Protection

Gold, silver and brass are fairly hardwearing as they are solid metals so any tarnishes can be polished off. Gold is relatively soft though so if you want to avoid dents and scratches be aware when performing manual tasks/ sports etc. Gold vermeil plating will strip much more quickly if exposed to things like chlorine, perfumes, sun-cream and cosmetics. Always put on your jewellery last and remove if you go swimming etc. to keep it shining.

Storage

We recommend storing your jewellery in an air tight container or the bag / box that was provided with your purchase. Silver and brass naturally tarnish so keeping them protected will keep them shining for longer. For gold-vermeil pieces, store separately as any scratches will mark the plating.

Cleaning and Polishing

All our metals are recycled (other than gold-filled). This doesn’t affect the way you should clean them or care for them, and doesn’t affect how the metal tarnishes. If you require a deep polish to remove oxides / scratches, please use our Revive Service.

Gold

Gold is easy to polish, and just a small polish will bring out the shine. It shouldn’t require it regularly as it doesn’t tarnish much. Clean with warm water and natural soap or gently rub with a microfibre cloth. Gold is a relatively soft metal so will take on small scratches and bumps more easily than silver (but we think that adds to the charm!). Only use a soft cloth to clean with as anything abrasive will mark the metal. Use a soft toothbrush for harder to get to areas.

Silver

Silver is very tough and will tarnish less if you wear it constantly, more if you leave it out without being worn. It is easy to polish! Clean with warm water and natural soap or gently rub with a microfibre cloth and silver polish. If you want a natural polish, cover a dish with tin foil, add the silver and a good spoon of bicarb, then add hot water. Leave for a few mins, wash with clean water and use a cloth to bring the shine out. Use a soft toothbrush for harder to get to areas.

Gold Vermeil

As gold vermeil is a form of plating, more care is needed to keep it looking gold and shiny! Follow above advise regarding storing and protection and do not wear in water. Your pieces shouldn’t tarnish (blacken) but if they get dirty, rub very gently with a microfibre cloth. Over time, your piece will loose some gold and the silver may start to show underneath. If you’d like your piece re-plated, please use our Revive service.

Gold-filled

Gold-filled is a wonderful alternative to solid gold, but still requires slightly more care than solid metal. Clean as you would gold, with a microfibre cloth. To keep the gold shining for life, try to avoid wearing in water etc.

Brass

Brass is very tough and long lasting as it’s a solid metal. It does however tarnish so will require a little regular care. Brass can also stain the skin if worn close (like rings) which is why we only use brass for looser items, like bangles. If your brass stains your skin, it will come off with a good scrub! It’s not toxic. Regularly polish your brass with a microfibre cloth. If it starts to oxidise (change colour / darken) use a mixture of lemon juice and bicarb. Make a paste, rub it on the brass and leave for a few mins. Use a soft toothbrush to reach harder to get to areas. Rinse with water and polish with a microfibre cloth until the shine returns.