Care
Each piece of Abacus Row jewelry is carefully crafted by hand in our studio. We use high-quality materials that will last if handled and maintained with reasonable care.
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GENERAL CARE
We recommend putting your jewelry on in the morning after showering and applying any moisturizers or fragrances, and removing your jewelry in the evening before going to bed.
Due to the everyday activities we subject our hands to, bracelets will see much more wear compared to necklaces and earrings. Avoid exposing your jewelry to wet or moist conditions, especially our pieces with silk cord. Take your jewelry off when you shower, swim, and handle chores around your home to help maintain the color of the silk cord and the condition of the beads.
Wearing your jewelry thoughtfully and not just continuously through all moments of your life will allow your piece to last for many years.
When you are not wearing your jewelry, store it separately from other jewelry to avoid tangling and to limit abrasion with other materials.
For a simple way to organize all of your jewels and to save space, store your jewelry in small resealable pouches so you can keep pieces separate and always see what’s inside.
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MATERIALS
Below we offer specific notes on care based on material. You can find the materials associated with your particular piece of jewelry on the individual products page.
14k Gold-Filled Beads
Beading Material
As with all metals, the surface will reflect any abrasion. In general, very fine scratches can be expected with all jewelry but will more likely show on bracelets.
While these beads are structurally very strong and durable, they will not withstand being subjected to machinery or like forms of asserted mechanical pressure. If you are shipping any of our jewelry to a friend, such as a Friendship Bracelet, it is important to place the item in a padded mailer as opposed to in an envelope with a basic greeting card. Letters are processed through machinery that will marr or crush the beads.
Japanese Glass Seed Beads
Beading Material
Glass seed beads are durable but can easily be crushed if pressure is applied when placed between hard objects. Avoid placing any hard or heavy objects on top of or against your jewelry.
Japanese 24k Gold or Silver Plated Glass Seed Beads
Beading Material
These beads are sensitive to abrasion and the plating will wear off over time with repeated rubbing. Glass seed beads are durable but can easily be crushed if pressure is applied when placed between hard objects. Avoid placing any hard or heavy objects on top of or against your jewelry.
Crystals
Beading Material
To polish and maintain your crystals, we recommend gently cleaning using a microfiber or lint-free cloth. To prevent abrasion, store each piece separately in a pouch. Avoid placing any hard or heavy objects on top of or against your jewelry.
Silk Cord
Stringing Material
Silk cord is a natural fiber that is durable though not indestructible. Like a well-worn pair of jeans or a favorite tee, you may find your silk cord jewelry take on a new coloration and will wear over time with extended use.
How to care for the silk tassels – Take time to comb and smooth the tassel with your fingers after each wear. This will help prevent the individual strands from getting matted or tangled over time.
How to remove a kink in the silk cord – Apply a small amount of water directly to the kink or wrinkle in the cord. We recommend wetting a finger tip to apply the very limited amount that will be needed. Immediately after wetting the cord, smooth out the kink by applying pressure to the cord in between your fingertips and pulling gently but firmly. Allow the cord to dry.
How to keep your silk cord necklace from tangling – We suggest storing it clasped closed, gently wrapping it into a circle around a few fingers and tucking into the cloth bag that it came in, leaving the clasped end outside the pouch, cinching the bag closed, and bonus if you still have the Abacus Row tag and bulb pin, attach that to the clasp and pouch to more completely keep the clasped end from slipping into the cinched closed bag.
Flexible Coated Stainless Steel Wire
Stringing Material
Pieces made with this wire, instead of the silk cord, are more capable of handling continuous wear and exposure to wet conditions.
When you store your piece, we recommend leaving the clasp unhooked and letting the piece take the natural circular shape that it falls into. Avoid contorting any piece constructed with wire—this material has a memory and will hold on to distortions.