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- Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: Mosaic Madness
- Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: Do You Know Mohs?
- Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: The Envelope Please
- Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: Clean Up the Awards Season 2
- Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: Cleaning Up the Awards Season
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Author Archives: Kristie Nicolosi
Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: The Envelope Please
The awards season always feels like it’s working up to the grand finale: The Oscars.
This year, the Oscars harkened back to yesteryear, with many vintage styles and modern pieces recalling the golden era of Hollywood.
Of course that meant diamonds, our first BFF. Jennifer Lawrence’s diamond drop earrings and stunning diamond necklace worn down her back were almost as big a topic as her somehow charming slip on the stairs.
And one couldn’t miss the stunning Fred Leighton diamond ring adorning Kerry Washington’s index finger; a new spot to sport some gorgeous bling.
Though earrings and bracelets still dominated, there were a few more statement necklaces in the mix this year. I especially loved Jennifer Garner’s gorgeous 200 carat Neil Lane necklace as she beamed at her Best Picture Oscar-winning hubby.
As for earnings, I loved Nicole Kidman’s ornate gilded drop earrings from Fred Leighton that so complimented her stunning dress and Catherine Zeta Jones’ dangling earrings comprised of natural colored diamonds in a mosaic-like design.
Cleaning How-To: While your diamonds may not come from a jeweler’s vault, you can keep them eye-popping with proper care and cleaning. Your rings and earrings are most likely to get gummed up through frequent wear, so exercise some caution. Remove your pieces before using lotion or hairspray, or when exercising, cooking, gardening and cleaning. When your diamond BFFs lose their sparkle, I recommend soaking them in a non-ammoniated fine jewelry cleaning formula, brushing with a soft, short brush designed for jewelry care, and drying and buffing with a professional polishing cloth.
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Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: Clean Up the Awards Season 2
Here is part two of my wrap-up of the awards season. I love watching them all! Yesterday I offered my thoughts on The Golden Globes, and here’s my low-down on The Grammy’s. Check back tomorrow for the finale: The Oscars.
I wondered what would be happening style-wise at the Grammy’s after the gals were put on notice to show a bit less skin than in years past. Style memo notwithstanding, the women of the Grammy’s brought it strong with gorgeous looks with some rock star edge.
Snake and serpent motifs were a noteworthy trend, adorning Nicole Kidman, Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Florence Welch (whose jewels far outshone her not-so-jolly green dress). The twisting diamond crusted snake cuff of Rihanna’s was both elegant and edgy. I have already seen this look to trickling down from the runway to ladies about town.
And there were rings, lots and lots of rings. Some wore numerous rings on multiple fingers (see Rihanna, again), while others wore larger statements rings, such as Faith Hill’s stunning sapphire piece and Kelly Roland’s fabulous emerald ring.
Not to be left out, wrists got lots of attention with cuffs and bangles. Beyonce’s matching Lorraine Schwartz cuffs had a bit of a Wonder Woman vibe but offered beautiful symmetry in contrast to her asymmetrical jumpsuit. While Jennifer Lopez mixed a bold gold cuff with gorgeous Norman Silverman bangles.
Cleaning and Care How-To: Gemstones such as emeralds, sapphires, amethysts and more, in all their gorgeous glory, require a little extra TLC. Because they are softer than diamonds, I recommend cleaning them with a gentle cleaning formulary especially formulated for delicate jewelry (no ammonia or strong solvents). A quick soak and buff with a polishing cloth will keep your jewelry runway-ready. And it is best to save your gemstone pieces for activities where they can’t be chipped or damaged by exposure to chemicals. So wear them for a hot date, an important business meeting or a girls’ night out, but keep them tucked in a jewelry box or pouch when you are swimming, exercising, cleaning or doing cartwheels with the kids.
Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: Cleaning Up the Awards Season
The Hollywood awards season comes at just the right time. As we struggle through the cold, gray days of winter, the glitterati walk the red carpet in gorgeous dresses and stunning jewels, sparking us out of our winter gloom. I watched them all – The Golden Globes, The Grammy’s and The Oscars – tracking the trends that will morph from the runway to your reality. Here’s a rundown of my favorites, along with cleaning and care how-to’s for different pieces.
Today I start with the Golden Globes. Check back tomorrow and Friday for the low-down on The Grammy’s and The Oscars.
