Sara Golden Jewelry

Your jewelry care kit

Jewelry CareSara GoldenComment
Jewelry Care Kit.jpg

Don’t let a bent ear wire or small smudges get in the way of you wearing your favorite jewelry. With just a few basic “tools,” you can put together your own emergency care kit and fix your jewelry right up.

YOU’LL NEED:

  • 1 flat-nose plier

  • Spare earring backs

  • Lint-free eyeglass cloth wipe (for gold plated jewelry) and a regular polishing cloth (for solid gold and silver jewelry)

  • Small cloth bags

I find that earring backs love to go missing because they’re so small, and having spares means you don’t have to swap them out every time you want to wear a new pair. After recently losing a few myself, I added a few different kinds to the shop.

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Why flat-nose pliers? Lots of earring posts (including on most of my earrings) are made of sterling silver, a pretty soft metal that can bend easily. To straighten a bent post, you can use those flat-nose pliers to very gently close the whole post between the jaws of the pliers. Open up the pliers, slightly rotate the earring, and close the pliers again. Repeat this a few times and the post will straighten out.

Cloth wipes are great for cleaning up any surface dirt on your jewelry. I recommend an eyeglass cloth for plated jewelry, since it’s soft enough not to scratch through the plating. Regular polishing cloths, meanwhile, are best for solid silver and gold. For both kinds I recommend gently rubbing in a circular motion; rubbing too hard and in just one direction can create a shiny patch of metal.

Lastly, pick up a few small cloth bags for storing your pieces. Cloth bags, like the black velveteen ones I include with all my jewelry, are a great way to keep your jewelry together and to prevent scratching. Ideally, every piece of jewelry gets its own bag, or even better, upgrade to a cute monogrammed case like this one.

These few items, stowed away in a bathroom cabinet or in your travel bag, will get your jewelry looking great again in no time.

A new summer reading list

On a Personal Note, CultureSara GoldenComment
Reading List.jpg

It’s heart-breakingly disappointing that it took a string of killings and nation-wide protests for many of us to get a glimpse at what it’s like to be black in America. I’ve been trying to be quiet and just listen — I mean, no one needs to hear my opinion about the Black Lives Matter protests. I haven’t lived the black experience, and amplifying the voices of those who actually have is more important.

A week ago my cousin sent me an article about “mirror books” (where you see characters like you in their pages) vs. “window books” (where you get to see into someone else’s world), and I realized I need a lot more window books in my life.

Here’s a list of books, both fiction and nonfiction, that I want to dive into, and if you feel like you’re in need of horizon-broadening, too, I hope you’ll join me:

a list to start:

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou

“Notes of a Native Son,” by James Baldwin

“How to Be An Antiracist,” by Ibram X. Kendi

“Sula,” by Toni Morrison

“Between the World and Me,” by Ta-Nehisi Coates

“Red at the Bone,” by Jacqueline Woodson


Have you read any books by black or minority authors that you’ve loved? Post them in the comments — I’d love to read and share them, and hopefully we can all become better, more understanding people in the process.

Finding joy

Gems and Minerals, On a Personal NoteSara GoldenComment
The new Halcott Necklace featuring oyster turquoise.

The new Halcott Necklace featuring oyster turquoise.

We’re so deep into this pandemic that it’s hard keeping track of time. Days feel so similar without dinner dates, birthday celebrations, and trips to new places.

Right now I’m leaning hard into surrounding myself with the things that make me happy in order to counter-balance all the not knowing. It’s why our house has has 3 times as many plants as it did in February, why I’m burning candles and incense non-stop, and why all I want are bright, fun colors.

Left: Collage Studs in an oyster turquoise and teal quartz combo; Right: a close up of oyster turquoise

Left: Collage Studs in an oyster turquoise and teal quartz combo; Right: a close up of oyster turquoise

Back before things turned upside down, I discovered a stone called oyster turquoise. I’d never seen it before and instantly fell in love with its cheery color combo, totally unique pattern, and bits of glimmering copper throughout. I’m so glad I decided to get more, because I just finished a new family of jewelry featuring this special stone, and it’s exactly what my soul is craving right now.

We’re all finding ways to cope — for me, it’s too many plants and everything oyster turquoise. I hope you’re finding your own ways to bring joy into your days.

Stay safe, stay sane

On a Personal Note, CultureSara GoldenComment
Image by Sara Shakeel

Image by Sara Shakeel


While so much is uncertain and we’re all feeling a little more anxious these days, here are some ideas for distracting ourselves and making good use of our time: 

  1. Buy gift certificates to your favorite restaurants or small businesses; they’re struggling with low foot traffic even though you'd be there IRL spending money if you could.

  2. Bake something from scratch or try a complicated dish for dinner — I recommend these thin mint cookies or this delicious eggplant parm.

  3. Rearrange a bookshelf so that things feel new, making sure to highlight your favorite objects.

  4. Give your jewelry a spring cleaning.

  5. Make a list of movies to watch and get started; consider adding “The Eye Has to Travel” about Diana Vreeland or “Donkey Skin” starring Catherine Deneuve.

Good luck, you’ve got this!

How to win at Valentine's Day this year

Gift Guides, On a Personal NoteSara GoldenComment
Be your own Valentine.jpg

How about you take care of #1 this year, and treat yourself like your own Valentine? Indulge in all those things you love, and celebrate it exactly the way you want.

Might I recommend:

  1. Splurge on your favorite treat, whether it’s those really nice chocolates, your favorite potato chips, or the best cinnamon buns in all of New York City. (And it’s not considered a splurge if you don’t get them delivered.)

  2. Get yourself that piece of jewelry you haven’t been able to stop thinking about.

  3. Order take out from your favorite place so you can eat a delicious meal from the comfort of your couch and cozy pants.

Pick your favorite or try all 3. And if it’s jewelry you’re eyeing, I’d love to help! Check out some of my favorite, ready-to-ship pieces that’ll arrive just in time for a you-first Valentine’s Day.