JEWELRY CARE

MISS BERGONZI designs are the product of Caroline Bergonzi’s lifetime dedication to fine arts and the legacy she honors to her ancestors, artists, jewelers and violin makers (of the same family name). Our pieces are handmade and hand finished, therefore delicate in nature. Be gentle and wear with care. 

Here are a few general facts and tips:

• Every day or very frequent wear can speed up the process, especially on items like rings and bracelets, which have more frequent contact with surfaces. 

• Do not swim, shower in your jewelry and avoid unnecessary exposure to heat and moisture where possible.

• Do not clean your jewelry with chemicals, instead gently wipe clean using the provided polishing cloth and use our anti-tarnish pouch for traveling.

We take the time to polish all the pieces, so they are shiny when you get them. We can use any metal for custom orders. Among them, bass and silver will especially oxidize when they are exposed to the elements. This can result in a variety of shades and in beautiful faint colors. But if you wish for your jewelry to remain bright, and ensure it retains its original beauty for years to come, please follow these care instructions.

When not in use, please store the design in the provided box or pouch.

GOLDS - Gold is naturally tarnish resistant but can lose its luster over time. To clean your jewelry, soak it in warm water with a little diluted dish soap, or a touch of white toothpaste, and use a soft-bristle baby toothbrush to remove any dirt. After cleaning, ensure the items are thoroughly dry by patting them with paper towels and polish with a soft cloth. Do not use any abrasive cleaners. Some at-home jewelry cleaners, steamers or ultrasonic machines can also do more harm than good.

STERLING SILVER - Tarnishing is a natural reaction when sterling silver is in the presence of saltwater, air pollutants or everyday items that contain sulfur, such as leather, rubber and chlorine. Remove heavy tarnish with warm water, mild soap and a clean, soft cotton or flannel cloth, a special sterling silver cleaning cloth or a very soft-bristle brush like a baby toothbrush. Silver polish or dip-style cleaning solutions are not recommended. Making a paste of baking soda and water and gently buffing with a cloth works too.. You can also use white toothpaste. Or boil with baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt for just a few minutes and polish with soft cloth.

BRASS/BRONZE - Expect brass items to develop a natural patina with exposure to the elements and human touch. This is normal and we love it. But if you don't love the antiquing of the metals, you can clean your jewelry with a commercial cleaner, like “JAX”, which is available at many chain jewelry stores and online. Jewelry polishing cloths work well too. You can also make a lemon and baking soda solution. Also, the vinegar and salt with soft cloth method works well. Rub with olive oil after to prevent tarnishing. Some use ketchup: smear, wait a few minutes, rinse it off and polish.

Bronze is an alloy made predominantly from copper. Some people may have a reaction to the metal since oxygen, skin oils and copper can mix to produce copper carbonate, which could slightly discolor the skin. This is harmless and can be easily washed off with soap and water. However, people with particularly sensitive skin may not be able to wear copper and bronze. To reduce possible reactions, you might want to remove your jewelry at night, to avoid wearing it during exercise or excessive sweating, to restrain from excessive lotions while wearing. A trick some use… is to put clear nail polish inside the brass rings which will protect it and your fingers. 

PLATING - Also, the jewelry offered on this site is not plated, as plating can wear off or crack over time, but we respect your intention to order commission works with gold plated on brass, for instance (gold color on gold color) and we want your jewels to remain shiny and beautiful for as long as possible.

The Micron gold plating is 2.5-3 layers of 18K gold that gradually wears off with time, giving the appearance that it has faded, maybe darkened or tarnished, with normal wear. Gently wipe the metal surface with a soft cloth to clean, however, excessive polishing may rub off or scratch the plating. Avoid direct contact with lotions, perfumes or oils. Excessive light, heat or moisture will deteriorate the surface quality. For gold and silver plated items, as we create jewelry of pure metal (no stones), we are happy to (re)plate most of your faded or chipped items, free of charge up to 3-month from the date of purchase, or for a decent fee, afterwards. For such plating fee, you could also choose to submit a brass piece that you purchased from our collections, in whatever metal, color and texture (high polish, sateen or mat).