please allow for slight variations!
QUESTION: What kind of metals do you use?
ANSWER: I can make designs out of almost any metal: recycled aluminum, sterling silver, copper, brass, gold-filled, or 14 kt yellow gold. I use recycled metals whenever possible.
QUESTION:Will recycled aluminum tarnish or will I be allergic to it?
ANSWER: Recycled aluminum is very tarnish resistant and hypo- allergenic as well! Aluminum is commonly used around doorways and windows as well as in space exploration, NASA has a history of using aluminum for various spacecrafts. Aluminum is used for these purposes because it is a very durable, lightweight and corrosion resistant metal! An added bonus is that it is also one of the most widely recycled metals!
QUESTION: How is the best way to clean my jewelry and keep my sterling and copper jewelry item from tarnishing?
ANSWER: I am always for preventative care as far as cleaning is concerned sterling and copper will tarnish if exposed to oxygen or certain chemicals! Silver is alloyed with other metals to make it stronger, copper is the most common one used and it is the copper part of silver that reacts and tarnishes not the silver part. Firstly, one preventative technique when not wearing is to keep your hand made jewelry in the airtight tarnish resistant reusable baggie that comes with every order!
Another preventative technique is
if you wear perfumes,lotions, or hairsprays let them fully dry before you put on
your jewelry, this will cause less tarnishing and chemical reactions to
the metal than if they are sprayed or applied directly onto the surface. TIP: Satin
finish items are more prone to react.
Also avoid wearing jewelry while swimming or in hot tubs as bleach will cause pitting /or permanently damage sterling, copper,gold, gold-fill or aluminum. Household bleach can also harm jewelry so it is best to take jewelry off when cleaning house if you use harsh cleaners.
If a piece does tarnish under normal wearing conditions, that is no problem though, as it can always be cleaned and polished back shiny again. The
best and safest way to clean jewelry is
with a jewelry polishing cloth. Just gently polish in a circular
motion or run polishing
cloth gently down the length of the chain.
QUESTION: Can my recycled metals jewelry be recycled again after I am finished with it?
ANSWER: Yes! Your jewelry is recyclable! Your copper, 14kt gold, or sterling silver chain,clasp,pendant,or earrings can be sold to a local Gold & Silver exchange in your area to be recycled, you can find these locations in your local phone book. Some small Mom and Pop jewelry shops buy back gold and silver as well which is also good for local economies! As for your aluminum pieces you can either ship them back to me to be reused, recycled, or you can recycle them with your aluminum household recycling.
