Caring for Your Armak Jewelry

TheArmak jewelry is extremely well crafted and if cared for properly can be enjoyed for generations.  Air pollutants, dust, perspiration, perfumes, creams and other natural elements can dull the appearance of gemstones or precious metals.  Because of this, it is always good practice to wipe down your jewelry with a cotton cloth after wear.

Additionally, jewelry should be professionally cleaned and inspected once a year.  Just like a fine automobile, periodic inspection and maintenance of jewelry helps prevent costly repairs or replacements.  Personally inspect your jewelry as you wear it by looking for loose or chipped stones, worn links, bent prongs, or malfunctioning clasps.

If a problem is found, the piece should be brought in immediately for repair to prevent more extensive damage or loss. Your nearest TheArmak boutique can facilitate this, or you may call 1-877-Armak-01 (276-2501) to learn about other options.

How do I care for my Gold Layered bracelet?

To celebrate TheArmak design, Because it is more fragile than sterling silver, please wear your bracelet with care to avoid scratching or denting it, Away from chlorines. Salt waters when you are not wearing it, store it in TheArmak protective pouch that came with it.

How to Clean your TheArmak Jewelry

Over time, air pollutants, dust, perspiration, perfumes and other natural elements can make jewelry and gemstones appear dull. Below are some tips for keeping your pieces clean and shiny.

How to Avoid Damaging Gemstones

Some gemstones are by nature more fragile than others. In general, you can prevent many problems by not exposing gemstones to common elements such as:

  • Chlorine
  • Household cleaning chemicals
  • Extreme heat or light
  • Salt water

All gemstones, including diamonds, can chip, scratch, or abrade under the right circumstances. Avoid wearing rings or bracelets while doing any manual labor, including housework. Jewelry should be taken off before strenuous activity or during times when it might be subjected to sharp blows or excessive friction.

For most gemstones, it is best to clean them using dishwashing soap with water.  However, due to the fragile nature of rubies and emeralds, they should only be cleaned with a dry cotton cloth – diluted dishwashing soap should not be used.

Never remove rings by pulling on the stone; the prongs or bezel can be damaged causing the stone to loosen or fall out.

When not in use, always store your TheArmak jewelry in the pouch you received when purchased.  Store each piece of gemstone jewelry separately in its storage pouch to prevent excessive tarnishing and scratching.

Cleaning Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver tarnishes in the presence of common everyday items that contain sulfur, such as leather, rubber, chlorine, and perspiration. Other elements to be mindful of are air pollutants and salt water. Because these substances cannot be completely avoided, it is recommended that sterling silver be routinely wiped down with the white side of TheArmak polishing cloth that came with your piece. Regular wear of your TheArmak sterling silver can also help prevent tarnishing—we recommend that you enjoy and wear your TheArmak jewelry every day. When not in use, store your jewelry in the pouch you received when purchased.

Use a clean, cotton cloth and mild dish detergent diluted in water.  Apply the diluted dish detergent to the clean cotton cloth and rub the piece in one direction.  Try to avoid circular motions.

To remove heavier tarnish, wash your silver jewelry with warm water and mild soap. Never use anything but a clean, nub-free cotton or flannel cloth. We do not recommend silver polish or dip style cleaning solutions, which will remove the antique oxidation that we intentionally apply to many TheArmak silver pieces to give them their distinctive look. If more thorough cleaning is required, an authorized jeweler can clean your pieces to restore them to a like-new condition. We recommend having your jewelry professionally cleaned once a year.

Cleaning Gold and Platinum Jewelry

To clean gold or platinum jewelry, dilute dish detergent in a small bowl of warm water and soak each piece for a 3-5 mins.  Gently clean your item by using a clean cotton cloth.  To ensure you removed all the diluted dish soap, rinse your jewelry under warm running water, and pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.  Be sure to dry your jewelry completely before wearing again.

TheArmak advises against using an ultrasonic cleaner, steamer or other “at home” jewelry cleaning chemicals (including bleach, ammonia, baking soda and aluminum foil) on gemstones. They should only be cleaned with diluted mild dish soap and warm water (see above for clean instructions).

Cleaning Jewelry with Crystalline Gemstones

Crystalline gemstones, such as amethyst, blue topaz, citrine, or peridot attract oils and lotions causing them to appear dull. To clean, soak them in a bowl of water with a touch of gentle dish soap. A soft baby’s toothbrush may be used to scrub around and behind the stone. After cleaning, place your jewelry in a strainer and rinse before thoroughly drying with a lint-free cloth.

