Care Guide
Every Their piece is made from recycled precious metal and built to outlast us. How long it keeps its original finish depends almost entirely on how it is worn and stored.
We work in three materials, and each asks for something slightly different. Find yours below.
Gold vermeil
Vermeil is a thick layer of recycled 14K gold bonded to a base of sterling silver. It is a precious metal through and through, with no brass or copper beneath. The gold surface is what needs protecting.
When wearing
Put it on last, after perfume, lotion, sunscreen and hairspray, and take it off first. Keep it out of showers, pools and the sea. Chlorine and salt water are hardest on the plating.
When storing
Store it dry and on its own, in the pouch it arrived in. Loose in a drawer, pieces scratch each other. Avoid the bathroom, where steam does slow damage.
When cleaning
Wipe it with a soft dry cloth after wearing. A gentle anti-tarnish cloth is fine. Avoid abrasive silver polish and dip solutions, which are made to remove a layer of metal and will strip the gold.
925 sterling silver
Silver tarnishes. That is not a fault and it is not a sign of poor quality. It is oxidation, it happens to all sterling silver, and unlike wear it comes back off completely.
When wearing
Take it off before showering and before applying scents and lotions. Keep it away from chlorine and salt water. Worn often, silver tarnishes less, since daily wear keeps the surface bright.
When storing
Dry, and in the pouch it arrived in. Air is what causes tarnish, so a closed pouch or box slows it considerably.
When polishing
A silver polishing cloth restores the shine whenever it dulls. For heavier tarnish, a silver dip will bring it back. Only use dips on solid silver pieces, never on vermeil.
14K solid gold
Solid gold is the same material all the way through, so there is no surface layer to wear away. These are the pieces most likely to outlive you, and they ask the least of you.
When wearing
Solid gold handles daily life well, including water. Still take it off before swimming, since chlorine can affect the alloys mixed with the gold, and before anything that risks a knock.
When storing
Separately. Gold is a soft metal and the most common damage is scratching from other jewelry, not tarnish.
When cleaning
Scrub lightly with a soft toothbrush and warm water, then rinse away any residue and dry it. Avoid harsh shower gels and scrubs, which can scratch the surface.
An honest word about wear
With good care, a vermeil piece holds its finish for years. But any plated surface wears eventually, and we would rather say so than pretend otherwise. It is not a defect, it is the nature of the material.
If a vermeil piece loses its colour over time, a local jeweler can replate it and it will look new again. That is part of what it means for something to be made to be handed down. Things get repaired rather than replaced.
Not sure which material your piece is? It will be on the product page, or email us and we will check for you.