Caring for your Hawaiian jewelry!

Many of our customers have asked about caring for their Hawaiian jewelry. I've listed here a few ways to keep your Hawaiian jewelry looking bright and shiny as it was when you first received it.

1. Store your Hawaiian jewelry in a clean, dry place.

2. Keep your Hawaiian jewelry in a fabric-lined jewelry case, or in a box with compartments and dividers. If you prefer to use ordinary boxes, wrap each piece individually in soft tissue paper.

3. Don't jumble your Hawaiian jewelry pieces in a drawer or jewelry case. Pieces can scratch each other.

4. Be careful when removing your Hawaiian jewelry to wash your hands. Do not leave your Hawaiian jewelry on the rim of a sink where it can easily slip down the drain. Also, you can forget you took your jewelry off and leave it. A good friend of mine did this. She was heartbroken when she returned to the Airport restroom only to find someone had taken her ring.

5. See your jeweler at least once a year to have your Hawaiian jewelry checked for loose prongs, worn mountings, and general wear and tear. Visit your jeweler every six months to have your Hawaiian jewelry professionally cleaned.

6. By all means remove your Hawaiian jewelry when you are cooking (it drives me crazy when I watch Paula Dean on TV mixing food with her hands with her wedding rings on), gardening or working on the car. (I knew a woman who was a mechanic and she would wear her Hawaiian bracelet when tuning up her car)

7. There are many types of small machines on the market that will clean Hawaiian jewelry in a matter of minutes using high-frequency sound. These machines are called "ultrasonic cleaners" and are available in many different models and prices. They can be a convenient way to quickly clean your Hawaiian jewelry at home.

9. If has been my experience that most jewelers outside of Hawaii are not familiar with the methods for producing Hawaiian jewelry and find it difficult to repair and work on Hawaiian jewelry, (many mainland jewelers have sent Hawaiian jewelry to us to repair for their customers) so I suggest having a Hawaiian jewelry manufacturer inspect your Hawaiian jewelry.

These are just a few ways to care for your Hawaiian jewelry. If you would like to add to this list please leave a comment.

Mahalo and aloha from Hawii,

Colette

Recycle your old unused and broken jewelry into a new piece of jewelry

Designs 'N Gold, a Hawaiian jewelry manufacturer has devised a method of turning old, broken and unused jewelry into a new piece of jewelry help save customers money while at the same time helping to save the planet.Designs N Gold, a Hawaii based Hawaiian jewelry manufacturer, is pleased to announce the launch of their method for turning old, broken and unused jewelry into new Hawaiian heirlooms bracelets, rings, pendants or other types of jewelry.Clients who wish to recycle old gold and silver can choose from 2000+ design molds or custom design an entirely new piece of jewelry for themselves or as a gift for a loved one. Clients are also able to keep cherished mementos in a new form of jewelry rather than selling it as scrap gold and silver where dealers may pay them pennies on the dollar.Recycling also helps save the planet. For every ounce of scrap gold or silver that is recycled into new jewelry, the need for the mining companies to mine a ton of earth is reduced. It is estimated that for an average 18-karat gold ring leaves 20 tons of polluted mining waste behind. There are also pollution risks. For example in 1992 in Summitville, Colorado (USA), a containment dam that held mine waste from a gold mining operation burst. The escaped toxic waste killed all life along a 25 km stretch of a nearby river. Finally, recycling also reduces the consumption of resources and energy."Our jewelers/engravers enjoy taking scrap and turning it into a beautiful piece of jewelry which gives them them a great since of pride" said Hawaiian born and raised Colette Aoki, owner of Designs 'N Gold. "Recycling old, broken and unused jewelry into new Hawaiian jewelry not only saves our clients money but also allows them to be a part of helping to save our planet's precious resources for future generations."Colette's customers who have had a chance to try this process are very enthusiastic. Susan of San Diego, CA writes "Thanks very much for the follow-up. I received the bracelet on Friday of last week- it is so beautiful! I am really happy with it". While April of Maui, Hawaii writes "I received the ring, yesterday and I was already so anxious to open the box. Opened it and oh my. Why, it's surely the ultimate beautiful ring I have ever seen. Most of all it's well made. Thank your designer from the bottom of my heart. I have been sharing with people about your business. I am spreading the word of the great job you all have done.”About Designs 'N GoldThe owner of Designs 'N Gold, Colette Aoki, has been in the jewelry business in Hawaii since 1976. Over that period she has designed jewelry for thousands of clients in Hawaii as well as worldwide. In 1985 she acquired the jewelry manufacturer, Designs 'N Gold, which gave her the ability to control the entire jewelry making process from design to finished product. Designs 'N Gold's expert jewelers and engravers create each piece of Hawaiian jewelry including pendants, earrings, bracelets, and wedding rings.Contact98-1277 Kaahumanu Street, Suite: 106-339Aiea,Hawaii 96701Tel Local: 808-484-2699 Tel Outer Island & Mainland: 800-343-5846Web: http://www.designsngold.com