Care Instructions
Jewellery care
Skin and hair products can react with silver, gold plated and brass/bronze jewellery, causing it to tarnish, discolour and possibly corrode.I strongly advise applying any cosmetics and scents and waiting a few minutes, before you put on your jewellery.
Remove any jewellery before engaging in any form of physical exercise. Perspiration can also contribute to the tarnishing and fading of your jewellery.
Chemicals found in swimming pools and natural springs will cause extreme tarnishing on silver and shorten the lifespan of gold plating. Water can also contribute to the quality of the finish. Therefore always remove your jewellery before entering a pool, shower, spring or the sea.
I recommend storing your jewellery in a zip lock bag as exposure to the air and environment can cause your silver jewellery to tarnish over time. Zip lock bags are a cheap way to keep your jewellery looking newer for longer. Acid free tissue is also an excellent way to store your jewellery.
Store your jewellery separately, so that they don’t tangle or rub and scratch against each other. I do not recommend sleeping in your jewellery
Silver care
To brighten up your silver pieces I recommend using a silver dip solution (Silvo can be purchased in any hardware store) Always ensure you clean your item after silver dipping, with warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush.
Gold plated care
Gold plated items are not a permanent finish, so particular care must be given when wearing this. Particularly with pieces that may rub against other jewellery or objects such as clothing or bags etc. You can use warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush to remove any dirt, however it will not bring back any shine of the original plating. I would recommend a re-plating of your item if you want to give it its sparkle back.
Brass Care
Brass/Bronze naturally tarnishes over time, and I think the wearer should embrace this evolving patina.
However if you want to get back to the shine of your piece it is easy to clean and look after.
Here are some tips:
-brass/bronze components can simply be cleaned back to the original appearance using a standard brass metal polish like Brasso or Maas. These are my favourite brands.
-always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your polish.
Or you may prefer some good old traditional household methods.
-lemon juice – Take half a lemon and squeeze it into a small bowl. Dip a soft cloth into lemon juice and polish the brass surface in gentle circular motions. Wash the item with warm water and dry immediately.
-toothpaste – First wash your brass item with soap water and dry it. Then squeeze a bit of toothpaste onto a piece of soft cloth. Polish brass rubbing toothpaste on the entire surface of the piece. When done, clean and dry with a piece of paper towel or soft cloth.