Blog posts tagged with 'how to'

One of our most popular styles is one that constantly seems to mystify our clients because this necklace has NO CLASP!
But calm down, it’s OK! The solution to a secure necklace is very simple. 
Just loop the pendant portion on the necklace through the opening at the opposite end TWICE and you’ll have a secure fit.
Easy peasy.  Watch this clip for a demonstration.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Otis B Jewelry (@otisbgemstonejewelry)

All stones & pearls used in our designs are 100% natural. The images in the item descriptions are a fair representation of the stones/pearls you will receive, however, the stones/pearls are not resin filled, color treated or lab created, so no two stones will ever be completely identical to each other or the listing photos. Raw gems and crystals especially may vary a bit in color, surface texture and shape. This is to be expected.

Each stone will vary slightly from piece to piece, just like us. If your stone has rough edges it is because nature made it that way. If your stone looks more opaque than clear, it's because that is how that stone was formed. We feel that all the organic shapes and inclusions in these raw gems make each one incredibly beautiful and unique, like you.

Understand also that lighting in our photos may differ from the lighting in your home, which also impacts color appearance. Minor inclusions or surface irregularities are COMPLETELY NORMAL for natural stones and should not be considered defects. Considering all this, we absolutely take extreme care to select the very best of the best of our supply when creating your jewelry, and we do not send anything less than stones & pearls that we would be proud to wear or gift ourselves.

We have carefully selected each raw gem to suit the design we are creating for you. The real beauty in these stones is that there are no "flaws", only natural formations to be prized and enjoyed for years to come.

Moonstones and Labradorites are stones that flash a variety of colors in light!  The iridescent optical effects are caused by light, penetrating the layers of the stone, is bent, reflected and scattered on the surface of each layer.  The scattered light within the stone is what causes the colorful glow and the unique beauty of the gem.  These stones may have minor surface irregularities, natural inclusions, and internal fractures, however, these are NOT flawed or lesser quality, that is how nature made them!  Each stone is completely natural and totally unique.

We carefully inspect and select each stone before making your jewelry!

Please take it out of the packaging and look at it from different angles and in different lights.

We assure you that we saw something amazing in your stone and we hope you do too!

Pearls are organic gemstones and are easily damaged by perfume, cosmetics, chlorine bleach, acides, cleaners and other harsh chemicals.  The surface of pearls can scratch easily so only wipe them gently with a cloth, never place them in ultrasonic cleaners or use chemicals to clean them.  

Genuine leaves are used in our designs! We purchase green leaves that have been electroplated in copper to preserve the vein and shape details, then plated in either sterling silver, or 24k gold.  Be very careful not to over-polish, or the outer layer of precious metal will be removed.  Leaves are hand-picked for consistency in shape and size, but no two leaves will ever be the same.  These are made by nature! Earring sets are selected carefully by hand to ensure the closest match possible. 

At Otis B, we use 100% sterling silver.  Sterling silver is prone to tarnish over time.  However, this does not mean your jewelry is damaged or faulty in any way.   Tarnish is easily removed!  Use the complimentary polishing cloth to lightly rub the jewelry and the tarnish will come right off.  Be careful not to pull or tug on wrapped gemstones or delicate chains so they don't stretch or break.  Tarnish (dull discoloration) is a naturally occuring chemical reaction on the surface of some precious metals that is caused by exposure to oxygen and hydrogen sulfide.  All jewelry comes in contact with air, and hydrogen sulfide is found in paper like the boxes and paper your jewelry is shipped in.  Humidity makes silver tarnish even faster.  There is nothing that will completely prevent tarnishing, but we do the best we can to help our customers minimize it on their jewelry by included the anti-tarnish bag and polishing cloth with your order.  

Oxidized sterling silver is produced by a process of intentionally tarnishing/darkening or "antiquing" the silver in a sulfur bath, then the silver is buffed and polished to reveal the texture and details of the piece.  Some of our products offer oxidization as an option.  This color will not fade away or transfer. Oxidization is permanent.

Our gold items are made with 14k gold fill.  The term gold filled means that it is a solid layer of pure gold(14k), bonded to a base metal such as brass, but wears like solid gold.  It is also hypo-allergenic and safe for jewelry wearers.  There are a few components that we use that are unavailable in gold and we have substituted a high polish bronze or vermeil (14k gold over sterling silver) piece instead, but it will be clearly stated in the listing when these are used.  Our products are nickel-free and hypo allergenic.

If your jewelry is not going to be worn or gifted immediately, remove it from the box.  Store it in the special anti-tarnish baggie provided and if possible, inside another sealed plastic bag with the air squeezed out.  This is the BEST way to keep your jewelry looking bright before gifting. Place it back in the boxes just before you plan to present it.  If you are gifting them far in the future, notify us first if possible and we can wait till closer to your gifting date to create your jewelry.  

❤️‍🩹Sensitive Content Warning❤️‍🩹
A couple of years ago we lost our precious little bunny, Pearl, during what was supposed to be a standard procedure at the vet, we miss her everyday and still talk about her. We had her cremated and for two years now her remains have been locked away in a tiny box. But I figured since we offer memorial jewelry (wearable crystal pendants that feature a tiny compartment for storing contents of your choosing), I thought it might be a nice idea to fill one for my youngest daughter since Pearl was “her rabbit”, and also use this as an opportunity to give a tutorial on how to fill these tiny pendants.
(**Note: It is recommended to wear disposable gloves for this process, and these are included in the kits we send out, as well as all other items shown in this video except for scissors)
1) The funnel included in the kit is customizable for this project and will require you to snip away some of the tube to allow larger materials to pass through.
2) Place the funnel over the pendant opening and use the spoon to fill. **Use the smallest grain material Only** (I will admit, this was the saddest part. I’d never seen cremation remains before 😔)
3) Use the toothpick to fully press material through
4) Assemble the glue cap and snip the end to open, glueing just the threads on the cap of the pendant, then secure the cap immediately.
❤️
We understand this topic may be a very sensitive for some, but we have had some clients asking how to properly go about using these kits.
And we’d like to thank our sweet Pearl 🐇 for her help in this 💗 🌈

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Otis B Jewelry (@otisbgemstonejewelry)

Here’s how to ensure you order bracelets that FIT properly! Also make sure to always pay close attention to item details and descriptions to see if what you’re ordering is adjustable or not.   Most bracelets will come with a 1/2" extender to make sizing easier.  However, the best way to determine bracelet size (for adults and children) is to use a piece of string or ribbon.  Use the string to measure loosely around the wrist, as you would wear a bracelet.  Then lay the string next to a ruler to find the length.  Our sizes are listed with the 1/2" range included, simply determine which size your measured length falls into.  If you still have questions, feel free to contact us!