Care tips
Stretch bracelets - "Roll on, roll off"
I only use very strong high quality jeweller's elastic. If looked after it should last for many years. The key to wearing stretch bracelets is to roll them on over your hand and wrist when putting on and then again rolling them when taking off. If wearing a stack of bracelets do this with each individual bracelet. This will avoid overstretching the elastic and prolonging the life. I tie each bracelet using a very discreet knot and this is secured with a tiny bit of strong jeweller's glue. Most times I will hide the knot inside an adjoining bead but if this is not possible I will at times use a bead cover to hide the knot.
Sterling Silver
All my silver jewellery is made with 925 sterling silver beads and findings. All stretch bracelets are made using very strong jeweller's elastic and all clasp bracelets are made with flexible beading wire. Naturally sterling silver will tarnish over time as it comes into contact with your skin, sweat and air etc. This can be remedied very easily by correct storage and cleaning. Here are some tips:-
- Remove jewellery before showering, bathing and swimming. The water is not pure and will tarnish your silver much more quickly.
- Ideally remove all jewellery before going to sleep.
- Avoid wearing your jewellery immediately after applying creams, lotions, fake tan, perfume, hairspray etc. Wait until the creams have soaked into your skin and your skin is dry.
- Buy a silver polishing cloth. Town Talk is one I tend to use and is readily available to buy online or any jewellery store on the high street. Give your jewellery a polish when it starts to look dull and/or tarnished. Store the cloth in a sealed bag in a dark place to preserve the compound used on the cloth.
- If you plan on not wearing your silver daily I would suggest placing it in an airtight sealed bag (plastic food bags would do) and storing in a low humidity area ie not a bathroom.
Gold Filled
Who doesn't love a bit of gold jewellery especially in summer with a tan? All the beads and findings I use are gold filled. The same maintenance rules apply as with sterling silver ie avoid creams, sunscreen, perfume etc. Remove when showering, bathing, sleeping etc.
- It is more economical than solid gold.
- Jeweler's create gold filled jewellery by pressure bonding an actual layer of gold to another metal.
- Although a gold filled piece of jewellery is not solid gold, it has the same desirable properties and look of solid gold.
- It won’t tarnish and will not rub off or turn colours.
- Although the layer of gold in gold filled pieces varies depending on the manufacturer it is in all cases significantly thicker than regular gold plating (the next category of gold jewellery).
- Gold filled accessories can be worn even daily without fear of fading or rubbing off for many cases as long as 30 years.
How to clean
- A bowl of warm water with a touch of gentle soap or mild washing up liquid. Do not soak.
- Give it a very gentle wash with an ultrasoft toothbrush.
- Rinse it in lukewarm water a few times to make sure all the soap is off.
- Dry it well afterwards and make sure it's 100% dry before storing it.
Gold Vermeil/Gold Plated
Gold Vermeil is simply a gold plating over sterling silver.
Gold Plated is often a gold plating over a base metal other than sterling silver.
As Gold Filled charms are scarce I will sometimes use Gold Vermeil and Gold Plated charms in my designs. Same care instructions as with Gold Filled.
Semi-Precious Stones, Swarovski beads and Czech Glass beads
I like to create some more fun, summery pieces using stones like turquoise, white jade, amazonite and freshwater pearls along with striking neon Swarovksi beads and Czech glass beads. All high quality and sourced from reputable suppliers. To keep clean, buff gently with a soft (preferably anti static) clean dry cloth.