Frequently Asked Questions - Care

Avoid exposing your sterling silver jewelry to harsh chemicals such as chlorine, cosmetics, hair spray, and perfume.

To avoid tarnishing, periodically wash with mild soap, not detergent, and water.  Dry thoroughly before storing.
You may also polish gently with a polishing cloth.  To clean away excessive tarnish, use a silver polishing dip cleaner.

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and chromium and does not tarnish and will not rust. However, over time it may lose its luster. To restore the shine to your stainless steel you can follow the cleaning instructions for brass and bronze.

It is important not to excessively handle your pieces. Dirt and oils from your fingers can dull the colors.

When cleaning niobium jewelry, do not use abrasive polishes or cloths. These can wear down the oxidized layers of color and dull the jewelry. Warm, soapy water and a soft cloth are the safest materials for cleaning niobium.

Proper care will prevent neoprene from drying out and cracking.

Keep away from corrosive chemicals, perfumes, heat, and direct sunlight (unless being worn). Rinse after being in saltwater.

To clean wash with a gentle dish soap, like Dawn, and water and pat dry with a clean cloth. Also it is recommended you wipe down the jewelry after wearing with a clean cloth and store in a plastic bag when not in use.

Bronze is an alloy of copper and, usually, tin. Like brass, bronze will natually tarnish over time. Follow the cleaning and prevention instructions of brass.

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc and will naturally tarnish when exposed to oxygen. Some people like the patina of tarnished brass and the tarnish is actually a protective layer for the brass, but if you want to get the shine of the new brass it's pretty easy to do with some typical household products.

If the tarnish isn't too pervasive take about 2 tablespoons of baking soda and add drops of lemon juice - from concentrate is fine - until you have a nice paste. The lemon juice will bubble and fizz as you add, don't worry it'll stop after a second or two. Take an old toothbrush and apply the paste to your piece and scrub. Let it sit in the paste for about 30 minutes and then rinse it with water and dry it thoroughly.

If the piece is heavily tarnished or the above doesn't work, you can place the piece in vinegar and let it soak for 30-60 minutes and then scrub it with an old toothbrush. Once clean, rinse it with water. This cleaning method is more aggressive and may leave the piece more "raw" looking - it won't have as warm of color until the patina rebuilds.

Oils from your skin and the oxygen in the air are what accelerate tarnishing. If you want to slow the tarnish process, wipe the piece with a soft cotton rag after wearing and store in a plastic bag with an anti-tarnishing strip. You should have received one of these with your piece.

Keep your aluminum jewelry away from corrosive chemicals like chlorine, bleach, acids, and drain cleaning solutions to prevent your jewelry from oxidizing and losing luster.

To clean wash with a gentle dish soap, like Dawn, and water, then pat dry with a clean cloth. Also, it is recommended you wipe down the jewelry after wearing it with a clean cloth and store in a plastic bag when not in use.