Care Instructions

GOLD & GEMSTONE CARE

To clean, mix a small amount of mild dish detergent with warm water in a bowl. Use a soft toothbrush (like a baby tooth brush) to gently scrub the jewelry, rinse it and dry thoroughly with a soft polishing cloth. 

You can also bring your jewelry to a reputable jeweler and ask if they can put your piece in their ultrasonic cleaner or steamer . 
Always be extra gentle with turquoise, pearls and opals. 

                                            STERLING SILVER CARE

Silver tarnishes quite quickly when it comes into contact with oxygen or sulfur. Happily, the best measure to prevent this is wearing your silver jewelry often. The oils in your skin help prevent tarnish. (This can vary  depending on your own body chemistry.)

There are many options for cleaning your sterling silver jewelry, however our favorite, and most simple method is to wash with a mild dish soap and a soft toothbrush, drying after. You may also use a polisihg cloth for a quick clean and shine.

 

                                   VERMEIL CARE

Because Vermeil is plated, it will wear off more on places that are in constant contact with skin, such as bracelets and rings, however, the plating is pretty durable, and can last many years with proper care. 

To care for your vermeil jewelry, you may lightly polish with a non abrasive polishing  cloth, and store in  airtight container to keep from tarnishing. 

 

                                   GOLD FILLED CARE  

The most simple method is to wash with a mild dish soap and a soft toothbrush, drying after. You may also use a polisihg cloth for a quick clean and shine.

BRASS , BRONZE & PEWTER CARE

Most of our brass and bronze jewelry is nickel and lead free, and while it will tarnish with wear, it is generally easily polished up to its original lustre with just a little love.Vintage components are a bit unpredictable. Be aware that body chemistry is the biggest factor in how our brass and bronze jewelry wears, and body chemistry varies greatly.

Here are tips on how to keep your brass and bronze jewelry looking its best for years to come.  Do not wear your brass and bronze jewelry when working out, swimming or showering, as water has a quick effect of tarnishing. We suggest using either a non-abrasive jewelry cleaner or a  mild  dish soap and water on your metal jewelry.  Always make sure to dry your jewelry completely after  cleaning.

Do not use any products that contain alcohol, this can ruin the finish.

If your jewelry is very tarnished, you can use a mix of baking soda, lemon juice and water. Scrub it on with a soft cloth or toothbrush, wipe off, and dry.

After cleaning, you can buff your jewelry with a soft cloth to give it a nice finish.

STORAGE AND PRESERVATION FOR YOUR JEWELRY

Avoid wearing your jewelry in the shower or swimming

When storing your silver jewelry, use an airtight plastic bag and if you can, put in a piece of chalk or a silica gel (the little packets in new shoes) - these will help prevent tarnish while you are not wearing your silver.

Avoid storing brass and gold-plated jewelry in the bathroom or humid environments. Humidity is hard on all  metals and will cause them to tarnish.

To store your metal jewelry for added longevity, wrap each piece in soft fabric and store in an airtight bag. Try to wrap each piece separately so that different materials don’t scratch one another.

WHAT IS VERMEIL ?

Gold vermeil’s meaning is very specific. Vermeil jewelry has a legal definition in the United States:  It is any piece of jewelry that consists of a sterling silver base layer with solid gold electroplated on top. 

Any piece of jewelry marked as gold vermeil must meet the requirements below:

Sterling silver is the base material. The gold plated layer must be at least 10k gold but can be anything from 14k to 24k gold.

Vermeil must be  plated in gold at least 2.5 microns thick. (micron = 1/1000th of a millimeter) 

(Most of our vermeil has high karat plating, of at least 18k.)

WHAT IS GOLD-FILLED 

Gold-filled jewelry is jewelry composed of a solid layer of gold (typically constituting at least 5% of the item's total weight) mechanically bonded to a base of either sterling silver or a base metal. 

Most high quality gold-filled pieces have the same appearance as high carat gold, and gold-filled items, even with daily wear, can last 10 to 30 years though the layer of gold will eventually wear off exposing the metal underneath. The layer of gold on gold-filled items is 5 to 10 times thicker than that produced by regular gold plating, and 15 to 25 times thicker than that produced by gold electroplate.