John Wind Care

The following information is provided by John Wind Modern Vintage.

MATERIALS:

We use a variety of materials. A few key ingredients are: charms are made of brass or pewter, chains are steel or aluminum, austrian crystal, vintage glass, pearls, lacquered cotton balls, rhinestones and resin. we use different plating finishes including sterling silver and 24K gold.

VARIATIONS IN METAL PLATING:

All of our metal parts are plated with 24kt gold or sterling silver. They are finished with a variety of materials to increase durability~ including e-coat, lacquer, and hand antique. The original parts, however, come from many places and from tools that have been in use for decades. Given that, a range of finishes (brightness, darkness, etc.) is to be expected, and in fact is part of what makes JW/MA unique!

SIZING:

Our chain bracelets have a standard length of 7¾ — 8½ in, this measurement is end to end- including the lobster claw and end rings. Most bracelets come with 2 end rings making the piece slightly adjustable. We offer several different lengths of necklaces, but the most common are 18”, 24” and 30” necklaces. Other fashion lengths include 20”, 36”, 50”, and 68”.

Need a custom size? We find that most everyone can find a piece of our jewelry that is appropriate for them; however, every once in a while we get requests for custom sizes. We will happily place a special order for you; please call us for pricing.

COTTON BALL PEARL CARE:

Our signature cotton ball pearls are really made out of cotton! It is real cotton that is then hand-spun into our beautiful pearls. While they are coated and lacquered, they are not meant for everyday wear~ and they do not like water, makeup, perfumes, or hairspray... Think of them as special occasion pieces.

We do offer cotton pearl replacements for a small fee! Email info@johnwind.com for further instructions.

INTENDED USE (WEARABILITY):

We pride ourselves on offering a lot of look for a very reasonable price. That, in addition to the plated metals and the wide range of materials used, means that the jewelry should be treated with care and not worn every day... tempting as it is! But by including our designs as part of your jewelry wardrobe, our pieces will last for many years. (Customers and friends regularly show off their ‘vintage’ pieces from the 80’s and 90’s, and they still look great)! Also, gentle aging and wear are a natural part of the process, and actually enhance the vintage look of the designs.

CLEANING YOUR JEWELRY:

Jewelry should be stored in pouches or bags to keep the dust away. Silver-plated jewelry in particular should be stored in air-tight bags. If the silver tarnishes, use a dry 100% cotton cloth (and a little muscle) to wipe the piece clean.

Using silver polish, water, or polishing cloths can actually break the sealing coat and will ultimately cause the piece to tarnish more. Perfume, hairspray and lotions can also do harm. Also, showering with our jewelry will damage it as well since it is not fine gold.

Make our jewelry the last thing you put on when you’re getting ready.