Caring for your items

All items come with a warranty under Australian consumer law. Your warranty covers the item against defective workmanship under fair and reasonable use, where should the item fail because of a workmanship issue on my part, the item will be repaired or replaced, free of charge, within 5 years of purchase. Subjecting your jewellery to conditions outside reasonable wear, or not following the care instructions below will void your warranty, however repairs may still be possible, but at the buyer’s expense.

1. Always take your jewellery off when around chemicals. Wearing items while washing the dishes, showering or jumping in the pool will almost always cause your item to react with the chemicals and tarnish, in some cases turning the item black and or by causing the metal to become brittle and fracture. Some items with special patinas will have a protective coating over parts of, or the whole item to seal them, however these should be treated with just the same care. Even tap water contains chemicals that will cause your metal to react over time. Some people will find the acidity of their skin may cause tarnishing. This does not reflect the quality of the metal used, but rather your particular biochemical makeup and silicone spacers should be worn with these items.

2. If your item is made of mixed metal, care for your most delicate of metals. Some items may use silver, copper, aluminum, titanium or brass. Brass is generally hardier than silver, and titanium is harder than brass, so prioritising care for the weakest metal will give you a much better result for the life of your item.

3. Wear your item gently to avoid scratching, particularly if the item has set stones. While metals are hard, wearing your item roughly or without care will result in scratches and pits in the surface. These can sometimes be buffed out by taking the item to a qualified service, but it is best to avoid any damage to the item. Items with stones must be worn with care to avoid chipping or scratching the stone over time. Some stones are a lot more fragile than others, and they can crack, chip and scuff if treated roughly.

4. Clean tarnishing with a gentle polish and soft cloth. It is natural that unsealed metal will tarnish over time. This can happen for a number of reasons, including but not limited to the way it was stored, natural oils and acids from skin, exposure to chemicals and dirt and general wear. To keep your metal looking best, I highly suggest using a microfiber cloth and a gentle metal polish, like Silvo or Brasso which can be purchased at most major supermarkets and online.

5. Do NOT try to polish items that have been sealed, have set stones, or have an intended patina. Polishes contain micro-abrasives, and polishing these items will ruin the finish and potentially buff away any sealant, patina or the polish on a set stone. Sealed items will not require polishing on sealed areas, as the polish will damage the finish, leaving it milky and cloudy. Items with a deliberate patina are designed to develop further over time and will not require polishing Polishing a set stone will potentially ruin and scratch the surface.

6. Store your item carefully. It is generally best to keep your jewellery out of direct heat and sunlight and in a sealed or air-tight container to help resist tarnishing over time. Hang necklaces to avoid chain tangles, store rings on dividers to avoid scratching and damage, and always take your items off before you go to bed.

These are basic instructions on how to best care for your new item. It is advised that you look up details on caring for specific metals online and familiarise yourself with the process for the longevity of your items. If you are unsure as to what care instructions apply, or what metals your item is made from, please do not hesitate to contact me via the contact form :)