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What are Swarovski crystals?

Swarovski is considered the premier manufacturer of faceted glass crystals and glass pearls. Located in Austria, they create everything from the high end beads we use to fantastic crystal figurines and more. They shimmer and catch the light beautifully, and Swarovski crystals have even been used in the New Years Eve ball that drops in Time Square in New York City. Swarovski crystals can be clear or colored as tanzanite, etc. and we endeavor to label them clearly for you.

What kind of gemstones do you use?

We mix gemstones (also referred to as semiprecious) with all kinds of glass and metal beads to create the works of art you see on our web site. The gemstones can range from garnets and quartz crystals to apatite, blue jasper, agate, aquamarines, and so on. The gemstones can be smooth, roughly tumbled, hand faceted or machine faceted. We also use fresh water pearls.

What is Venetian glass?

Venetian glass beads are handmade in Murano, Italy and are considered very high end because of their unparalled beauty and craftsmanship. Venetian glass beads can take many shapes and color combinations, often lined with silver or gold foil.

What are your earwires made of?

Most of the earwires we use are sterling silver or 14K gold filled. In some cases we use a pewter based, nickle-free metal that is gold or silver plated, which is widely regarded as hypoallergenic for most people. Pewter based metal comes larger array of styles, often with an antiqued look, that gives Ginevra Designs a lot of range to create unusual pieces. If you know you have an allergy to certain metals, always follow your own judgment when ordering, and feel free to email us with any questions.

How should I care for my jewelry?

Tarnishing occurs when metals are exposed to air. The natural oils in your skin some into contact with metal it speeds the tarnishing process. You should always use care whe using silver or gold cleaners on beaded jewelry because they are not usually safe for semiprecious stones. For silver jewelry, you can carefully use a silver polishing cloth on silver beads and be careful not to touch the adjacent beads if they are pearls or other gemstones. Silver jewelry tends to tarnish less when you wear it more often, and you may find that cleaning silver jewelry with a polishing cloth after every wearing prevents or slows down the tarnishing process. Glass beads are usually safe to use with silver or gold cleaners but follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. However, the most safe method we know of is ionic cleaning. When in doubt, get your jewelry cleaned professionally at a local fine jewelry shop that you trust. Ginevra Designs is not responsible for any damage that may occur when you clean your jewelry.