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Untitled Document

Welcome to Casey's Creations

How To Wear About Wire Jewelry
Jewelry Care

How to Wear the EaRap™

All eaRaps™ 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 ear cuffs, they sit just above the ridge of the ear cartilage.

Place the cuff at the top of your ear
Slide the EaRap down your ear
The EaRap rests comfortably at the base of the cartilage

Slip the eaRap™ cuff around the top of the ear.
Holding your ear taut with one hand helps.

Slide the eaRap™ down the ear until it sits above the lower cartilage on the inside of the ear.
To tighten, squeeze the eaRap™ and bend the bottom (and/or top) portion to fit to the line of your ear.

Once you have a comfortable fit, you can slide it off the way you put them on. They should be so comfortable; you’ll forget you're wearing them.

If necessary, the eaRap™ can be reshaped nicely around a Sharpie marker.

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About Wire Jewelry

Wire wrap jewelry is totally handcrafted and designed with wire 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 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 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 wire wrap.
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.

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Jewelry Care

Just like all fine jewelry, wire wrapped jewelry requires reasonable and sensible care. Properly caring for your handcrafted 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)
and
• 3/4 cups of warm water

Mix up the solution in a small, clean jar with a secure lid. Drop the eaRap™ 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™. 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.

Helpful tips to care for your 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 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 jewelry. These are very harsh and will strip away your jewelry's finish. Do not use silver cleaners on semi-precious stones (like amethyst or garnet) as the stones may loose its luster.

When getting dressed, it is a good idea to put your jewelry on after applying make up, perfume, hair spray or hand lotion. The chemicals in these products can damage silver or gold 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 jewelry. Chlorine, salt water, even hard water will eventually leave a film on your jewelry, dulling its color and shine. Always remove your 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 jewelry before exercising, gardening, and similar tasks.

Store your eaRap™ on the card provided, in a zip lock bag. Do not store your Swarovski Jewelry in areas of excessive heat or sun exposure.

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 pearl 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 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 any 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.

 

You will find that all of my 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 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 jewelry while sleeping, exercising, bathing, and swimming.

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