Wear unique… be unique
When it comes to jewellery, it's the unique, handmade pieces that capture the imagination and satisfy the desire to be individual. Equally important is value for money: fashion is ever-changing and we need to feel comfortable with how much we spend on styling!
Here you will find handmade pieces of jewellery, only a few of each design are made, although you are welcome to contact Lolley's if you see something and would like it reproduced.
All items are handmade by myself using high quality components.
About crystals
CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements is the product brand for the world’s finest loose cut crystals manufactured by Swarovski. Available in a myriad of colours, effects, shapes and sizes, these elements provide a fabulous palette of inspiration for designers in the worlds of fashion, jewellery, accessories and interior design.
This precious ingredient can be recognized through the “Made with CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements” label that serves as a guarantee of quality, authenticity and integrity. CRYSTALLIZED™ - Swarovski Elements add brilliance to the most glamorous designs, sparkle to international galas and touch the heart of all those who seek radiance and luxury in their lives.
Swarovski, with some 22,000 employees and a presence in more than 120 countries, is the world leader in the production of precision-cut crystals. The company registered a turnover in 2007 of € 2.56 billion.
www.crystallized.com
www.swarovski.com/crystallized
Care and cleaning instructions
Crystals
Keeping crystal jewelry clean and shiny isn't difficult and begins with avoiding exposure to chemicals such as bodysprays and perfume. Such chemicals can build up on the surface of the crystals and make them look dull. When dressing always put your crystal jewelry on last, and when undressing, remove your jewelry first.
Clean your crsystals by gently wiping with a damp cloth to remove oils and fingerprints. If your crystal jewelry needs additional cleaning, dip a cotton swab into water containing a few drops of window cleaner and lightly wipe any problem areas. Lay your clean crystal jewelry on a cotton cloth to air dry.
After a few hours, when your crystal jewelry is thoroughly dry, wrap in jewellers' tissue and store in its own airtight plastic bag. Keep it separate from other jewelry so it doesn't get scratched or scratch your other pieces of jewelry.
Swarovski crystals which have a coating should not be immersed in water. This can damage the surface of the crystals. Never use an ultrasonic, ionic or steam cleaning to clean your crystal jewellery. And never use a toothbrush to clean crystal jewellery which will easily scratch the delicate coating. Always handle crystal jewelry carefully to avoid scratching or dulling the crystals' finish.
Sterling silver
Sterling silver reacts with moisture to create a layer of tarnish or oxidation on its surface. Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) activated by boiling water in the presence of aluminum, will remove the tarnish by making it bind with the aluminum, leaving the sterling silver clean and shiny again. This is the simple, organic way to clean and polish your sterling silver jewellery.
- Place a sheet of aluminium foil in the base of a glass heat proof dish
- Sprinkle over a thin layer of bicarbonate of soda
- place your jewellery in the dish
- Pour over boiling water from the kettle
- You may need to agitate the jewellery to ensure that all parts are clean, do this with a wooden or plastic utensil
- When your silver jewellery appears to be clean and shiny all over, remove and rinse under cold running water. The use of a fine sieve is advisable
- Dry and polish to a shine using a soft, lint-free cloth
NOTE: This method of cleaning is recommended only for jewellery that is all sterling silver and those that incorporate acrylic and glass. Some gemstones are affected by the bicarbonate of soda, for example, turquoise.
To minimize tarnishing, store your Sterling silver in a moisture-free environment. Use resealble bags, anti tarnish strips (provided with Lolley's sterling silver jewellery) or moisture absorbent products (available in some pharmacies).
You will also find moisture absorbent packets in some merchandise like shoes and accessories that are sensitive to moisture. You can reuse these packets by putting some in your jewelry box to minimize tarnish on your sterling silver pieces.