Jewelry Care

Fine Jewelry

For DIY jewelry cleaning, gently brush the piece with a very soft, small brush in lukewarm soapy water. Subsequently, delicately rinse it in lukewarm water and wipe it dry with a soft cloth.

Steer clear of contact with household bleach or cleaning products, as they can lead to the rapid discoloration and potential deterioration of gold. Additionally, avoid exposing your jewelry to hair spray, deodorants, and perfumes. It's advisable to remove your jewelry before swimming or bathing to maintain its integrity.

When your fine jewelry is not being worn, store it meticulously in its original pouch or box, or in another appropriately lined box or pouch. Ensure that the pieces do not touch to prevent scratching and maintain their pristine condition.

Exercise caution to shield your jewelry from impact against hard surfaces and refrain from contact with abrasive surfaces. Even diamonds can chip if subjected to sufficient force or struck at the right angle. Certain stones, like amethyst, emerald, opal, pearl, peridot, tanzanite, and tourmaline, are notably delicate and prone to abrasion. Enamel and ceramic finishes can chip or scratch upon impact. It's important to note that gemstones can scratch each other and contribute to wear on precious metals. Extreme temperatures, exposure to perfumes, cosmetics, ultrasonic cleaning, and contact with household chemicals can also result in damage to your jewelry.

For cleaning diamonds, prepare a gentle solution using six parts water to one part ammonia, and apply it using a soft bristle brush. This method helps maintain the brilliance of your diamonds without causing any damage.

Indeed, dust, pollution, and daily wear collectively contribute to dulling the brilliance of gemstones, while the surface of gold and silver jewelry can become muted over time. Additionally, well-used prongs and clasps may lead to the loss of a stone or even an entire piece of jewelry. Regular care and maintenance are essential to preserve the luster and structural integrity of your precious pieces.

We highly recommend bringing your Ileana Makri jewelry in for professional servicing, ideally as often as once a year. This ensures that your pieces are thoroughly checked, cleaned, and revitalized, maintaining their quality and longevity.

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver is a precious metal and may require cleaning from time to time. With proper care, your silver will retain its beauty and character for many generations to come.

Sterling silver tarnishes, especially when exposed to salt air and products containing sulfur, such as rubber bands and some papers. However, silver that is regularly used typically needs less care, so we strongly encourage you to wear your silver every day. 

To clean your silver jewelry, use a small amount of silver jewelry cleaner on a soft cloth and gently rub the silver several times. Then rinse the silver thoroughly in warm water and carefully dry. This will remove the tarnish and dullness, keeping your sterling silver like new. Please note: chlorine and bleach accelerate tarnishing and should be avoided. Once cleaned and polished, silver must be kept dry and properly stored.

Vermeil Plated Jewelry

Gold Vermeil is a thin layer of 18k gold, plated over a piece of solid Sterling Silver jewelry. Gold Vermeil will eventually wear off, revealing the silver beneath. Earrings and necklaces will keep their plating longer than rings. Plating will wear off faster on rings that are worn everyday. To minimize the wear of vermeil plating please avoid contact with water and rough surfaces. Plated jewelry does not tarnish like silver. If you would like to have your piece re-plated, please email us or bring your piece to our store for servicing. Customers are responsible for all shipping charges for re-plating.

Tarnish or darkening of the metal, is caused by oxidization of the surface layer of metal. It occurs over time with exposure to air and moisture. Wearing your jewelry in the water or during bathing will speed up tarnishing. Storing your jewelry in a dry airtight container will inhibit tarnish.

If you would like to clean your gold vermeil jewellery wash it with a small amount of gentle dish soap or non-chemical soap and warm water. Rinse it well and allow to dry on a cloth or paper towel. Use a soft, non-abrasive cloth or jewellery cloth and gently rub the surface in a circular motion to clean.

Oxidized Sterling Silver Jewelry

The color of oxidized silver is only on the surface; it's the top layer of the metal that takes on the blackened hue. Despite the best care, the oxidized finish will naturally wear off over time, revealing the true color of the silver.

Expect a gradual transformation in the appearance of your blackened silver piece, so it's advisable to be prepared for this evolution at the time of purchase. 

Oxidized finishes tend to have a longer lifespan on items with minimal contact with their surroundings, such as earrings and necklaces. Rings and bracelets, due to frequent contact, may not maintain their color as effectively. Notably, blackened finishes applied to the recesses of a design retain their color better, creating a striking contrast with the polished raised parts that naturally evolve over time.

Schedule a Service or Repair

To Schedule a service or repair for your jewelry please contact us by email at customercare@ileanamakri.com or give us a call Mon-Fri 10am-6pm on +30210 7251471