jewelry care
As with any handmade work, a bit of extra care needs to be taken with my jewelry. I craft pieces with sturdy components and the intention that they be worn often, but they are not indestructible so I just advise being mindful with them. Overall, I want you to enjoy wearing my work and not stress too much. Below are a few general tips and tricks for keeping your pieces in good shape, follow them as you like.
Storage
- First off, silver likes to be worn! Our skins natural oils will help prevent tarnish and the pieces you wear often will keep their luster longer.
- Sterling silver will tarnish naturally, it happens due to a chemical reaction with the copper in the metal and the oxygen and sulphur particles in the air. This process can be slowed by storing in a cool, dark place.
- Storing jewelry in your bathroom isn't advised as the humidity will tarnish pieces quicker.
- Pieces with beaded work should be stored hanging or laying flat to keep the strands straight. If you must store them for travel etc, do so gently and make sure to lay them out flat when you get to your destination -- if thread is bent for too long it can become permanent.
When to take your jewelry off
As I mentioned, I craft my work with the intention to be worn, but I don't always take my own advice -- these are just general tips. It's best to remove them when showering, exercising, whitewater rafting, climbing, scuba diving, or any other vigorous exploration -- especially pieces with stones :)
Avoid water treated with chemicals such as pools and hot tubs, and know that the natural sulphur in hot springs will cause silver to tarnish. Many stones, including turquoise and opals, are fairly soft and may crack if mistreated, so take special care especially with your hands. It's best to put jewelry on last, after applying makeup, lotion, perfume etc.
I do hope that your pieces can join you on many great adventures, so when to wear/not wear your jewelry is a personal choice -- just be responsible and know the risks!
- Earring note: I purposefully make my dangle earring wires extra long to keep them safely in your ears. I do not include rubber stoppers but you may purchase these independently if you prefer to use them.
Cleaning your jewelry
I work mostly with sterling silver, but also use fine silver, gold-fill, 14k gold, and brass. Sterling silver tarnishes naturally, and other metals also darken over time--so every order comes with a polishing cloth to use whenever your piece needs a little extra love. Keep in mind I patina the majority of my work, so avoid polishing the darkened areas too much as this may remove the intentional patina and change the look of the piece.
If the polishing cloth just isn't doing it, I like to use a very fine feel wool to lightly buff out tarnish. This will maintain the matte look that I use on most of my work but may remove a bit of patina. You can also use a bit of warm water with natural dish soap and clean gently with your hands. Avoid stones if possible, and dry with a cotton or paper towel. Do not use harsh jewelry cleaners as these may damage the stones and remove intentional patina.
Brass--There are many methods to clean tarnished brass, including soap and warm water, lemon juice and baking soda, etc. I advise a quick google search to find the method that works for you. My preference is to buff it with a very fine steel wool, which will leave a matte finish.
If something happens to your jewelry - see my FAQ page for info on repairs. And feel free to reach out if you have a question I haven't answered here!