This week we are posting our first guest blog written by Alissa Noshie Moyse. We are thrilled to feature an amazing Houston based family-run business, Almaza Jewelers. With Mother’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect time to highlight this lovely company and family who are in the stone business too. Only difference is their stones just happen to be dazzling diamonds, emeralds and sapphires! End of my short intro; I’ll let Alissa take it from here:
Almaza Jewelers is a family-run fine jewelry store that specializes in hand-made, one-of-a-kind pieces. We also specialize in engagement rings and bridal jewelry. Our father and founder, Ziad H. Noshie, has won over 80 design awards to date at the national and international levels. We offer a range of jewelry services such as repairs, appraisals, jewelry sizing, cleaning and more.
Fine jewelry is a precious possession that is meant to be worn, but also must be taken care of to pass down from one generation to the next. As a standard rule, it is recommended that jewelry should have a “check-up” once a year for repairs and twice a year (at a minimum!) to have your jewelry cleaned. Who doesn’t want to sparkle all the time?! Allowing your jeweler to inspect your pieces could prevent loss and sometimes preventative maintenance is much less costly.
Here are some simple guidelines to cleaning and caring for your jewelry:
- Store your jewelry in a clean, dry place.
- Keep your jewelry in a fabric-lined jewelry case, or in a box with compartments and dividers. If you prefer to use ordinary boxes, wrap each piece individually in soft tissue paper.
- Don’t jumble your jewelry pieces in a drawer or jewelry case. Pieces can scratch each other and chains can get tangled.
- Be careful when removing your jewelry to wash your hands. Do not leave your jewelry on the rim of a sink where it can easily slip down the drain.
- There are many types of small machines on the market that will clean jewelry in a matter of minutes using high-frequency sound. These machines are called ultrasonic cleaners and are available in many different models and prices. Your local jeweler can tell you if an ultrasonic cleaning machine is right for your jewelry wardrobe and, if it is, recommend an appropriate model. DO NOT put certain soft stones in an ultrasonic such as emerald, opal, pearl, coral, tanzanite, or amber.
- Pearls are more delicate than you might think: Contact with metal and gemstones, another pearl, or even rough textiles can scratch them. Exposure to chemicals, including everyday cosmetics, can mar or pit pearls. If allowed to dry out, they may discolor or even crack. Always avoid perfume, hairspray, and makeup coming in contact with pearls.
Thank you to Alissa and Almaza Jewelers for the jewelry cleaning tips! I will end on this adorable picture of Alissa’s daughter helping out at the store.