The Golden Globes
The Globes may be Golden, but they were also awash in diamonds, gemstones and more. There were delectable earrings, stunning necklaces and fabulous rings in a variety of metals and in diamonds and gemstones.
For classic diamond looks, I loved Lucy Liu’s Lorraine Schwartz diamond drop earrings and Anne Hathaway’s simple studs and diamond bracelets. Then Jessica Alba upped the ante with a to-die-for Chopard diamond necklace, the shape of which so perfectly accentuated the neckline of her dress.
Not everyone wore diamonds though. Emily Blunt’s gemstone earrings by Lorraine Schwartz offered a gorgeous pop of color, as did Michelle Dockery’s Bulgari emerald and gold stunners. And Debra Messing’s stack of bracelets by Amprapai offered oodles of impact.
Funny ladies Tina Fey and Amy Pohler proved that hilarious can be beautiful. Fey’s elegant Fred Leighton pieces were understated and lovely, while Pohler’s diamond lariat by Chopard will inspire looks this year.
Cleaning How-To: Caring for your own gold and platinum jewelry can be done with a non-abrasive fine jewelry cleaning formula followed by buffing with a professional polishing cloth. Fine metals are easily scratched or bent, so it’s important to remove pieces when engaging in certain activities such as exercise (imagine the pressure your tennis racquet exerts on your rings!), gardening, cleaning and heavy lifting. When you aren’t wearing your favorite piece, store it in a protective case or pouch.
Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: Cleaning Enhanced Stones
In recent years, the popularity of enhanced stones, particularly diamonds, has grown rapidly. There are a variety of reasons for this, but generally the purchase of an enhanced stone allows the customer to acquire a larger or fancier stone at a lower cost. Enhanced stones, while less valuable due to being less scarce, are no less valuable to those who wear them. As with every piece of jewelry, the value comes from its emotional meaning to the wearer. As long as the purchaser or recipient is aware the stone has been enhanced, these stones provide a viable option to men and women purchasing diamond or other gemstone jewelry.
Enhanced stones are not “fake.” They are natural stones that have already been cut and polished into gems but which are treated to improve certain gemological characteristics. Laser drilling can be performed to remove inclusions and improve clarity. Sealants can be applied to fill in cracks. Irradiation followed by a high heat treatment can turn brown and yellow diamonds into fancy colored diamonds in vivid colors. Color treatments can be applied to improve a white diamond’s color grade or to give fancy color to a white or off-white diamond. All of these treatments make a stone that might be difficult to sell into one that can be used in commercial jewelry. However, it is important that the buyer be made aware of any treatment that has been applied to a stone.
Some (less-than-reputable) jewelers will apply a coating to change a diamond’s color to make it appear colorless in the store. These coatings are not permanent and are not considered enhancements to a stone. In fact, they will rub off with normal wear and cleaning and are intended to deceive. Buyers should be very cautious and work with reputable jewelers who would not consider using such tactics.
Just like any gemstone, enhanced stones require routine cleaning to maintain their sparkle. Treated diamonds, however, require a different cleaning procedure than untreated diamonds. While untreated diamonds are best cleaned in a fine jewelry cleaning formula, treated diamonds should be cleaned in a gentle cleaning formula. The stone can be soaked briefly in the solution and buffed and polished with a high-quality polishing cloth. The gentle formula will ensure that sealants and color treatments will not be damaged. Ultrasonic cleaners are also unsafe for use on enhanced stones (and are not recommended for any set stones for at-home use).
As with any piece of jewelry, knowing the characteristics of the stone or stones in the piece allows the owner to properly care for it. It is essential to always clean in a method safe for the softest or most vulnerable stone in the piece. In the case of enhanced stones, the treatments conducted to the stone to improve it require treating the stone in a more gentle fashion. And with proper care, enhanced stones can be enjoyed for a lifetime.
Passion for Purple
I was very excited last week when a project we had been working on for some time came to fruition. We have been asked many times over the years, by customers, friends, colleagues and even my daughter, Eva, why we don’t offer purple jewelry cleaner. It’s a valid question. Purple is a lovely color that would work beautifully in jewelry stores; so why wouldn’t we offer it?
