Care Guide
Our pieces are made of stainless steel with a layer of gold plating. The steel underneath will not rust or turn your skin green. The gold layer sits on top, and it is the part that needs looking after. Treated well, it keeps its colour for years.
Yes, you can wear it in the ocean
We live by the water in Ericeira, and we make pieces you can actually swim and surf in. Salt water will not ruin them.
What matters is what happens afterwards. Rinse your piece under fresh water when you come out, then dry it fully with a soft cloth. Salt left to dry on the surface is what dulls the finish over time, not the swim itself.
Chlorinated pools and hot tubs are harder on plating than the sea. Rinse afterwards there too, and keep the soaks short.
The simple rule
Last on, first off. Put your jewelry on after perfume, cream and hairspray, and take it off before you shower or sleep.
Keep away from
- Perfume, hairspray, body lotion, sunscreen and hand sanitiser
- Household cleaning products
- Long soaks in chlorinated water
Chemicals wear gold plating down far faster than water does.
Cleaning
Most of the time, a soft dry cloth is all you need. Wipe your piece gently after wearing it to lift away skin oils and salt.
If it needs more, dip a soft cloth in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, wipe gently, rinse the cloth and wipe again. Dry the piece completely with a soft cloth before putting it away. Never leave it to air dry, and never soak it.
Never use
- Jewelry dips and silver cleaning liquids
- Polishing cloths, which are made for solid metal and will rub the plating off
- Toothpaste, baking soda or any other abrasive
- Ultrasonic or steam cleaners
All of these strip gold plating, sometimes in one go.
Storing
Keep each piece dry, in its pouch, away from sunlight and damp. Store pieces separately so they cannot scratch one another. A bathroom shelf is the worst place for jewelry, because of the humidity.
Over time
Gold plating is a surface layer, so it will soften and fade eventually, most often on rings and on the parts that rub against clothing. That is normal, not a fault. Rinsing after the sea and keeping perfume and lotion off the surface is what makes the difference.
Questions
If something does not look right, write to us at kellush99@gmail.com and we will help.