Jewellery Care

Here’s how to get the best of out of your jewellery:

  • Remove before doing housework, exercise, showering, or going to bed
  • Put on lotions, perfume, & hairspray, ensuring they are completely dry, before putting on your jewellery
  • Do not clean your jewellery with abrasive cleaners or cloths, or with an ultrasonic jewellery cleaner
  • Do not subject your jewellery to intense and/or prolonged exposure to direct sunlight; some semi-precious stones are sensitive to the sun and colours may fade.
  • After taking your jewellery off, wipe it with a clean, dry soft cloth and store them properly
  • Store in a dry, airtight bag or with an anti-tarnish strip (readily available online).

Finally, and most importantly, wear your jewellery and enjoy it!

Cleaning

I use a mixture of metals, but mainly bare copper and sterling silver, and a wide variety of gemstones. It is stated in the description of each item what metal or gemstones are used so that you can care for it appropriately.

Most items can be washed in lukewarm water with a mild detergent, and dried with a clean, soft cloth. Polishing or ‘Sunshine’ cloths are readily available online and are great for cleaning copper and silver jewellery and removing any tarnishing.

Gemstones

How you clean your gemstone jewellery will depend on the particular gemstone but most can be wash with a mild detergent and lukewarm water. Using a soft brush, simply brush the stones avoiding harsh movements and too much pressure, rinse thoroughly and pat dry with a lint-free cloth. Opals, Pearls and Selenite require particular care - avoid using harsh chemicals and ultrasonic cleaners. For Selenite, avoid soaking it in water as it can dissolve slightly - quickly rinse with warm water and mild soap and dry immediately.

Metals

Bare (Raw) Copper: Bare copper is usually a bright and shiny material but oxidation can occur over time creating a ‘patina’ or antiqued look to your piece. This is a natural process and there's not much that can be done about preventing it. This oxidation can also be hastened to create an antiqued look from the start - where a patina has been applied, this will be stated in the description. To prevent further oxidation or restore the original finish, bare copper can be lightly polished with a polishing cloth or very fine steel wool (both readily available online or in the shops). Wearing the piece regularly can also help by naturally polishing the metal and coating it in the natural oils from the skin.

Sterling Silver: Sterling silver is an blend of silver containing 92.5% by weight of silver and 7.5% by weight of other metals, usually copper. It is usually bright and shiny but, like copper, can oxidise over time or be oxidised to create an antique look. All my sterling silver is sourced from reputable UK suppliers. Most of my sterling silver pieces contain less than 7.78g silver total and therefore legally do not have to contain a hallmark but where applicable are stamped with the ‘925’ mark. Any piece containing silver over 7.78g and requiring a Hallmark will be sent to The Birmingham Assay Office for assessment and marking. This will include my own Makers Mark.