The key answer is that adding colors to our line is not something we do haphazardly. From the time The Kingswood Company offered its first Emerald Green jars of cleaner in 1955, only two other colors had been added to the line: Sapphire Blue and Sweetheart Pink. So we analyzed the situation to determine if the addition of purple would bring value to our customers and be in keeping with the sophisticated products we are so proud to produce. We pride ourselves on offering the most customizable line in the industry, so in the end we determined that purple would be a fabulous addition to the other beautiful colors we offer.
Then we went to work. We knew that we had to develop the perfect shade of purple, one that evokes richness and jewel tones. We produced many batches, reviewing each shade carefully. It is surprising how many hues of purple exist; we had batches ranging from reddish pink to blueish green. There were so many pretty purples to choose from, but eventually we chose the one that spoke to us. It has that richness and jewel-like feel we were looking for. In fact, it’s such a regal color, we christened it Royal Purple.
While Royal Purple Fine Jewelry Cleaner is already in limited production, we are very excited to unveil it at the JCK show next month. If you are one of our customers who has been patiently waiting for purple jewelry cleaner, please stop by and meet the newest addition to our family of products!
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As Seen In: Ask the Experts Feature at MarthaStewartWeddings.com
Klean Karats jewelry cleaning products are distributed exclusively by Stuller and available at retailers throughout the United States and Canada.
We were delighted to be featured today in The Bride’s Guide blog at marthastewartweddings.com! We hope you will visit their beautiful site and take a look.
Here is the article as posted:
Expert Advice: How to Keep your Sparkler Sparkling
You will never forget the moment he asked you to marry him, slipping a beautiful, sparkling diamond ring on your finger. Since your diamond will be a symbol of your commitment to one another, you’ve no doubt wondered how you’ll keep it looking beautiful for a lifetime.
We asked Kristie Nicolosi, President & CEO of The Kingswood Company, the world’s leading producer of fine-quality jewelry care products, for her top five tips to keeping your engagement ring looking dazzling.
1. When you and your fiancé choose a ring, it’s best to find a setting that is in keeping with your lifestyle. Wear and tear on your ring will make it look dull quickly. For example, if you have a very active lifestyle, be aware of how high your ring is set. “When I became engaged in my 20’s, my ring was beautiful, fabulous and set very high. It was my first major piece of jewelry, and I just didn’t know what sort of setting I needed for my lifestyle,” explained Nicolosi. “After three months and some serious damage, I had it reset lower.”
2. To prevent damage and a build-up of dirt and grime, Nicolosi recommends removing your ring when doing a variety of activities, including exercising, gardening, cleaning (due to cleaning chemicals), swimming (exposure to chlorine) and even when applying hair products, lotions, and sunscreen.
3. Though you may well have seen your mother or grandmother do it, you really should not use a toothbrush to clean your ring. The pressure you exert with the long handle of a toothbrush is too strong for the metal settings and the bristles can scratch the metal. You will do far more damage than good. “The brushes that come with a jar of jewelry cleaner aren’t little so they’ll look cute and fit in the jar,” explained Nicolosi. “They are sized so that you cannot put undue pressure on your ring.”
4. Also be wary of at-home Ultrasonic machines that use sound vibrations to clean your ring—they can shake loose a diamond if the setting has been damaged. It’s best to have your diamond deep cleaned only by a professional jeweler. You should have your ring professionally cleaned at least once a year, at the same time your jeweler will examine your ring with a gem scope, checking the prongs, verifying that the stones are secure, looking for any weakness in the metal and studying the stone for chipping or damage. Also, many insurance policies require these inspections to keep your insurance current; you should check your policy to be sure.
5. Whether your ring is brand new or just back from a professional cleaning, you really can keep it in sparkling condition with proper routine cleaning. “You probably didn’t get a jar of jewelry cleaner with your proposal,” laughed Nicolosi. “So when you stop by your local jeweler to have your ring sized or to choose your wedding bands, it’s a great time to pick some up.” Your jeweler should carry high-quality cleaning formulas and polishing cloths which can be used often, even daily, to keep your ring looking beautiful. If you have a diamond engagement ring, a fine jewelry cleaning formula will work wonderfully. If your ring has other softer stones, be sure to seek guidance from your jeweler for more gentle cleaners. Nicolosi also encourages you not to use “home remedies” such as toothpaste, bleach, lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda or ammonia.
Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: Basel Beautiful
I work hard. I really do! So my trip to Switzerland for the Baselworld show was full of hard work. OK, it was also full-on fabulous, but I did meet with customers new and old and was able to admire the trends that will be taking stage in the coming year. Here are some of the trends I noticed (and, of course, how to clean them!).
