All jewelry is handmade with love in my studio in Burlington, ON, Canada.  Hello Lovely pieces are made of sterling silver or 14K gold fill (nothing plated!). It is high quality jewelry made to last and with a few simple care tips you will enjoy your jewelry for years to come!

Jewelry care does not have to be complicated.  The two biggest things to consider are 1) keeping it away from harmful substances that cause build up and tarnish and 2) storing it properly.  Read on for some helpful tips to keep your special pieces looking their best.

A Note About Hand Stamped Jewelry

The art of hand stamping involves hammering a stamp onto the metal to make an impression.  Each letter, number and design is meticulously stamped one at a time to create your piece that is truly one-of-a-kind.  I take great care and discard many pieces I am not happy with (don't worry these pieces are recycled!) however letters may not be perfectly straight or lined up.  To me, this is the beauty of a handmade item and is what makes your piece unique, personal and full of character ♥︎

Materials

STERLING SILVER 

Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver, usually with copper making up the rest of the metal.

First things first, sterling silver will tarnish.  It happens even with the most expensive sterling silver pieces in the world.  It is the result of a chemical reaction (called oxidation) between oxygen and/or sulfur particles in air and water.  So, it’s science!  Not at all a measure of quality. 

Due to this oxidation process, the WORST thing you can do with sterling silver is to leave it out for a long period of time.  I know we all love to hang our jewelry on a lovely stand or keep it in a cute dish but the BEST way to store it is in something airtight such as a small ziplock bag.   

Don’t worry if your sterling silver does tarnish, it will always polish up nicely.

GOLD FILL

Gold fill is a thick layer of 14K gold pressure bonded to a base layer of jeweller’s brass. The process of pressure bonding means that gold fill jewelry is tarnish and chip resistant. It has become very popular in recent years as an alternative to solid gold because it offers incredible quality and a beautiful look at a more affordable price point.

Gold jewelry is actually a little easier to maintain vs. sterling silver as it doesn’t tarnish as easily.

Tips for Caring for your Jewelry

 

WEAR it often.  Your skin’s oils actually help by creating a barrier between the metal and air, so wearing your jewelry often is one of the easiest ways to prevent tarnish. 

AVOID contact with lotions, sunscreen, perfumes, harsh soaps, chlorine, household cleaners, basically any and all chemicals.

REMOVE your jewelry before showering, swimming, working out etc.

USE the polish cloth included in your gift box to gently remove any build up and keep your piece shiny

STORE your jewelry in a ziplock bag or other air tight container when not being worn.  Don’t leave it out on a jewelry stand etc if you aren’t going to wear it for a while.

CLEAN your piece well from time to time to remove sweat and body oils that can build up.  It is especially important to clean your pieces before storing them away for any length of time.

You can clean your piece with warm water and a gentle dish soap (I love Blue Dawn, the one with the ducks!).  Swish your piece around gently, rinse it off and pat dry gently (try not to rub it) with a soft cloth, such as a microfibre jewelry cloth or a lens cloth works great, too.

 

Always feel free to contact me with any questions about caring for your jewelry ♥︎

Andrea - hellolovelyjewelry@gmail.com