Is all Barse jewelry sterling silver?

Without exception, all of our jewelry is sterling silver. Pieces are marked with a "92.5" to signify authenticity.

How do I know that my jewelry is a genuine Barse piece?

Each piece of Barse jewelry is stamped “Barse”, either directly on the piece, or on a sterling hangtag that is attached to bracelets or necklaces and some earrings. If you do not see the “Barse” stamp, it is not authentic Barse jewelry. The only exception would be a very delicate pair of earrings that do not have an area large enough for a stamp. Any Barse jewelry that you purchase from our retailers is presented on a card or hangtag with the Barse logo.

Where is Barse Jewelry made?

Our main office is located in Dallas, Texas. The Barse line is designed locally in Dallas by our in-house design team.

Production of our cast pieces is largely based in Thailand and coordinated by our offices there. Each perspective of jewelry is moulded, polished and often set with stones that are cut specifically for these designs. Our mould craftsmen are masters at interpreting our designer’s creations and painstakingly form the moulds that will bring about our finished product. Our stones are generally cut by our own team of lapidaries who help form many of the unique shapes of our jewelry.

Some of our designs are produced in Hong Kong and Bali, where we also have overseas offices. The majority of our beaded items are hand strung locally in Dallas to insure that proper assembly and quality is achieved.

What are the different stones used in Barse designs?

Colorful stone mixtures have become a trademark for Barse. We often use opaque stones (those which do not allow any light to pass through) and translucent stones (those which allow light to pass) in combinations that offer truly unique mixtures. Finding stones that reflect current color trends is always a priority for the Barse design team.

Generally we use genuine stones in our designs. Occasionally some of the stones that are used are dyed to achieve a desired color. It is common for many stones to be heat treated or dyed to achieve different hues. An example would be onyx, which is actually a deep grey when mined, then is heat treated to achieve the desired jet color. We also occasionally use glass, crystal, or cz in a design when a certain colorful hue is desired with an extra "pop" of color.

For questions regarding stones in our structured pieces, please refer to the Barse Stone Assortment sheet. It is a list identifying most of the cut stones we are currently using in our designs. Most of the opaque stones, such as turquoise, onyx, etc. are shipped to our factories in a "rough" form. The stones are then cut specifically to fit our designs.

Is Barse jewelry waterproof?

We don’t advocate leaving any piece of jewelry, silver, gold or costume, in water for extended periods of time. Sterling silver is highly resilient but will lose its luster, as will any piece of fine jewelry, if repeatedly exposed to the elements. Sterling silver should never be exposed to chlorine bleach, as this can have an oxidizing effect and turn the silver to a dark brown or black. Therefore, never wear your silver jewelry into a swimming pool or hot tub. Any Barse jewelry with stones should not be exposed to water, as this could deteriorate the adhesives used to secure the stones.

What is the best way to keep Barse jewelry clean?