Jewellery Care
With proper care, your jewellery will last so much longer!
I primarily work with sterling silver which tarnishes over time, especially in humid environments. To prevent tarnish, it’s recommended you store silver jewellery in air-tight bags/containers when not in use.
The worst place to keep your jewellery is in the bathroom due to the humidity. Remove all items before exercising/bathing. Ensure you dry items fully if they ever do become wet. Avoid contact with lotions/perfumes.
Cleaning your jewellery should be a regular practice. Use warm water with a drop of dish soap and a soft-bristle toothbrush (to avoid scratches) and dry fully.
If the silver does become tarnished it can be removed with a silver polishing cloth. I provide one with every order for future use. They are also widely available online and most will leave a protective coating to slow future tarnish. Be careful to only wipe the silver areas and avoid the deliberately patinated (blackened) areas as it will remove or change the finish.
Patinated areas are covered with a museum-grade wax coating to prolong the effect, however the patina may change colour over time. If you ever need your jewellery polished, or a new layer of patina added, please send me an email with some photos and I’ll see if I can help. Shipping both ways will be the responsibility of the buyer.
Gemstone Care is just as important as the metal!
Some stones i.e. amber, pearls & opal are naturally much softer than others and should be treated with extra care to avoid scratches or cracking.
Harsh chemicals used in cleaning supplies can also damage the surface of certain stones. Always remove your jewellery in a situation it could become damaged e.g. cleaning, lifting heavy objects, gardening etc.
If your stone does become scratched or damaged, I don’t currently have the equipment to rectify this, so it will have to be taken elsewhere to try and fix.
Some stones are porous and will absorb liquid, potentially causing the stone to change colour over time. For example, some opals will turn translucent if exposed to excess water.
Your gemstones also shouldn’t be exposed to extreme temperatures as this increases the risk of cracking. Some stones are also light-sensitive so direct sunlight in storage should be avoided as well.
