The Art of Caring your LarimarandSilver jewel
This guide has been created to care the natural beauty of your stone and the brilliance of your silver. Larimar is a unique Caribbean treasure and, much like the sea that gives it its color, it requires love and attention.
How a simple Cleaning is important?
Preserve the original blue color of your stone.
Larimar is both photosensitive and porous. This means it reacts to its environment:
Prolonged exposure to intense direct sunlight can cause the blue hues of the stone to fade over time.
We recommend not leaving your jewelry out in
the sun on outdoor surfaces (like pool tables) when not in use.
Being a volcanic stone with similar properties like opal, Larimar can absorb liquid and substances like a sponge. Contact with perfumes, sunscreens, or household cleaners can penetrate the stone, altering its color or dulling its natural radiance.
Preserve the natural shine of your silver.
The silver we use in our jewelry is 925 Sterling Silver.
Silver reacts with sulfur present in the air (hydrogen sulfide). This creates a yellowish or black layer known as silver sulfide or "tarnish."
Depending on the pH of the skin, silver can sometime darken more quickly.
Regular cleaning prevents your Larimasandsilver jewel to tarnish to quickly.
Larimar Cleaning: Step-by-Step
-
Soak: Place the stone in bottle water with a few drops of dish-soap for 5 minutes.
-
Clean: Gently rub with a very soft tissue or a baby toothbrush.
-
Rinse: Use clean water to remove any soap residue.
-
Dry: Pat dry immediately with a soft cotton cloth. Do not air dry.
Artisan’s Secrets
The glass of water trick: Does your larimar look pale? Put it overnight in a glass of water. You'll be amazed at the color diference.
The refrigerator trick: Don't store your Larimar jewelry like other jewelry. If you want it to retain its original color, store it in a little box (zip lock) in the refrigerator.
Since Larimar naturally contains water within its molecular structure, this "cold bath" helps rehydrate the stone, preserving its vibrant color and natural essence, keeping it as radiant as the day you first saw it.
Silver Cleaning
- Polishing Cloth: Use a specialized jewelry cloth to rub only the metal. This is the safest method because it requires no liquids or chemicals.
- Cotton Swab: If you use a cleaning paste, apply it with a cotton swab specifically on the silver parts to avoid any contact with the stone.
- Dry Immediately: If the jewelry gets wet, dry it right away with a soft cloth. Larimar should never stay damp for long.
Golden Rule: Never use chemical silver dips or immersion liquids. The acid will permanently ruin the color and shine of the Larimar.
The grandma secret: Ashes
-
Before industrial polishes existed, people used fine ash from cigars and fireplaces. As a mild alkaline abrasive, they would rub the silver with a damp cloth and ash to remove the tarnish without scratching the metal.
