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Product Care ~ Preserve your jewellery

CARE FOR YOUR JEWELLERY

Pewter
Cleaning is best done by washing in warm soapy water, followed by thorough drying. A silver polishing cloth is all that is needed to maintain a high polish. For more serious tarnishing after long periods you can revive the pewter by rubbing with a very fine abrasive paste such as Autosol.
Pewter and tin are relatively soft metals and do not like being twisted and bent repetitively. Weak spots can develop leading to metal fatigue.
Please Note:
Never place pewter ware in a dishwasher, as the high temperature and chemicals will react adversely with the metal.
Silver
Silver tarnishes quite quickly when left in a humid atmosphere for any length of time and not worn. The proprietary Silver Dip is very good at removing this oxidation. Just follow the instructions on the jar.
A silver polishing cloth will also bring back the high shine. Please be aware that strong chemicals such as bleach can cause silver to tarnish and sometimes turn black especially if sulphur is present.
Silver is not a particularly hard metal and if you intend to do manual labour where rings could be in contact with stone or bricks it is best to take them off first.
Bronze
Being such a strong alloy has many attributes, however, oxidation (tarnishing) can still occur. Don’t use Silver Dip on bronze. Rubbing with a silver polishing cloth should suffice but more serious oxidation can be removed with a fine abrasive paste such as Autosol. With constant wear tarnishing is less of an issue as the regular rubbing against items of clothing tends to keep it clean.
Brass
With the cost of gold being so high, brass is an excellent alternative to those whole love the warm, rich color of gold but can’t afford it’s price tag. However, the swap to brass does come with some (minor) care responsibilities. But follow the steps below and you’ll be able to enjoy your brass jewellery for years to come.
:- Brass does not like getting wet. Want to tarnish brass quickly? Just get it a little damp and you’ll see a brown patina form. While this can be quite lovely sometimes, if you’d like your brass jewellery to shine like gold, keep it dry!
:- Inevitably, however, no matter how hard you try to keep your brass jewellery dry, it will tarnish over time. Oils and sweat (not sexy, I know) are the main culprits here. To clean flat surfaces or jewellery that has detail you don’t want to disturb, like stampings, buff the piece with a jewellery polishing cloth, like Goddard’s, or use fine steel wool available at any hardware store. You’ll be surprised at how quickly a light buff will restore shine. P.S. I highly recommend the cloth, as it is inexpensive and can be used on all jewellery! Also, when you use the steel wool, be ware that it will shed so polish over a receptacle.
:- For a deeper clean in those hard-to-reach areas, create a mixture of lemon juice, baking powder, and water. Grab a dollop with a toothbrush and gently go over your brass jewelry. The toothbrush should help you get into those dirty nooks and crannies, making your jewellery golden once again.
:- If you ever get a little over-zealous in your scrubbing and remove detail in nooks and crannies that should have it, simply use a Sharpie to fill in those areas and then gently rub over them with fine steel wool to remove any surface excess.
:- Some people have an allergy to brass that causes a tint to be left behind on the skin. Simply seal the offending areas on your jewelry with any clear nail polish or clear Rustoleum to prevent this from happening. Reapply as needed.
And that’s it! Follow the steps above and you will get many happy years of wear from brass jewelry.

Glossary
Claddagh
The "Claddagh" symbol (usually in the form of a ring) belongs to a group of finger rings called Fede or "Faith rings" which date from Roman times. Fede rings have the form of two clasped hands, symbolising faith, trust or "plighted troth". This general form of ring was popular in the Middle Ages throughout Europe, and there are examples in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.
Heart - Love Faith in Friendship - the Hands Loyalty - the Crown
The way in which a Claddagh ring is worn is important. Traditionally, when placed on the right hand with the heart facing out (i.e. with the crown facing in), the wearer's heart is still searching. When placed on the right hand with the heart facing in, there are possibilities. And when worn on the left hand with the heart facing in, your heart is truly spoken for.
Rhodium plated
Rhodium is a transition element, belonging to the platinum group of metals. Rhodium plating is silvery-white in colour and used to both harden the surface it covers, and to create a brighter, more polished look to gold, especially white gold. Gemstones then show to their best effect and the claws holding the gems are firmer and less likely to damage. Rhodium plated jewellery is extremely hard wearing, tarnish resistant and will not be affected by body enzymes, perfumes and hair sprays, helping it to look good for years to come.
Torc (or Torque)
This style of bangle or necklace has a history that can be traced all the way back to Roman times; currently the bangles are very fashionable. Unlike bangles with hinges and fastenings, these bracelets are sufficiently pliable to be wound round your wrist, with a small gap between one end and the other. The bracelet ends are finished with a ball, which can be plain or embellished with gemstones, whist boxing gloves or hands, similar in design to Celtic Claddagh rings, are also available.

What is Pewter
Pewter and bronze are related alloys. Pewter is primarily tin, with a small amount of copper, whereas bronze is an alloy made mainly of copper, with a small amount of tin. Pewter is considered to be a precious metal and became popular in the Middle Ages. It was used for kitchenware and in churches, initially available only to the very wealthy. Eventually pewter reached the masses and became common in taverns, cottages, and inns. Pewter is considered to be a soft, yet durable metal, and many historical pieces made from pewter have survived over the centuries.
Is pewter used in jewellery?
Pewter is the fourth most popular metal used in jewellery, behind gold, silver, and platinum. In the past, lead was often used in pewter. Today, because the adverse impact of lead on the human body is well-documented, almost all pewter items created in the U.S. are made lead-free. Pewter is popular because it can be polished to a high shine, chemically darkened for an antique look, or to leave a rough surface. Because of its low melting point, those who work with pewter are able to create jewelry with intricate detail. Pendants, rings, buttons, belt buckles, and earrings are all popular ways in which people wear and exhibit their favorite pewter pieces.
How to clean pewter jewellery?
Pewter jewellery should be kept away from sources of extreme heat and removed when working with any kind of chemicals. Pewter retains its polished surface longer if it is not worn while engaging in activities that can be hard on it, such as sports, heavy cleaning, or work that is tough on hand jewelry (if wearing rings or bracelets). Cleaning pewter jewelry involves nothing more than mild soap, water, and a soft cloth. Pewter polish is available, but only a small amount should be used and as seldom as possible. When storing pewter jewellery, wrap items in tissue paper or a soft cloth to ensure they last a long time.