Care

Oxidised silver

Oxidisation is a surface treatment applied to silver, which turns the surface a charcoal-black colour. This effect is not permanent and will evolve over time, revealing the silver metal beneath. This is considered part of the appeal of this finish. The wearing away of this surface is noticed most in rings or bangles; things that are frequently scratched or knocked. It does not wear away very quickly on earrings, as they don’t tend to rub against other surfaces or objects – provided they are stored safely in their own jewellery box when not being worn.

To extend the life of an oxidised surface, take off these pieces before swimming or showering, doing the dishes etc, and avoid abrasive chemicals, perfumes and hairspray. Store these pieces away from other jewellery to avoid scratching the surface.

Do not put oxidised silver jewellery into a silver dip solution for cleaning, as this will remove the oxidised surface. To clean, simply wipe with a damp cloth and dry.

I am happy to re-apply an oxidised surface over time, for a small fee. Please contact me to enquire.

Gold plating

Gold plating is a surface treatment that involves covering a metal surface in a fine layer of gold. Please note that gold plating is not permanent, and can wear away over time.

The wearing away of gold plating is noticed mostly in rings or bangles; things that are frequently scratched or knocked. It does not wear away very quickly on earrings, as they don’t tend to rub against other surfaces or objects – provided they are stored safely in their own jewellery box.

To extend the life of a gold plated piece, take these jewels off before swimming or showering, doing the dishes etc, and avoid abrasive chemicals, perfumes and hairspray. Store these pieces away from other jewellery to avoid scratching the surface.

Gold plated pieces will still tarnish and can be cleaned with a silver polishing cloth or silver liquid dip, and dried with a soft cloth.

Bi-metal

Bi-metal is a product that consists of a fine layer of solid gold fused to the surface of sterling silver. The advantage of this is that it wears better than gold plating, as the layer is thicker. It can still be scratched or wear away with time, if not cared for. Please store these pieces away from other jewellery to avoid scratching the surface. You can polish the gold side of the metal with a soft jewellery polishing cloth. For the oxidised side of the metal, simply wipe with a damp cloth and dry.

Fused gold leaf

Fused gold leaf is a delicate surface treatment which must be treated with care. I have treated these components with a clear lacquer to help prolong their lifespan.

Avoid harsh chemicals, hairspray, perfumes and skincare products from touching the surface of these earrings. Store them away from other jewellery to prevent scratching of the surface. Do not clean them in a silver dip solution, which will remove the oxidised finish.

Solid gold and silver

Despite being strong metals, gold and silver are not indestructible, and need to be treated with love and care.

Sterling silver will naturally darken and oxidise over time, especially as it is exposed to air. Silver pieces should be cleaned with a silver polishing cloth or silver liquid dip. Silver will oxidise faster if it is put away (in storage, in a jewellery box etc) and left with residual oils, products or grease on the surface, which will eat into the surface of the metal over time. If you only wear your products intermittently, I recommend giving them a quick wipe with a polishing cloth before placing them away to be stored, to remove these surface irritants.

To clean your silver pieces, you can dip them in a silver cleaning solution or polish them with a silver jewellery cloth.

18ct gold is a relatively stable and hard wearing metal, and doesn’t usually need to be polished. Lower carat golds, such as 9ct, are alloyed with metals including silver and copper, which makes the gold prone to oxidising over time. You can polish these pieces with a soft polishing cloth or a gold dip cleaning solution.

Gemstones

Have your gemstone jewellery checked annually, to assess for any damage or wear which could affect the settings in your piece. Jewellery often needs to have stone settings tightened and maintained over time. Think of it as an annual check-up or service, just as you would do for your car!