- The Gucci booth at Baselworld.
Links remain a big trend in both necklaces and bracelets. These are not chains that bind but chains that beautify. As the trend evolves, I saw a number of pieces done in mixed materials, such as silver, gold, ceramic and wood. There were many different textures and materials, making the trend feel fresh.
- Photo Credit: www.gucci.com
When cleaning mixed metals or mixed materials, consumers need to be very conscious of what materials are used in the piece. Always clean with the most sensitive material in mind. The safest route is to buff the piece with a polishing cloth; you really can’t do damage that way. If the mixed materials make it too difficult for you to clean beyond buffing, don’t hesitate to send your piece back to the jeweler for refurbishing. Proper storage of your piece and careful choices while wearing it are also key to keeping it looking beautiful.
- Photo Credit: www.robertocoin.com
Another trend that is continuing and evolving is the statement piece of jewelry. By that I mean a ring or necklace pendant featuring a large, statement stone. Because it is difficult for jewelry designers to find very large stones of consistent quality, they have begun to use a cluster of smaller stones to achieve the same effect. To be sure, some pieces are still made with very large gemstones, but they are extraordinarily expensive. So for the more mainstream customer, jewelry designers have begun using clusters or mosaics of smaller stones or a larger stone surrounded by smaller stones to make the statement. The effect can be compared to that of stacking a large number of bangles on your wrist to give the illusion of a cuff-style bracelet.
Cleaning pieces of this kind requires a bit of extra care. Gentle jewelry cleaning formularies that do not contain ammonia are safe for most gemstones, including pearls. However, a word of caution; any gemstones that are strung on silk or set with glue require should not be submerged in jewelry cleaner (really, any liquid) for more than a couple of minutes. It’s not the gemstones that can be damaged, but the silk string or glue holding the stone in place. It is best to ask your jeweler what cleaning method is safest and most effective for pieces of this kind, as some stones are set and some are glued. Best to be safe and seek guidance.
Photo Credit: www.niemanmarcus.com
I also noted a trend of retro glamour. There are lines evoking the feel of the turn of the 20th century; think Boardwalk Empire. There were also lines reflecting the era of The Great Gatsby and the flapper, particularly pearl pieces. And some that reflected the mid-century feel of Mad Men. Jewelers are definitely reinterpreting a variety of eras gone by.
Pearls remain popular, but are being used in different ways. I saw layered pearls, tassels and baroque pearls, which are pearls of different sizes and shapes used in one piece. They are very beautiful.
But not everything I saw was a reinterpretation of an older trend. The most unusual and arresting piece I saw was an enormous yellow diamond in a wood setting. Wood! I must say that this Queen of Clean was almost stumped by that one. Perhaps I should consider adding Pledge to my line!
Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: The Oscars Dazzle
After watching the Oscars on Sunday night, once thing is clear: diamonds are still a girl’s best friend. There were gorgeous diamonds sparkling from many a neck, wrist, finger and ear. And I mean sparkling!
My favorite look was Natalie Portman, whose v-shaped diamond necklace was a perfect complement to her strapless, red gown. While her oval diamond drop earrings in platinum dazzled in contrast with her dark hair and eyes.
I thought Penelope Cruz simply shone in a diamond and
platinum necklace and earrings. Who knew 71 carats-worth of diamonds could look so elegant and understated?
Cameron Diaz’s emerald-cut diamond necklace was
another stunner, as were her diamond stud earrings, both from Tiffany & Co.
And the fabulous diamond cuff adorning Gwyneth Paltrow’s wrist looked amazing set against her column dress with cape. The
cream dress and the colorless diamonds allowed the shape of the dress and cuff to make the statement. Stunning.
While we look to the red carpet for trends that will influence fashion for the season, in reality most us won’t have access to jewelry such as this. Even the stars borrow their bling from Hollywood’s hottest jewelers! But that doesn’t mean the styles from the Oscars won’t be found on women everywhere. You may not have Penelope’s 57-carat necklace, but a beautiful tennis bracelet makes quite a statement too.
Whether you are digging in your jewelry box for diamond long unworn, or donning a favorite you wear all the time, you will want to make sure your piece is clean and sparkling. While diamonds are very strong, proper care and cleaning is essential to keeping them looking beautiful.