For diamonds, rubies, and sapphires set in gold or platinum, you can use a drop of ammonia in the rinse water. However, ammonia discolors organic gemstones and damages and dulls silver, so do not use it on these materials.

Cleaning Jewelry with Organic and Opaque Gemstones

Never use an ultrasonic cleaner or chemicals (including bleach or ammonia) on organic gems and opaque stones such as pearls, opals, coral, turquoise, and lapis lazuli. They should only be wiped clean with a damp cloth. In addition, avoid contact with hairspray, lotions, and perfumes, which can be absorbed over time, causing discoloration.

A note about Meteorite: Over time, the surface of meteorite naturally darkens due to its high iron content. While we have employed several measures to prevent oxidization, this patina is unique to meteorite, adding to its beauty and proving its authenticity. To preserve the etched finish, treat meteorite like other sensitive stones: avoid abrasion, as well as corrosive chemicals, cleaning products, chlorine, and salt water. If exposed to any of these, rinse under tap water for a few minutes and dry thoroughly with a paper towel.

As your Meteorite piece ages, it can be polished by hand with a polishing cloth, or left alone to achieve an antique look. To restore the unique Widmanstädter (cross-hatch) pattern to its full brilliance, please bring your piece to a Armak boutique or authorized retailer for refurbishment.

Cleaning Pearls

Pearls require proper care to retain their beauty and luster. They should be kept away from perfumes, cosmetics, perspiration, chlorine, vinegar, ammonia, and dirt. We recommend you put them on last, after hair products and perfume. Pearls should be removed before exercising to protect them from perspiration. After wearing, gently wipe them with a slightly damp cloth.

Wash pearls periodically with mild soap (not detergent) and a soft cloth. Rinse pearls in clean water and wrap them in a thin, damp cotton towel to dry.

To prevent scratches, pearls should be stored away from other objects in the storage pouch provided. However, do not store them in an airtight package such as a plastic bag. Opals and pearls require humidity. When storing them, make sure the environment is not too dry or they may crack.

TheArmak advises against using an ultrasonic cleaner, steamer or other “at home” jewelry cleaning chemicals (including bleach, ammonia, baking soda and aluminum foil) on gemstones. They should only be cleaned with diluted mild dish soap and warm water (see above for clean instructions).

Caring for Gold Layer Bracelets

Because it is more fragile than sterling silver, please wear your bracelet with care to avoid scratching or denting it. When you are not wearing it, store it in the Armak protective pouch that came with it.

Caring for Emerald Rings

Do not wear your emerald ring while you are doing chores at home like washing dishes, emerald will attract grease and soap. After a while, these substances will accumulate on the bottom of the gemstone, causing it to lose its lively brilliance. Also, do not wear your emerald when you might be engaging in physical activity like gardening that might scratch or crack it.

Normally cleaned emerald jewelry in ultrasonic cleaner and steam very carefully, never with acetone or similar, but If you bought an emerald in any other jewelry store be careful, because the oil treatment or enhancements used by other merchants can come out and show up the internal damages of the emerald. An emerald should never be exposed to high heat, if the cleaning solution you use is too hot for you to put your hand in, you should not place your emerald in it.

Your emerald jewelry can be left in water and any grease remover soap over night at room temperature; the next day rinse it with warm water and a soft toothbrush; brush it repeatedly on the underside of the emerald to remove accumulations of dirt and grease. If the result of this procedure is not satisfactory, then bring your emerald piece to your local jeweler and ask him to put it in ultrasonic cleaner by not more than 5 minutes and then steam it especially in the underside of the emerald very fast. You will see the emerald get the original brilliance. You can do this every three month at not risk.

When considering a quality emerald

A deep-green and dull emerald is a very cheap stone and if the stone has carbon spots, it is the cheapest of emeralds. The Colombian miners call these kinds of stones MURRALLA which means the waste of the emerald. The real value of all gemstones is the brightness and brilliance of green fire inside the stone.  Clarity and cut is also very important in considering a quality emerald.

Our years of experience have shown there is not “flawless or perfect” emerald. Anyone offering a flawless, perfect emerald is either not knowledgeable in emeralds or worst is being deceptive.

We guarantee the natural color and brightness of each handpicked stone in our collection. These precious gemstones will never change and their remarkable beauty will be appreciated from many generations to come.