CARE FOR YOUR JEWELLERY
My jewellery today is made differently than it was in earlier years, so I’ve split this guide in two: care for pieces from my current collection, and care for original, handmade pieces from earlier years. If you’re not sure which applies to your piece, feel free to get in touch.
CURRENT COLLECTION
PLA (standard colourways)
Your piece is made from a durable printed material, and while it’s sturdy for everyday wear, it isn’t metal, so it appreciates a bit of gentle care. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight or heat (leaving it on a car dashboard, for example), as this can cause softening or warping. Keep it away from harsh chemicals, perfumes, and cleaning products, and avoid submerging it in water for extended periods. A soft, dry cloth is all you need to keep it looking its best. Small natural variations in texture or finish between pieces are part of the printing process, not a flaw.
Wood-filled PLA
Wood-filled pieces are cared for much the same way as standard PLA, with one extra consideration: the wood content means the material can absorb moisture more readily, so I’d recommend avoiding prolonged water exposure or wearing it while swimming or showering, as this can cause swelling or warping over time. Keep it out of direct sunlight too, as this can fade the natural wood tones. A soft cloth wipe is the best way to keep it clean, and if you’d like to bring out the wood grain, a very light application of a natural oil (such as a small amount of beeswax polish) can help, applied sparingly and buffed off.
Copper-filled PLA
This material combines a printed base with real copper content, giving it that distinctive metallic look and weight. Because it contains real copper, the exposed surface can develop a natural patina over time, the same way solid copper jewellery does, and I encourage you to enjoy this as part of the piece’s character.
Important: unlike solid copper jewellery, please don’t soak this piece in lemon juice and salt or any other cleaning solution, this treatment suits solid metal but can damage the PLA base underneath. Instead, simply wipe with a soft, dry cloth to remove surface tarnish, and avoid prolonged water exposure, heat, and harsh chemicals, same as with our other printed pieces.
As with solid copper, this material may cause temporary green discolouration on your skin. This is a normal, harmless reaction and washes off easily with soap and water.
ORIGINAL, HANDMADE PIECES
If you own a piece from an earlier collection, hand-forged in traditional metals, here’s how to keep it at its best.
Aluminium
A lightweight, silvery metal that won’t tarnish or turn your skin green, though it can scratch easily. Avoid wearing it in spas, hot pools, or around cleaning chemicals. A soft polishing cloth is the best way to keep the shine.
Copper
A warm-toned, naturally occurring metal that develops tarnish and patina over time as it reacts with oxygen, skin oils, and chemicals, a natural process I encourage you to enjoy rather than prevent. Clean with soap and water; for heavier tarnish, a five-minute soak in lemon juice and table salt, rinsed and gently polished with a soft cloth, works well. Copper can cause temporary green skin discolouration, this is normal, harmless, and washes off with soap and water.
Brass & Sterling Silver
Both are alloys containing copper (sterling silver is 92.5% silver, the remainder copper, hence the 925 stamp), so both are prone to tarnishing and developing a patina over time, brass more noticeably so. Clean the same way as copper: soap and water, or a brief lemon juice and salt soak followed by a gentle polish. If you’d prefer to slow the tarnishing, a light acrylic or nail varnish can help, though it will need reapplying over time. Both metals can cause temporary green or grey skin discolouration, easily removed with soap and water.
Yellow, Rose & White Gold
Care for gold much the same as silver, gold won’t tarnish the way other metals do, but can dull slightly from surface scratches, which polish out easily. Note that white gold pieces aren’t rhodium-plated, so they have a naturally warmer grey tone rather than the bright white you may see elsewhere, a deliberate choice to avoid a coating that wears off and needs reapplying.
Gemstones
Larger stones need more care than smaller ones. If your piece includes a re-set stone from an older piece of jewellery, be aware these can carry microscopic cracks from their original setting, and may occasionally crack further, even after some time of wear. Avoid wearing gemstone pieces during gardening, heavy lifting, or physical work, and avoid extreme temperature changes. If you notice a chip, get in touch, often it can be repaired or replaced without losing the stone.
If anything ever needs attention, whatever the material, get in touch and I’ll help sort it out. See my Returns & Repairs policy for full details.