Care

Jewellery needs special care to be kept in the best condition possible
-
We have listed some information and guidelines below to keep your piece looking shiny and new :
TARNISHING
Please note that over time silver and brass are susceptible to tarnishing, this is a natural and unavoidable process and is to be expected.
Our sterling silver is .925 pure, with the other 7.5% comprising of other metal alloys which make the silver hard enough to be made into jewellery. It is the way the other metals, mostly copper, interact with the environment that cause a jewellery piece to tarnish.
All sterling silver and brass will tarnish over time and under the right conditions. The amount of tarnish that occurs on an individual piece of jewellery depends on the individual body chemistry of the wearer, the environment and how the piece is cared for.
Oxidation or tarnish is a natural chemical reaction rather than a defect or fault with the piece. The following guidelines will help you to manage and avoid tarnishing as much as possible.
WEAR AND TEAR
When wearing an item of jewellery, it is very normal for scratches and marks to appear. As some of our items have large, flat surface areas, when the item makes contact with hard surfaces, it will create a visible mark or scratch. Metals have various levels of hardness and when they come into contact with something that is harder than them, they will of course become damaged. While metal may give the illusion of being indestructible, if any item made from silver, gold or brass is bent out of shape or force is applied, it will become brittle, crack and eventually break.
As much as we would like to create jewellery that does not wear over time at all, this is an impossible promise to make. Companies who are promising jewellery that doesn't wear over time will be using strong chemical / plastic coatings to protect items. While we do use coatings to protect your items in some cases, we prefer that any coatings or protective treatments that we use are thin enough to let the natural precious metal sing. 
STORAGE
Keep jewellery in a safe and dry place. Do not keep silver jewellery in the bathroom as it will tarnish quickly. Storing jewellery in a sealed airtight bag is the best way to prevent silver pieces from tarnishing while storing.
CLEANING
 
SILVER
To brighten up your silver pieces, we recommend natural options such as using a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice, then rinsing with warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush. You can also use a specialist silver cleaning dip or cloth (Always ensure you clean your item after using a silver dip).
 
GOLD PLATED
For gold plated items, you can use warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush to remove dirt.
 
If your piece needs extra care and attention, read more about our Re-Polishing and Re-Plating service here.

GOLD PLATING

Gold plating is a thin layer of gold applied to the piece of jewellery and will wear away with time. 
We recommend a re-plating of your item if you want it to return to its original colour.
Please see details of our Re-polishing and Re-plating service here.
GENERAL CARE
All chains are delicate by nature and will break under pressure. With repeated pulling, the links will stretch and split, to avoid this, ensure necklaces are removed when exercising and not pulled excessively.
Try to avoid contact with water, remove while swimming, bathing or showering.
Avoid direct contact with abrasive products and chemicals like soap, oil, moisturisers, perfume.
Chemicals in your make up, hair products and perfume will cause jewellery to dull, wiping jewellery clean after contact will help to keep the original finish.
Avoid wearing jewellery while exercising as this may cause damage or injury.
Avoid cleaning while wearing your jewellery, detergents will cause tarnishing and damage.
Please note that all of our jewellery is made using silver and brass that has been specifically sourced from international reputable companies who adhere to the highest safety standards.
BROKEN ITEMS
If your jewellery has broken due to a fault of your own, take to your local jeweller and they will be able to repair the item for you. If the jewellery has broken due to a production fault, please send details to info@barjewellery.com