How to Wear The EaRap™ Wire Ear Cuffs
All EaRap™ ear cuff earrings are made of 20 gauge 14 Kt. gold-filled or sterling silver wire. They are designed to be adjusted for a secure, comfortable, custom fit.
EaRaps™ can be worn just like any traditional handcrafted ear cuffs, they sit just above the ridge of the ear cartilage.
Once you have a comfortable fit, you can slide your ear wrap off the way you put them on. They should be so comfortable; you’ll forget you're wearing them.
If necessary, the EaRap™ ear cuff can be reshaped nicely around a Sharpie marker.
About Handcrafted Wire Wrap Jewelry
Wire wrap jewelry is totally handmade and designed without the use of glue or solder. The technique of working with wire dates back over 5,000 years to the time of the Pharaoh's and the great pyramids in ancient Egypt.
At Casey’s Jewelry Creations, we use only the finest Sterling Silver and 14KT gold-filled wire for our quality jewelry items. We have included a definition of each metal.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is one of the most widely used metals. The silver wire we use is .925 sterling silver. It is considered hypoallergenic.
Pure silver, like pure gold, is too soft for most uses and is often mixed with copper, necessary in wire jewelry that requires durability and strength. Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper (also known as .925 silver). Because of the copper content this alloy will naturally oxidize and tarnish over time when exposed to air and moisture. Storing your silver jewelry in zip-loc plastic bags, you can avoid some tarnish.
Your jewelry will also become dull when exposed to chemicals found in hairspray, cosmetics, perfumes and many household cleaners. So it’s always best to put on your jewelry after you’ve done your hair and make-up.
14kt Gold Filled
Pure 24Kt gold is so soft that is it impossible to use in the wire wrap technique. We use only 14/20 gold-filled wire (which means that 1/20th of the total weight is 14k gold) because of its beauty and durability. This is a much thicker layer of gold than any plated material, and has a higher gold content than 10 or 12k gold-filled material. It has no nickel in it and is considered hypoallergenic.
14KT gold-filled is made by a process of heat and pressure bonding a layer of 14 karat gold to a base metal, such as brass. A Gold Filled product has at least 10 times more gold content than one that is plated, is very strong and durable, the gold layer will not wear off, and will remain gold for a lifetime with normal care and cleaning.
Jewelry Care
Just like all fine jewelry, handmade wire wrapped jewelry requires reasonable and sensible care. Properly caring for your wire jewelry will ensure that its beauty endures.
Caring and Cleaning Swarovski Crystal Jewelry
Over a period of time, you may find that the crystals you wear appear to lose a little bit of their luster. Most of the things that will take away from the beauty of a crystal are hairspray, lotions, make-up, and even oils from our skin that can mute the brilliance that makes Swarovski crystal jewelry sparkle.
To ensure the lasting beauty of your Swarovski crystal, do not use sonic cleaners, 'jewelry dips', detergents, abrasive cleaners, boiling waters, window-cleaning fluids or commercial jewelry cleaners. Jewelry cleaners usually contain ammonia or alcohol, which can have a damaging effect on the crystal.
An easy and non-abrasive way to get all the hairspray, facial oils and other things off of the surface of your Swarovski crystal jewelry and to restore that incredible sparkle is to make a solution that contains:
- one teaspoon of mild dish soap (do not use an antibacterial soap)
- 3/4 cups of warm water
Mix up the solution in a small, clean jar with a secure lid. Drop the eaRap™ wire ear cuff into the jar and shake it up a bit and let it soak for a few minutes. You will only need to leave it in there for one or two minutes, I would not recommend any longer than that. Dip an old, soft toothbrush in the solution and gently scrub the eaRap™ ear cuff. Rinse well under warm running water and pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Allow to air dry on a soft surface.
Note: This jewelry cleaner can be reused until it begins to look dirty and/or cloudy!
This solution is good for cleaning gold filled, sterling silver, and gemstones including: black onyx, garnet, jade, tiger's eye, hematite, amethyst, and red jasper.
Not recommended for turquoise, malachite, freshwater pearls, lapis.
Caring for Swarovski Crystal Pearl Jewelry
Swarovski crystal pearls are resistant to perspiration, UV rays, perfumes, scratches and will not fade. They can be cleaned using the recommended method above.
Your pearls will look fabulous and last for generations if you care for them properly. Here are a few simple tips for maintaining the luster and beauty of your wire jewelry for years to come.
Do not use cleaning solvents or put them in an ultrasonic cleaner. Do not let your pearls come into contact with hair spray, ammonia, or any alcohol based solvent product. These chemicals can cause damage to the surface of your pearls.
Caring for Handcrafted Gemstone Jewelry
Extreme temperatures and excessive exposure to sunlight can cause the color of some semi precious stones to fade. Amethyst, aquamarine, aventurine, fluorite and rose quartz can fade or change color after prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Avoid storing your wire jewelry in direct sunlight.
Keep your jewelry away from strong chemicals, never use dips or abrasives cleaners on gemstones.
Be sure to remove your jewelry when performing household tasks and chores.
Helpful tips to care for your handmade wire wrap jewelry
- Silver will tarnish or discolor if left out in the open. Tarnish is a naturally occurring process caused by oxidation. Tarnish begins to appear as a golden tone, then quickly gets darker. After wearing, your crystal jewelry should be wiped with a soft cloth before storing. This will cut down the tarnish process.
- The easiest way to keep silver bright and minimize the amount of tarnish is to store it in a cool, dry place, (away from moist areas like the bathroom), in an airtight zip lock bag. This will decrease the need for polishing.
- Avoid using Liquid silver cleaner or polish on your wire gemstone jewelry. These are very harsh and will strip away your jewelry's finish. Do not use silver cleaners on semi-precious gemstones (like amethyst or garnet) as the gemstones may loose its luster.
- When getting dressed, it is a good idea to put your wire jewelry on after applying make up, perfume, hair spray or hand lotion. The chemicals in these products can damage silver or gold wire gemstone jewelry. Make your jewelry the last item you put on and the first item you take off.
- Chemicals such as chlorine found in swimming pools and hot tubs can cause a reaction and damage the finish of silver or gold wire jewelry. Chlorine, salt water, even hard water will eventually leave a film on your jewelry, dulling its color and shine. Always remove your wire jewelry while swimming, bathing or showering.
- Removing your jewelry while washing dishes, cleaning with chemicals, or anything else where the piece could come into contact with abrasive cleaners or detergents is also highly recommended. Ammonia will ruin 14KT gold-filled. It is also recommended to remove your wire jewelry before exercising, gardening and similar tasks.
- Store your EaRap™ wire ear cuffs on the card provided, in a zip lock bag. Do not store your Swarovski Jewelry in areas of excessive heat or sun exposure.
You will find that all of my handmade wire wrap jewelry, is designed to last a lifetime with proper care. The above information is general care and not to be assumed for the care of a specific piece of jewelry. If you have any doubts on cleaning your wire jewelry, contact us, your local jeweler, or clean at your own risk. Casey’s Creations is not responsible for improper cleaning habits. Please remember to avoid wearing your handcrafted wire wrap jewelry while sleeping, exercising, bathing, and swimming.