TINICOTERIE jewellery are designed as keepsake and made to last - like everything precious, these beautiful pieces does need to be looked after so they always look as lovely as new. Below are some simple instructions you could follow to care for them:
Our sterling silver jewellery are treated with an anti-tarnish coating to help protect them against tarnish, keeping their lustre. However your jewellery can still tarnish over time as it is a natural process of certain precious metals—particularly sterling silver—when exposed to air, yet it can be easily cleaned using professional jewellery cleaning products.
Preserve the brightness
We recommend that customers remove their jewellery before exercising, showering, swimming or sleeping to prevent scratches, and to protect it from exposure to harsh chemicals or environments, including but not limited to: perfumes, skincare & hair products, sweat, cleaning agents, chlorine and salt water. Therefore it’s a good practice to always put on your jewellery last after applying your make-up and perfume.
Cleaning your jewellery
To remove grease or dirt on your jewellery, you can brush it using a small, soft toothbrush with mild soap in lukewarm water. If the dirt is difficult to remove, try pre-soaking it in clean lukewarm water.
- Do not put pearl jewellery or any other organic gem materials in an ultrasonic cleaner, nor submerse in silver dip solutions.
- Water that is too hot or too cold may damage the surface of pearls, so always double-check the temperature before using it on any pearl jewellery. Then you can gently wipe down the pearls with a soft, clean cloth dipped in the lukewarm soapy water.
- If your sterling silver jewellery is looking a little sad and dull, you can also use a silver-polishing cloth, or silver polish on a cotton bud to restore its lustre.
Gold vermeil
- If your piece of jewellery is plated with gold or other precious metals, you will need to take extra care and clean it very gently, as intense rubbing will cause the plating to wear away quicker than its natural course.
Where to keep your jewellery
When not worn, jewellery should be kept in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight and heat, in a separate fabric lined jewellery box or an anti-tarnish pouch / polyethylene zip-lock bag.
Never store your jewellery in polyvinyl plastic bags, as they contain sulphur compounds, or rubber containers which will make sterling silver tarnish faster and possibly turn black.
Natural wear and tear
Gold vermeil: Please be mindful that gold plated pieces are, by default, more fragile and liable to lose their colour over time. The speed at which the gold plating fades will depend on multiple factors, from skincare/chemical products exposure, level of perspiration, or even your natural skin pH.
Oxidised sterling silver pieces will also eventually begin to return to their silver colouring due to wear - though its gradual transformation over time is also the beauty of our oxidised pieces which has been considered for the specific design.
Taking prudent care of your jewellery as described above however, can considerably prolong jewellery wear; and if you wish to re-condition your TINICOTERIE piece at any point please get in touch for a service quote.