Caring for your Wristocracy:
Like with all my jewellery I do recommend you take your Wristocracy off before entering water. Frequent exposure to water and cologne can damage the beads.
Some gemstones are water or photosensitive. This means long periods of water or sun exposure may erode or fade the stone - so it is best to keep this in mind when wearing or storing the jewellery.
Wristocracy is intended for adult wear only. Please keep beads away from animals and small children and ingestion may cause harm.
Moh’s Hardness
The Moh’s hardness scale has been around since 1822 and is used to classify minerals by their harness. Divided into 10 degrees of hardness, starting from 1 (the softest) to 10 (the hardest) - it can help you know how much wear and tear might be too much for your gemstones.
I think it is pretty well know that Diamond is a very hard gem (a 10 on the Moh’s scale) so this means it can scratch any gemstone with a lower Moh’s rating. A fingernail (as a comparison) is about 2 on the Moh’s scale so anything less than this can be pretty delicate. As a rule of thumb, anything with a Moh’s rating of less than 5 should not be put in water as the softer the stone the more likely it is to dissolve. This is not absolute rule though, just an indication. The composition of the specimen will also affect things. For example, whilst Amber is soft it can also be in water, Selenite on the other hand is soft and will definitely crumble (over time) if emerged in water. If in doubt, check first.
Sensitive Gemstones
As mentioned above, certain stones are photosensitive. This means they are prone to deterioration if exposed to the sun for too long. Generally if this happens the stone’s colour will fade prematurely. The list below whilst not comprehensive is a starting point and I will update it as time allows.
Sun Sensitive Stones
Amethyst, Ametrine, Apatite, Aventurine, Azurite, Calcite, Charoite, Chrysocolla, Chrysoprase, Fluorite, Kunzite, Lapis, Larimar, Lepidolite, Malachite, Moonstone, Mother of Pearl, Opal, Pearl, Selenite, Sodalite, Spinel, Turquoise.
In addition to sun sensitivity, some stones are sensitive to water. The polish will only protect them so much and if repeatedly exposed to water the bead may begin to break down. It is particularly important to take note of this with gemstones as some stones may contain potentially harmful (if ingested) minerals.
Water Sensitive Stones
Angelite, Apatite, Aragonite, Aventurine, Azurite, Calcite, Celestite, Charoite, Chrysocolla, Fluorite, Fuchsite, Lapis, Lepidolite, Magnesite, Malachite, Pyrite, Selenite, Sodalite, Turquoise.
Safety: Gemstones that can be toxic if ingested
Gemstones are beautiful to look at, but make no mistake - they should never be ingested.
If your bracelet or necklace should break, collect all the stones and put them in a safe place and contact the maker to remake (if possible). I will remake any of my own pieces, provided the beads are still in good condition. A small charge for re-making and any extra beads may apply.
Most mineral gemstones are safe to wear or handle normally, however if the polish on your gemstone starts to breakdown you need to consider replacing the stones.
Each stone is different, but some stones that are commonly used in jewellery that you should be mindful are:
Amber, Amethyst, Ametrine, Apatite, Azurite, Bumble Bee Jasper, Cinnibar, Coral, Dioptase, Freshwater Pearls, Jet, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Nephrite, Pearl (natural), Pyrite, Quartz (all), Serpentine and Shattuckite.
None should be ingested, so please keep away from small children and animals. For more information on this please check out the International Gem Society
Caring for your metal and gemstone jewellery
With all Wristocracy I do recommend keeping your metal beads away from water and perfumes as it may affect the longevity of the piece.
Most if not all metal used in Wristocracy jewellery contains gemstones and I really recommend you read up on your gemstones and what they like and do not like before wearing. Some of this information is available here on this page (above re Sun and Water Sensitive stones) or I may have provided the information on the card that may have been enclosed with the piece. If not a simple Google about your gemstone should do the trick!
Metal Care Information
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver or Sterling Silver fill is my preferred finish. In saying this please keep in mind that sterling silver will tarnish over time. To keep it looking bright I suggest a rubbing it with a silver cloth (available from any supermarket) or try out this home made Silver dip and paste as detailed below (also works on Silver cutlery!)
If this doesn’t work - time to break out the Silvo (available in any supermarket) and or a silver cloth. I use a very soft toothbrush and gently move the Silvo around to all the nooks and crannies - let it dry and then polish it off. Could be a good idea to wear a mask and gloves so you don’t inhale the residue. Silvo can also be used on Gold, Pewter and even mirrors! So quite a handy thing to have in the house.
Occasionally when I am unable to find an item in Sterling Silver I may opt to use Silver fill. Silver fill is composed of a solid layer of Silver that is bonded onto a base of another metal usually Copper. It is a superior finish than silver plate and will last for many many years.
Home-made Silver cleaning dip
Fill an aluminum cup/dish (or one lined with aluminum foil) with very hot water. Add 2 tsp of baking soda and submerge affected silver. A chemical reaction will occur, removing the tarnish.
Home-made Silver cleaning paste
Mix a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Wet the silver and apply the cleaner with a soft, lint-free cloth. Rinse and buff dry.
Gold or Rose Gold Fill
Gold or Rose Gold fill is my preferred gold finish. Sadly, it comes at a price and not all items are available in it. Unlike solid Gold jewellery, Gold fill is composed of a solid layer of Gold that is bonded onto a base of another metal, such as Sterling Silver or Copper and it is a superior finish than Gold plate.
While Gold filled jewellery is typically less expensive than solid Gold and more expensive that Gold plate - it is actually more durable than either, looking shiny and new, even with decades of wear.
To maintain and clean your Gold or Rose Gold fill beads use a soft-bristled toothbrush to apply a mild soap like a dish detergent mixed with water to keep your Gold fill beads looking shiny and new. Please resist the temptation to use toothpaste (as many websites suggest) as it will scratch and eventually wear down the gold coating.
Copper (solid)
Showering, swimming or excessive sweating will cause tarnishing of Copper. If the latter occurs try use a little bit of water on a cloth to clean the copper and then dry with a cloth.
Home-made Copper cleaning dip
Fill a ramekin or small bowl with a Tbl Sp of table salt and enough white vinegar to submerge the copper. If tarnish does not immediately disperse, leave submerged for 5-10 minutes. (Pure copper items only) and then remove when desired colour is achieved dip in water and dry item.
Home-made Copper cleaning paste
Mix vinegar and salt into a paste, cover Copper item - leave for a time and then finish with a warm water dip to remove paste and dry piece thoroughly or mix lemon juice and baking soda into a paste and finish the same way.
Brass (solid)
Similar ingredients from your pantry (as with copper) will keep Brass looking good. Lemon juice and toothpaste will help remove tarnish. A brass cloth can also help keep your brass shiny if that is your preferred finish. Personally I like my brass (and copper) a little earthy looking as occurs when it is oxidised.
Gold Plate or Rose Gold Plate
Use a soft cloth, wipe or glass cloth to gently buff to remove dirt and residue. Don’t use a cloth for solid gold or rub too vigorously as it may strip plating.
Jewellery Cleaning Machines
Be warned. Whilst I’ve found jewellery cleaning machines fabulous for keeping my precious metal rings clean and sparkling, I do advise extreme caution when using with your delicate gemstone jewellery. These machines are only suitable for very specific specific gemstones and may damage others - so please check first.