{"id":465,"date":"2008-03-14T08:56:00","date_gmt":"2008-03-14T15:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wendybrandes.com\/blog\/?p=465"},"modified":"2009-12-24T20:35:39","modified_gmt":"2009-12-25T01:35:39","slug":"helpful-hints-for-owners-of-precious-items","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2008\/03\/helpful-hints-for-owners-of-precious-items\/","title":{"rendered":"Helpful Hints for Owners of Precious Items"},"content":{"rendered":"

I can’t remember which blog originally tipped me off to the Prada Fairy Bag controversy<\/a>, but thanks! The ink on the bags can bleed if it gets wet. Prada apparently didn’t know that when they started selling the bags. Now they know, thanks to customer complaints, and hopefully salespeople are warning new customers. There is nothing can be done in the manufacturing process to change this so any new bags will have the same issues as the original batch, according to the saleswoman I spoke to today.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Prada bag<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

I was a little bit surprised by some customer comments in the Purse Blog forums. People are disappointed that they can’t use this bag for their everyday errands. Now, I wouldn’t have guessed the ink would run, but the minute I unwrapped mine, I could see it was a special occasion bag. Not only is it white, but the leather is very delicate. Every time I’ve used it, I’ve checked the weather to make sure there was no hint of rain. And then I just used it to go out to dinner, as I did the night this photo was taken. (One of my dinner companions that night noted that I instinctively moved my bag from its barstool perch when he reached over it to get his precariously-filled-to-the-rim martini.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Really, common sense should dictate that this is not a bag to schlep to Gymboree and Starbucks. It’s not for putting on the floor of the movie theater, and it’s not for traveling, any more than a white suede bag would be. I’m a little baffled that purse enthusiasts, who I’d expect to have at least a few bags they could rotate through their wardrobe for foul-weather days, wouldn’t recognize this. But, I suppose, love makes people lose their minds.<\/p>\n

Because Wendy Brandes Jewelry is (obviously!) very lovable, I’ve had to give gorgeous clients increasingly elaborate warnings about how to treat their jewelry, especially the vulnerable rings and bracelets. I never would have expected people to wear beautiful fine jewelry while they drag their heavy suitcases through an airport, garden, shampoo a dog or work out. Not only do people do these things, but at the same time they’re hypersensitive to normal, unavoidable wear-and-tear on metal. Everyone wants to be able to wear their engagement ring to the beach yet never get a scratch on it. Peeps, I’m telling you: THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>This moonstone poison ring is not for the office!<\/span>
\nLivia Poison Ring in 18K gold and moonstone.
\n<\/span><\/span>\u00a9 Wendy Brandes 2007-2008<\/span>
\n(Photo by John Muggenborg<\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

It’s hard to strike a balance when explaining this to the customer. I don’t want to give them so many warnings that I scare them, but I want to stop them from loving their jewelry to death. What I tell people lately is that most jewelry can be worn every day, but not every minute of every day. You don’t wear your favorite heels to play tennis and you don’t wear a cocktail dress to vacuum, right? So don’t wear a poison ring with a soft, exposed cabochon stone to take your kid to the playground.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, even with the best care efforts, pieces do get scratches and dings. People don’t get through life unscathed, so don’t expect a helpless little ring to manage it. I take off all my jewelry the minute I come home, including wedding jewelry. (Seriously, ladies. Why do you wear your wedding jewelry to the gym and the pool? Do you think if you take it off, your marriage will be off too? It doesn’t work like that. If you’re so worried about your marriage, shower with your husband, not with your rings.) Even so, the rings I wear most are scratched up. I’ve dropped them and banged them and accidentally flung them across the room. It happens. I don’t sweat it. While I was waiting at a vendor’s place the other day, I idly examined my Diana ring under a magnifying loupe. Holy shizz! That piece is banged up. My solution: Don’t look at it under magnification. Sure, I can repolish it (and lose some metal in the process) but all that exposed metal will get scratched again. I think part of the Diana’s charm is its gently weathered look.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Diana Ring is a good choice for daily wear.<\/span>
\nDiana Ring in 18K gold.
\n<\/span><\/span>\u00a9 Wendy Brandes 2007-2008<\/span>
\n(Photo by John Muggenborg<\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

If you’re a person who appreciates precious, wearable art — whether it is jewelry, shoes or bags — it makes sense to have a wardrobe of pieces. You can have a ring for work and a ring for going out. If you work with your hands, you can wear necklaces and earrings instead of rings and bracelets. Above all, use your common sense!<\/p>\n

For information about cleaning your jewelry, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

UPDATED TO ADD: If you’re interested in any of the jewelry shown in this or any other posts, you can email me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com. <\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I can’t remember which blog originally tipped me off to the Prada Fairy Bag controversy, but thanks! The ink on the bags can bleed if it gets wet. Prada apparently didn’t know that when they started selling the bags. Now they know, thanks to customer complaints, and hopefully salespeople are warning new customers. There is…<\/p>\n

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