Jewelry Care

Bright yellow and very soft in its pure 24k form, gold is alloyed (combined with other metals) to strengthen it and change its color. All 14k gold is 58.5% pure 24k gold (you might see 14k stamped with a 585 to represent this karat type). For example, rose gold is created by adding copper to the 24k gold, and white gold is made by alloying it with silver or palladium.

Containing no oxides, gold is the only precious metal that will not tarnish. Having said this, it is a relatively soft metal and care should always be taken with your gold jewelry. Generally, the higher the carat weight, the softer the metal (14kt is more scratch resistant than 18kt or 22kt).

Gold should be cleaned regularly in order to maintain its beauty and patina.  It can get dirty though. Use a soft, lint free polishing cloth to keep gold jewelry looking its best.

All sterling silver naturally oxidizes or tarnishes. Prolonged exposure to the air and your body’s natural chemistry can expedite this process. Avoid direct contact with showers, perfume, lotion, chlorine, and bleach. All silver jewelry should be stored in an airtight ziplock bags to slow the oxidation process.

While diamonds are extremely hard, they can still suffer chips and fractures from sharp blows. It is possible to scratch a diamond with a diamond, so please take care when wearing and storing your diamond jewelry.

Exposure to common household chemicals + beauty supplies can damage and dull gemstones. Avoid direct contact with showers, perfume, lotion, chlorine, and soaps.  Gemstone hardness is based on a standard called the Mohs scale, where the higher the Mohs scale number, the harder the stone; conversely, the lower the Mohs scale number, the more susceptible the stone is to scratching, chipping, and breaking. It is important to consider this when cleaning, wearing and storing your gemstone jewelry.

Some gemstones such as opal, pearl and turquoise are fairly porous and should not be immersed in water for too long. Be mindful.

A vintage or estate piece of jewelry should be cared for as such. We recommend our heritage pieces to be worn like a silk dress rather than a pair of jeans. The entirety of the Heritage by Ariel Gordon Collection has been inspected by a 3rd generation, GIA-certified Estate Jewelry dealer so we feel confident about the items that we are passing on to you. Every piece here has survived generations and we are so excited that they are finding a new home with you. Please keep in mind that these heirlooms are sold as-is and will show wear consistent with their age. We believe that this wear isn't a defect, rather it's proof that the piece was worn with love in generations past. We are only selling pieces that we've determined are in wearable condition. That being said, please know that jewelry in general is fragile, especially antique jewelry and should be handled with extra care.

Some best practices for estate jewelry - do not use an ultrasonic or abrasive cleaner, do not fully submerge it or swim in it, avoid lotions and perfumes, store in cool dry place, keep an eye on your stone settings to make sure stones are secure, don't over polish it (this will often decrease the value). Most antique pieces should not be repaired or altered with a traditional soldering torch that uses heat. Repairs should be done with lasers.

The old saying stands true with pearls... They should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. All AGJ pearl strands are strung on genuine silk thread. Silk is used industry-wide due to its strength and smooth texture (which does not wear down the holes of the pearls). But silk is still a material that can stretch and snap with exposure to water and other chemicals (ie lotion, sunscreen, and perfume).  Please avoid wearing your pearl jewelry in the shower and when swimming.

The need for restringing will vary from person to person and the frequency of wear, however, we recommend restringing your items every 1 - 2 years. If you need your piece restrung within a year, we are happy to provide you that service free of charge. Outside of a year, there will be a fee. To learn more please reach out to our concierge team by tapping the help icon in the bottom right corner of your screen.

Our enamel is handmade in and contains no glass which makes it more durable. While it is very strong,  it can still scratch. Be mindful when wearing.