Brides, Friends and Followers!

This week, the guest on our blog is Claudia Kretchner of OPUS Jewelers. I’m so thrilled that Claudia is a guest today–if you haven’t stepped into her orb of beauty (her Scottsdale jewelry store), you must! You’ll feel like a princess when you walk through the door as her incredible award winning designs are like none other. Let me not forget to mention that Claudia is a rare gem herself. She’s a rocket scientist (yes a real one!) and she’s taken all of her love for science and astronomy and created jewelry with beauty and meaning. Just ask to see her portfolio of work while you’re visiting–it will astonish you! I promise! I’d like to take a moment to thank her for taking part in our blog. Her information below is both educational and helpful! It’s with great pleasure that I introduce you to Claudia! 🙂

Guest Post Friday: Are You Allergic to Your Gold Jewelry?

Have you ever looked down at your hand and noticed that your ring finger has black or green marks, or that you have developed a red rash underneath your ring? Have you looked in the mirror and noticed a dark mark on your clothing where your pendant hangs? If so, you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to the alloy mix in your gold jewelry.

People who prefer white gold jewelry often experience these problems due to a nickel mix that is used in commercially made jewelry. Nickel provides a “bleaching” effect that occurs when mixed with 24 karat gold, resulting in a white color. This process then requires rhodium plating to protect the wearer from very common nickel allergies. Within months the thin plating will wear off, causing some people to experience an allergic reaction due to the nickel contact against the skin.

To avoid this, the piece of jewelry would need to be rhodium plated every 6-12 months. Fortunately, there are many different types of alloys that can be used for white gold. OPUS Jewelers offers an exclusive U.S. Patented white gold alloy that has no nickel and therefore needs no rhodium plating. The renowned jewelry designer and metallurgist Steven Kretchmer invented a beautiful 18 karat white gold mix so that people could enjoy wearing their white gold jewelry without hesitation. This particular mix is white in color, and is hypoallergenic, which is perfect for sensitive skin and people who want maintenance free jewelry.

Yellow gold jewelry can also cause similar problems due to chemical reactions caused by medications, vitamins or the use of detergents while wearing your jewelry. Hand lotions and cleansers can accumulate under your ring and cause irritation or severe skin rash, something we jokingly call ‘lotionitis’. Properly cleaning your jewelry at home or having it professionally cleaned at OPUS can alleviate ‘lotionitis’. If you want to do a quick clean at home, soak your jewelry in dish-washing detergent and warm water, then rinse it clean and pat dry with a soft cloth. Avoid brushing your jewelry with any kind of brush or abrasive material, as that can scratch the metal and can harm some gemstones. Silver will need to be cleaned with nonabrasive silver polish.

Oh… There is one more jewelry allergy that is certainly worth mentioning! A spouse can sometimes be allergic to shopping for jewelry. The solution? Stop by and visit OPUS to have your jewelry inspected and professionally cleaned once or twice a year. While there, take a moment to fill out our wish list for your spouse to see the next time they drop by for a shopping allergy treatment!

Claudia Kretchmer
OPUS Jewelers
www.opusjewelry.com www.stevenkretchmer.com

Photography: Dreamcicle Studios Photography, 602-625-2006 | Jewelry: OPUS Jewelers, 480-948-6677 | Gown: Uptown Bridal, 480-242-9408

About Dreamcicle Studios Photography: We’re a madly in love husband and wife photography team in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area that loves capturing love more than anything! We photograph new beginnings and completed souls; faces of anticipation, happiness, love. It’s wedding photography designed uniquely for you. We’d love to speak to you about photographing your dream wedding day! Contact us by clicking here.