Jewelry Care
Whether you're wearing gold-plated, gold-vermeil or waterproof jewelry, there are some golden rules that you'll want to follow to care for all of your pieces.
All plated jewelry will fade in color over time. The rate at which pieces fade will depend on how often they are worn and how you care for them.
Looking for something tarnish resistant? Try our Waterproof collection.
Plated Brass
AVOID MOISTURE
This means skin & hair products too! If your pieces come in contact with moisture, gently wipe clean with a soft cloth.
LAST ON, FIRST OFF
Your jewelry should be the last thing you put on in the AM and the first thing you take off at night. Never wear your jewelry to bed, while exercising, washing your hands, in the shower, or swimming.
CLEAN
After each wear, wipe your jewelry with a soft cloth before putting away.
STORE SAFELY
Always store your cleaned jewelry in a sealed bag or box. Keep your jewels stored in a cool, dry place (ie. not in your bathroom) to limit exposure to moisture and oxygen.
Waterproof
In general, our Waterproof jewelry requires minimal care compared to plated jewelry. These tarnish-resistant pieces are made with 316L stainless steel and gold PVD.
Learn more about our Waterproof collection here or read on for more info on our materials.
AVOID CHLORINE
Avoid exposure to chlorine as it will shorten the lifespan of the PVD gold.
CLEAN
If your waterproof jewelry needs cleaning, wash with water and gently scrub with a soft-bristled brush. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry well.
Gold-Filled Jewelry Only
NOT gold-plated. If your gold-filled piece starts to discolour, we recommend giving it a thorough clean. Soak it in a bowl of warm water and then rub it with a cotton rag or a soft-bristled brush to return its lustre.
Hair Accessories
All of our hair accessories feature metal componentry which does not hold up well to moisture. Exposure to water will cause rusting and impact the lifespan of your claw or clip.
Our Materials
Whether you're wearing gold-plated, gold-vermeil or waterproof jewelry, there are some golden rules that you'll want to follow to care for all of your pieces.
All plated jewelry will fade in color over time. The rate at which pieces fade will depend on how often they are worn and how you care for them.
Looking for something tarnish resistant? Try our Waterproof collection.
Our Metals
Gold-Plated Brass
- Workable metal.
- Endless design possibilities.
- Refined & lightweight.
- Requires proper care.
Gold-plated jewelry has a layer of real gold over top of a less expensive base metal.
The majority of jewelry we make is gold-plated over brass. This allows for beautiful designs at great price points, while maintaining a good standard of quality. Unless otherwise indicated on the packaging, your jewelry is gold-plated.
Gold PVD & Steel (Waterproof)
- Hard metal.
- Limits ability to make delicate designs.
- Durable & tarnish-proof.
- Minimal care required.
With a process called PVD, real gold is applied onto medical grade stainless steel atom by atom. As a result, the pieces are completely waterproof, tarnish-resistant and hypoallergenic.
This collection is perfect for anyone who wants to wear their fashion jewelry in the shower, gym and wherever life takes them!
Our Materials
Gold-Plated
Our gold-plated jewelry is electroplated (“plated” for short). Electroplating is a process that uses chemistry and electricity to cover metal in a thin layer of gold. By dipping the jewelry in a solution that contains gold and applying electricity, a thin layer of gold attaches itself to the jewelry.
The overall colour/tone of the gold jewelry is determined by how long the process is applied. From a design perspective, we like the look of 14-18K Gold. Since electroplating is done by hand, there may be slight variations each time this process is done.
Silver-Plated
We use the same electroplating process on our silver-plated jewelry as Gold-Plated. However, silver is used in the chemical solution instead of gold.
Please see “Gold-Plated” for details on the electroplating process.
Rhodium-Plated
Rhodium is a precious metal and a member of the platinum family. Rhodium is a high-shine metal that gives pieces a cooler silver tone as opposed to silver-plated pieces which have a brighter, whiter look.The same process for electroplating is used for our rhodium-plated pieces.
Please see “Gold-Plated” for details on the electroplating process.
PVD
Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) is a process that vaporizes real gold and applies it onto a stainless steel base, atom by atom. This process is much more durable than gold-plating. We use 18K Gold for our PVD plating.
Brass
Brass is an alloy made of copper and zinc. Brass is durable, sustainable and a very flexible metal to work with. We use mainly brass to create intricate, light-weight designs.
Stainless Steel
316L Stainless Steel is high grade, durable stainless steel. It is commonly used in medical equipment and is extremely resistant to corrosion. It is a hard metal and perfect for simple, minimal designs.
Base Metal
Base metals are any metals that are commonly found and considered the opposite of precious metals (gold, silver, palladium and platinum).
Some examples of base metals include copper, zinc, nickel and aluminum. Base metals allow us to get creative and design truly unique pieces while keeping our jewelry accessibly priced.
Sterling Silver Posts
Sterling silver is an alloy containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.
Chains
We use brass chains in a number of different finishes. Our most commonly used finishes are: Gold-plated, Rhodium-plated and Bronze-plated.
Flatback Crystals
We use a variety of flatback crystals chosen for exceptional brilliance and intense luminosity. We choose high quality flatbacks that have platinum foiling for extra radiance and protection.
Cubic Zirconia
Cubic zirconia is a man-made gemstone that is normally used to replicate the look of diamonds. Although not as precious, we think that cubic zirconias are beautiful and great to work with because they are strong and virtually flawless. While naturally colourless, cubic zirconia now comes in a rainbow of colours when different trace minerals are added during the manufacturing process.
Gemstones
Gemstones are a range of mineral crystals, rocks and organic materials that are cut, polished and formed to make jewelry.
We use a range of gemstones, most commonly labradorite, quartz, shell and pearl.
Crystal Beads
We use faceted crystal beads in an array of shapes, colours and sizes.
These beads are machine cut for the sharpest angles that reflect light and result in a radiant sparkle.