Diamonds lose their sparkle when dirt and grime build up on the surface. You can minimize this build-up by removing your jewelry when exercising, gardening, cleaning, swimming and when applying hair products, lotions and sunscreen.
But no matter how careful you are, your diamond jewelry will get dirty. The best way to
clean your diamonds is to soak them in a fine jewelry cleaning formulary. These products are specially formulated to be safe for diamonds and their metal settings. Through soaking, the dirt, oils and grime that have built up on the stones will be washed away. After removing it from the cleaning formula, simply wipe the piece with a polishing cloth to bring back the shine on the stone and metal. This can be safely done as often as daily.
You may have friends and family who own an ultrasonic machine for at-home jewelry cleaning. I strongly discourage you from using these machines. They clean by way of sound vibrations, and while these vibrations do remove dirt and oils, they can also loosen your diamonds from their setting. When you feel your diamond jewelry needs cleaning beyond an at-home cleaning formula, take it to your jeweler for an inspection and professional cleaning.
Still basking in the glow and glamour from Oscar night, I can’t wait to wear some of my favorite diamonds this season. How will you interpret the Oscar trends in your jewelry wardrobe?
Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: Golden Globes Go Green
The awards season is upon us, and there will be beautiful jewels galore. The Golden Globes kicked things off on Sunday and did not disappoint. With actresses from both the big and small screens, we had even more gorgeousness to take in.
My favorite earrings of the night were worn by the beautiful Debra Messing. These amethyst and emerald three-stone drop earrings designed by Lorraine Schwartz looked fabulous with her red hair and hazel eyes. The combination of purple and green was an evident trend, with Julianna Margulies wearing it as well.
I also loved Julianne Moore’s emerald tassel earrings designed by Fred Leighton. They are classic and fresh for spring.
Both Debra and Julianne looked lovely in their emeralds. I know that fashion on the red carpet often drives trends for the year. Being me, when I look at the trend, I wonder if they people know how to clean it.
Emeralds are actually a relatively hard gem, as measured on the Mohs scale. A 10 ranks the highest (meaning a diamond, not Bo Derek), and emeralds come in at a 7.5 to 8. Opals, turquoise, peridot and coral are all softer than emeralds.
You may be thinking, “Great, that means I can’t hurt them.” Not true. Most emeralds are formed with natural inclusions or cracks within them, which makes the stones more susceptible to breaking along an inclusion line. So you should be gentle when cleaning to avoid damaging the stone along a fissure. This is a great example of why at-home ultrasonic machines are unsafe. Your pretty emerald could crack.
Also, emeralds are often treated with oils to minimize the appearance of inclusions and improve the stone’s clarity. So you should avoid cleaning methods that remove these oils, which will damage the look of the stone. Do not expose the stone to strong heat or steam, strong solvents such as ammonia or soak them for a prolonged period of time. If you do happen to damage the oil treatment, it can be redone or re-enhanced by a qualified jeweler.
Emeralds can safely be cleaned with a liquid cleaner formulated especially for delicate jewelry, one that does not include ammonia or any strong solvents. You can soak it for a short amount of time and then dry and buff the piece it with a polishing cloth.
Both Debra and Julianne’s earrings are made of mixed stones (Julianne’s have diamonds and Debra’s include amethysts). While those stones are stronger, because they are combined with emeralds, the pieces require the more delicate care. Always remember to clean based on what is safe for the most delicate gemstone, metal or setting in any piece.
I was so excited by the beautiful jewelry on display at The Golden Globes. While most of us don’t get to borrow goodies from Harry Winston or Neil Lane for the night, we can borrow from the looks for ourselves. I can’t wait to wear my sparkling clean emeralds this spring. Do you have any favorite emerald pieces you plan to get out of the vault?
Trade Secrets from the Queen of Clean: Visiting the Peacock
On Saturday, December 17, I was a guest on the NBC4 Today show in Columbus, Ohio. It was fabulous spending some time with Mindy Drayer walking through the do’s and don’ts of jewelry cleaning, dispelling some “old wives’ tales” and sharing how to get your jewelry sparkling for the holidays. She even tried to get me to give up our trade-secret formularies!
Check out the clip of the segment and let us know what you think. Do you have another question you’d like to see answered? Maybe Mindy will have us back for a follow-up!