CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Kalevala Jewelry is made of 14 (58,5% gold) or 18 carat gold (75 % gold), sterling silver (925/000) and bronze. The bronze jewelry is made of an alloy of copper, tin and zinc. The bronze jewelry pieces are varnished to prevent oxidation, and hooks in the bronze earrings are made of gold-plated silver. The alloys used by Kalevala Jewelry are free of nickel and other allergenic material.
Few words of advice
Stones set in Kalevala Jewelry products should not be rubbed with cleaning agents. Ball-shaped pieces and badly tarnished jewelry can be sent to the Kalevala Jewelry's factory for complete cleaning and restoration. A fee is charged for this service. After restoration, the jewelry can be polished gently with cleaning agents and rinsed with water afterwards. The green patina is a natural feature of worn and antique jewelry.
Do not expose jewelry to hair spray or perfume. Jewelry should not be worn in sauna or steam room, or in chlorinated or in salt water.
Gold, silver and bronze jewelry should all be washed occasionally with water and very mild detergent. This prevents attaching dirt and helps prevent tarnish.
Gold Jewelry
Kalevala Jewelry's gold products can be cleaned with special cleaning agents for gold, available in jewelry shops. Gold jewelry can also be cleaned with water and mild detergent with a small and soft brush. Please note, that clasps should not be soaked in water, while this might damage the spring inside the clasp.
Silver Jewelry
Use a polishing cloth to clean slightly tarnished silver products of Kalevala Jewelry. Polishing cloths are available in jewelry shops. More tarnished silver jewelry can be cleaned with silver polishing paste. To avoid removing the oxide from a silver product, paste should be applied moderately. Apply the polishing paste with a soft cloth and clean the jewelry. To prevent the paste from causing stains on clothing, rub the paste off and wash the jewelry with water and very mild detergent. Chains can also be cleaned as instruction above. When cleaning a piece of jewelry, avoid rubbing the precious stones in it.
We do not recommend silver polish liquid.
Bronze Jewelry
Bronze is an alloy that consists of copper, tin and zinc. It oxidizes and tarnishes more easily than precious metals. The new bronze jewelry collections are lacquered with a protective coating. In use when the proctective coating is in contact with skin, it slowly wears off. The protective lacquering can be restored at Kalevala Jewelry for a small fee.
Bronze jewelry darkens without the protective coating and may discolor skin or delicate light colored fabrics. Perfumes and hair sprays may also erode the protective coating. You should also avoid wearing bronze jewelry in the sauna and in chlorinated or salt water.
Areas where the laquering has worn-off, may be buffed with Kalevala Jewelry polishing cloth or with a silver polishing cloth available from jewelry stores. After wiping your jewelry with a cloth, it is recommended that the piece of jewelry is washed with water and mild detergent.
Hollow ball-shaped pieces, fragile chains and badly tarnished jewelry can be sent to Kalevala Jewelry for restoration for a small fee.
Black bronze Jewelry
The features of black bronze jewelry are very similar to bronze jewelry in general. Black bronze is coated with lacquer which protects the surface, although over time the lacquer coating and black color wear away to reveal the warm color of bronze. A patina then forms on the surface as is normal with bronze. If required, the jewelry can also be re-colored black. If the protective lacquer coating has worn away, the color may stain the skin and clothes. The lacquer coating may also be damaged by perfumes, hairspray, etc. Jewelry should not be worn in the sauna or in chlorinated or salty water. The characteristics of the material are explained in the care instructions for bronze jewelry that are included with Gravity jewelry.
Jewelry with Pearls
Cosmetics such as perfume, hair spray, moisturizing creams and perspiration can cause irreparable damage to pearls. To keep your pearls in good condition, wipe them with a soft cloth after wear. To clean your pearls with a special pearl cleaner from time to time, preferably when they are re-strung.
The thread used in a pearl string is also exposed to cosmetics, perspiration and other impurities. Since the thread may be stretched and be weakened when a pearl string is worn, it is recommended to have the pearl string checked occasionally by a jeweler. To have the pearls strung again if required and ask the jeweler to check the clasp.
Pearls are delicate and should be stored and worn separately from other items of jewelry to avoid direct contact. Store pearls in a velvet lined jewelry box or silk pouch. Wearers are advised to put their pearls on last and take them off first.
Rings with Matte surfaces
Gold is a relatively soft material, which means that rings can become worn and scratched over time. For gold rings with a velvety matte finish, a worn-out, shiny matte surface can be restored to as good as new on payment of a fee. The surface processing for a gold ring with a matte finish will be completed within one week.
Porcelain
Porcelain is ceramic product made from kaolin, feldspar and quartz by firing. Porcelain was invented in China in the 7th century and Chinese porcelain became known in Europe in the 17th century. Kalevala Jewelry only uses Finnish porcelain in its products. Porcelain can be cleaned by wiping it with a soft, damp cloth.