Monthly Archives: May 2020

Jewelry, Watches

How to Disinfect Your Jewelry

Posted on by Julianne Jacobs
22
May

We’re all washing our hands more frequently these days — or at least, we should be. It’s one of the most important components of stopping the spread of COVID-19. But do you disinfect your jewelry? What about your watch? According to the CDC, studies have shown that skin underneath rings contains more germs than skin without rings. Yuck. If wearing jewelry is part of your daily routine, cleaning it should be a part of it, too. Here’s how to disinfect your jewelry and daily accessories: How to Disinfect Your Diamond Jewelry Diamonds are unique because they are the hardest natural substance on Earth. You should clean your diamond jewelry regularly, especially if its a wedding/engagement ring you wear every day. Diamonds and most colored gems can be cleaned with warm water, mild dish soap (no detergents) and a soft brush, according to GIA. Be sure to rinse your jewelry in a glass of water to remove cleaning solutions rather than rinsing with running water. That way, you won’t lose any loose stones. How to Disinfect Your Rolex Watches Luxury watches, like Rolex require special care and services every few years. Between visits, you can keep your Rolex clean and germ-free by following these steps: Screw down the crown. According to Rolex, “the crown of your Rolex screws down tightly to create a hermetic seal like the hatch of a submarine.” This important step will keep your watch waterproof and safe during cleaning. Fill a small bowl with water and a bit of mild soap. Soaps with harsh chemicals could damage your Rolex Scrub the watch gently with a soft toothbrush. Dip the brush in the cleaning solution and scrub the watch everywhere, including between the links and lugs. Rinse the watch under warm water. Make sure all the soap is washed away to avoid residue. Dry using a microfiber cloth. This will prevent scratching and leave your Rolex shining like new! How to Disinfect Your Silver Jewelry For polishing and disinfecting silver, we recommend using specially-made silver wipes, like these ones from Weiman. These wipes were made to remove tarnish, polish dull and discolored metal with a mild, fresh-scented formula. For those stuck at home, here’s a home remedy from The Today Show: What you’ll need: A dish or a bowl Aluminum foil Boiling water 1 tbsp of baking soda for each cup of water What you’ll do:  Line the bottom of a dish or a bowl with aluminum foil.  Bring water to a roaring boil (it should be enough to fill that bowl or dish).  Add 1 tbsp of baking soda per cup of water. Expect that the solution may bubble and froth a bit.  Place the piece of silver jewelry in the dish, making sure that it’s touching the aluminum foil. This is essential for the chemical reaction to occur.  Pour the solution of baking soda and boiling water into dish.  Let sit for two to 10 minutes, depending on the level of tarnish.  Allow it to dry. How to Disinfect Your Smart Watches and Fitness Trackers For smart watches and fitness trackers, we recommend using alcohol pads. You can purchase these online or at any drug store. This will disinfect your accessory without damaging the materials in the process. Other Cleaning Tips It’s also important to note that hand sanitizer should not be used on any organic gems like pearls, opals or turquoise. The alcohol in the sanitizer can dry out the gems leading to permanent damage. When in doubt, take off your jewelry before washing your hands. We at Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange offer free jewelry cleaning services to our customers! No matter the metals or stone, we can get your jewelry squeaky-clean and shining like new. We are still practicing social distancing amid the COVID-19 crisis and disinfecting our high-traffic areas. We just ask that customers wear a protective mask when they come see us.  

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Watches

Luxury Watch Guide: Rolex Explorer

Posted on by Julianne Jacobs
15
May

The Rolex Explorer is built to survive the toughest conditions with the most adventurous of pioneers. While the Explorer can withstand perilous expeditions, it makes a stylish watch for the city-slicker, too! History of the Rolex Explorer By the 1950s, Rolex already had a reputation for making watches that were reliable, waterproof, and tough. Therefore, it was no surprise that the watch company wanted to create a model that could survive conditions on the highest mountains, in the deepest caves, and harshest climates. The Rolex Explorer was launched to celebrate the monumental climb of Mt. Everest by Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. Since the Explorer is connected to such a turning point in history, it’s one of the most sought after pre-owned Rolex watches in the world. For the next 20 years, Rolex would continue equipping explorers with waterproof watches. Key Features of the Rolex Explorer There are two models of the Rolex Explorer, each with their own unique history and features: the Explorer and the Explorer II. The Explorer is a time-only watch while the Explorer II is a dual-time watch (on the majority of models). Every Explorer is made with stainless steel to face the elements without rusting. Also, there has never been a two-tone or solid gold version of the Rolex Explorer, unlike other Rolex models. The price point is another notable feature of the Rolex Explorer. Pre-owned models start as low as $4,500, so it’s one of the most accessible Rolex models for purchase. The Rolex Explorer in Pop Culture While the Explorer got its start on the wrists of mountain-climbers and spelunkers, it’s also on the wrists of celebrities walking the red carpet. Here are some notable Explorer owners: Prince Harry The British heartthrob prince served several terms in Afghanistan as a Captain in the British Army. His Rolex Explorer II was perfect for extreme weather and harsh conditions. John Mayer Mayer is a notable luxury watch fan and self-proclaimed expert. He believes that you don’t need to be mega-rich to own an awesome Rolex watch. Back in 2012, he wrote an article for Hodinkee on his favorite vintage Rolexes under $8,000. Included on his list is the Rolex Explorer II Reference 16550 (Black Dial). In fact, the Explorer II is the watch with the lowest price point on his list, ranging from $4,500 to $5,500. Tom Hanks This beloved actor and producer sports a Rolex Explorer I with a black dial. Hanks is a big Rolex fan; his collection includes a Seadweller and a GV Milgauss. How to Spot a Fake Explorer A trained eye can spot the difference between a real and a fake Rolex quickly. A tell-tale sign of a fake Rolex is a second hand that ticks rather than sweeps. If you see the second hand counting seconds with a ticking motion rather than a smooth motion, it’s an easy sign of counterfeit. Another sign that might be less obvious is uneven or inconsistent font. For example, the text that reads “OYSTER PERPETUAL” on a real Rolex dial will be sharply printed, evenly-spaced with consistent thickness. If the font looks funky, it’s a fake. While there are tell-tale signs of fake Rolexes, counterfeiters are getting better at fooling the naked eye. Sometimes, the best way to make sure a Rolex is authentic is to have an expert open it up and inspect it. Our luxury watch experts at Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange have decades of experience and can spot the Rolex from the “Faux-lex” in a sweeping second. If you’ve purchased a Rolex and think it’s counterfeit, we’ll check it for you free of charge!

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