looking after the jewellery

My jewellery is all handmade costume jewellery, which takes between 45-90 minutes to make per necklace. Please note that I only make the jewellery, how long it lasts is up to you.

All jewellery (unless specified) is made with 18k and 24k gold plated 304 stainless steel. Some pendants and charms may be made from stainless steel, zinc alloy, or other materials, which are all listed in the products description. Due to the amount of different materials used, I cannot list them in full. If you have sensitive skin or allergies, please keep this in mind and be cautious. I recommend to not purchase any jewellery if you have had past experiences with jewellery causing a reaction to your skin, or if skin is prone to rashes/ breaking out.

This means like all jewellery the plating will eventually wear off over time with regular wear & tear, but the stainless steel base helps to slow this process significantly. With proper care and maintenance, gold plated stainless steel jewellery can last for an extended period, ranging from several months/ years before the gold plating begins to wear away, showing the stainless steel underneath.

Please keep in mind that due to gold being an alloy, the metal will contain copper. Any metal that contains copper can turn your skin green. This may not be the case for you, but please note that the quality of the jewellery is not determined by this factor. Each piece is crafted with love and care, and unfortunately it is not under my control with how the metal reacts with your skin. pH, lotions, sweat, perfume, etc can all contribute. 

Over time, your jewellery comes in contact with moisture, acids, oils and air. They react with the metal in the jewellery, causing it to eventually wear down and tarnish. 

To preserve the quality of your pieces, please limit contact with water, lotions, perfumes, and other liquids or chemicals. Remove the bracelets before swimming, bathing, or engaging in any water-related activities. Additionally, take care to store them away from direct sunlight when not in use, as prolonged exposure may cause fading or discolouration.

You may find that the charms and pendants will start to tarnish due to them being gold coloured stainless steel, zinc alloy, or copper. This is because these metals will react to moisture and sulphur in the air. How quickly jewellery tarnishes depends on a number of factors such as how you care for them, your skin composition, the air around them, etc. To reduce this process please take time to store the pieces properly to protect them from the sun. One way to store your pieces includes putting them in a ziplock bag and removing as much air as possible so the metal doesn’t oxidise from the air. Another tip is to store the pieces with 3M anti-tarnish strips. 

Some people will experience a green discolouration on their skin after wearing certain metals. This green colour is caused by the acids on your skin oxidising the metal. Whether or not this happens to you and to what extent will vary based on your body chemistry. But if you see green, don't fret - it's not harmful to you and doesn't mean your jewellery is unsafe. This happens often with pieces made from copper, but even silver and gold metals can cause discoloration too.