925 Sterling Silver

Sterling silver can be cleaned with Silver Cleaner Solution and cloth, please follow manufacturer's instructions. Please remove jewelry prior to showering, before bathing in the sea or a swimming pool, and before going to bed. Please prevent jewelry from coming into contact with cleaning or beauty products.

Silver can naturally oxidize. To prevent oxidation, please make sure to clean your jewelry items (according to instructions below) before storing them in a dry environment. Please note, our boxes are eco friendly and are free of chemicals which promote oxidation so it is always safe to store your jewelry in them.

Oxidized Sterling Silver

Oxidized silver fades with wear. The more you wear your pieces, the sooner they will fade revealing the sterling silver beneath for a beautiful unique patinated finish. Oxidation lasts longer on pieces that are not too exposed to rubbing - earrings and necklaces. It is not possible to estimate the duration of the oxidized finish as it mostly depends on how the pieces are being handled, and due to the fact that they are oxidized by hand. Please note that possible scratches are more evident on oxidized jewelry, as they reveal the shiny silver hidden underneath the oxidized layer.

Oxidation can be renewed using liver of sulfur solution at a local jeweler or at home. If doing it at home, please follow the manufacturer's instructions. There is also an easier and safer method of oxidation with cooked eggs, but it can only result in a lighter tone of oxidation. For detailed instructions, please contact us.

You are also always welcome to send us your jewelry for re-oxidation, free of charge. We kindly request that you cover all shipping costs in this case.

Please remove oxidized jewelry prior to washing, showering, bathing in the sea or a swimming pool, and going to bed if you prefer to keep the oxidation for a longer period of time. Please prevent jewelry from coming into contact with cleaning or beauty products. 

* We offer a lacquer (acrylic) coating to prolong oxidation on oxidized pieces, applied only by request (leaves a shiny surface). Keep in mind that this coating can still be scratched, leaving visible silver marks, as the oxidized layer adheres to the coating. Oxidized jewelry without coating fades more naturally, but faster as well.

 

REPAIR

 

We're here to help & we can fix almost anything!

Our jewelry is made with great care out of the best materials but it isn't indestructible. If your MIRTA piece needs repair (don't worry, it happens to the best of us!) please email info@mirtajewelry.com. We can take care of most repairs! If your item needs a significant amount of new material (such as a replacement chain or new stone) the repair will be subject to a material cost charge. 

 

 

CLEANING JEWELRY AT HOME

 

How to clean jewelry at home? Cleaning your jewelry is very easy, and there are only a few steps to clean at home. Depending on what you have at home, you don't need to put much time or effort into cleaning your favorite pieces.

Please note, the following procedure applies to all of our jewelry, except oxidized silver pieces. Oxidized jewelry should be washed rarely and mildly, without detergents and any brushing to leave the oxidation intact.

Step 1 - Mix 1 part dish soap with 10 parts warm water. Mix your solution until slightly bubbly.

Create your own jewelry cleansing solution with mild soap and warm water. You can soak your jewelry overnight but do not soak soft gemstones such as emeralds, moonstones or opals. For jewelry with harder stones such as diamonds, you may even soak your jewelry in soda water.

Step 2 - Depending on how dirty your pieces are, you may soak it in the mixture for about 20 minutes. Use a soft bristled tooth brush to brush away any debris (such as lotion or oils).

Dip your jewelry in the solution and even brush with a soft bristled tooth brush to get into the nooks and crannies. You may also rub the jewelry between your fingers for slight friction if you don't have a brush. 

Step 3 - Rinse jewelry in fresh clean water and dry with a soft towel. 

Rinse pieces in clean water. Make sure there is no soap residue. After rinsing your jewelry in fresh water, pat dry with a towel. Make sure your jewelry is completely dry, especially on gemstones such as emeralds or opals. 

Step 4 - Use a polishing cloth for extra luster. 

You can add extra luster to your metal with a jewelry polishing cloth. Jewelry polishing cloths are great to add that extra shine to restore your pieces. Please note, some polishing cloths are only intended to use on metals, and using them on soft gemstones may damage your stone.