Metal Types, Descriptions & Care
As a highly sensitive individual I want to make sure you are informed on the metals I use in my designs so you may make the best choice for your body.
Most items are nickel free, or low nickel content. Many items are plated which will benefit from an acrylic coating to preserve the shine and plating or provide protection for sensitive skin (I have this as an optional add on for your order). As I grow I will modify and grow my selection of metals, and discontinue others. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask!
*An alloy is a blend of metals*
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.
Brass is an alloy of copper plus zinc.
Copper is an elemental metal that will darken over time to create a patina
Gold Plated: A thin layer of gold is plated onto a base metal. The number refers to the amount of gold in the layer. 18 karat gold means the plating contains 75% pure gold. The higher the karat of gold the deeper yellow the metal will appear.
Gunmetal is composed of 88 percent copper, 10 percent tin, and 2 percent zinc
Sterling silver is a metal alloy containing at least 92.5% silver. The most common sterling alloy is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.
Stainless steel (304) is the most common grade of stainless steel and is an alloy of iron, a minimum of 18% chromium and 8% nickel and a maximum of 0.08% carbon.
Cleaning your jewelry
*Please note that some gemstones should not be submerged*
As a simple rule a gemstone ending in *ite (fluorite, pyrite, etc) should not be put in water.
Cleaning Brass of Bronze: You can use a small amount of warm water and dish soap along with a soft cloth to remove any oxidation or grime.
Cleaning Copper: You may use vinegar and salt to remove oxidation. Soak the item for approximately 15 minutes and polish after.
Cleaning Gold Plating: You may soak the item in hot soapy water up to 10-15 minutes. Dry and polish with a soft cloth.
Cleaning Sterling Silver: You may use a polishing cloth to start. If the cloth does not work a gentle dish soap and warm water may help remove tarnish. There are also many silver polishing products on the market to maintain the metal.
Cleaning stainless steel or Gunmetal: You can use a small amount of warm water and dish soap along with a soft cloth to remove any grime.