How I can take care of my Dodo jewel?

Every Dodo jewel is made to be worn every day and on every occasion. This is why no extraordinary maintenance is needed, especially if it is delicately handled and cleaned. Nonetheless, being a precious object, it deserves to be treated with care. It is normal for both silver and gold jewelry to lose their shine with wear and over time. The natural phenomenon of darkening, due to oxidization, is also very common to all silver or gold alloy jewelry and it can be easily cancelled by a professional cleaning if the oxidation stage is advanced. We do not recommend any kind of do-it-yourself cleaning, especially in case the item is set with precious stones, diamonds or enriched by enamel or with leather. Professional help is also required to restore surfaces such as rhodium plating or burnishing. Stones set on a piece of jewelry are intrinsically delicate, meaning that even accidental or unnoticed bumps, as well as thermal shocks, could damage or break them. If you want to preserve the shine of Dodo jewelry, we recommend you to store it in a clean, dry place away from any heat sources.

How can I have assistance for my Dodo Jewels?

The best thing to do is to go to the store where the jewel was purchased. Unless specific limitations apply, customer care is provided by every Dodo Authorised Dealer worldwide.

For any information, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service by filling the Contact Form .

How should i take care of my silver jewels?

A jewel in natural untreated silver, worn even every day with care, will only occasionally need exceptional maintenance, especially if it is delicately cleaned from time to time and put away appropriately.

Normal everyday use and external agents such as atmospheric humidity, temperature, pollution levels, contact with cosmetic products and perspiration may dull the lustre of silver surfaces, or alter the original appearance of the surface finish present in some items.

The phenomenon whereby silver lustre is dulled and the surface becomes darker and more opaque, scientifically known as "tarnishing" and commonly called oxidation, is well known in metallurgy.

The extent and speed of this phenomenon cannot be predicted, since they depend on a number of factors.

To keep the oxidation problem under control and reduce it, the general rule is to prevent silver jewels from coming into contact with detergents, creams, fragrances and water, in particular swimming pool water (chlorinated) and sulphur springs, and it is advisable to regularly wipe the jewel surface gently with a soft cloth, being particularly careful with the finish and gemstones, if present.

My jewel has come into contact with mercury. What can i do?

Damage from contact with mercury, caused for instance by the accidental breaking of a thermometer, is the most severe damage a jewel may suffer – and, unfortunately, in most cases it is irreversible.

Mercury creates an amalgam with gold, and often jewels cannot be repaired. In order to restore the original state of a jewel, as a first step it is fundamental to remove mercury. This can be done only with a high-temperature process which is highly toxic, since mercury vapours are extremely toxic. At the end of the treatment the jewel surface becomes extremely porous, making it unlikely for the original appearance of the jewel to be restored. Moreover, the colour of the alloy will differ from the initial one, since it is very difficult to remove mercury completely.

Why has my white gold ring turned yellow?

Frequently, especially in the case of pave gemstone settings, Dodo white gold jewellery pieces generally have a rhodium-plated surface finish in a cold colour tone. In the course of time, the sheen of the rhodium-plated finish may alter in appearance, allowing a warmer shade of colour to emerge, which is inherent in any natural white gold alloy. Such a phenomenon may be accelerated by reactions with external agents but, since it only involves the surface, the original look may easily be restored professionally.

Jewellery in natural white gold may also assume a warmer shade of colour. This phenomenon is typical of white gold alloys and may easily be avoided by means of regular cleaning.

SHOULD I ADOPT ANY SPECIAL MEASURES TO LOOK AFTER THE GEMSTONES, CERAMIC OR ENAMEL PARTS OF MY JEWELLERY?

Stones, resin or enamel do not necessarily need any special treatment or maintenance but, since they are intrinsically delicate, they do need, first of all, to be handled with care to avoid blows that may graze, scratch or break them and, secondly, should not come into contact with harmful external agents.

It is therefore advisable, in this respect, to avoid any contact with cosmetics, perfume, water, soap, detergents, chlorine, prolonged exposure to sunlight, proximity to heat sources and sudden changes in temperature, which may damage the surface of a gemstone irreparably.

SHOULD I ADOPT ANY PARTICULAR MEASURES TO CARE FOR CORD OR FABRIC BRACELETS?

Dodo cord bracelets and necklaces are made from waxed cotton.

Since these items are made from cotton, it is advisable to avoid any contact with agents such as water, thermal spa water, soap, cosmetics, perfume, detergents, chlorine and any other substances that may cause the colour to fade or the fabric to deteriorate, with negative consequences for the jewellery piece as a whole. It is also advisable not to subject the fabric to excessive stress or tension, which could cause the cord to break.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF LEATHER

Nappa leather is a fine and delicate leather which needs special care to ensure its durability. We recommend avoiding contact with external agents such as water, cosmetics, perfumes, soap, detergents, chlorine or chlorinated water, humidity, prolonged exposure to sunlight, proximity to heat sources and sudden changes in temperature, which may alter the aspect of the product, like color loss. We therefore suggest you remove your bracelet before any contact with these substances. In addition, do not add an excessive quantity of components and charms to your leather bracelet since these could scratch and damage the leather cord itself and its end tips. Slight imperfections and color variations should not be considered defects but unicity of the product itself.