How To Care For Your Jewellery
Warranty
All Bowerbird Jewels jewellery comes with a 6 month warranty, effective from the date of purchase. This warranty covers manufacturing faults and defects in materials, but does not cover loss, accidental breakage or general wear and tear or discolouration.
Storage
When not being worn, always store your jewellery in a safe, dry and cool place away from direct sunlight. Keep your jewellery stored in the original box it was purchased in to keep it safe and avoid tangling or tarnishing.
Tarnishing
Tarnish is a thin layer that builds up mainly in Silver over time. It is a reaction to the other metals used in the metal make up primarily Copper, as it reacts with humidity and sulphur in the air. Tarnish is only a surface effect and it is easily wiped away with a few rubs of a silver cloth which is impregnated with a fine polishing compound which will help keep your items shiny. Make sure not to use on your Vermeil or Gold plated items as the cloth will slowly take off the plating over time.
Cleaning
Sterling Silver pieces can be cleaned using a cleaning cloth or jewellery cleansing solution. Gold Vermeil and Gold Filled pieces should be cleaned gently using only a soft cloth. Our Gold Vermeil pieces may require re-plating after a number of years, depending on the frequency of wear.
Chemicals such as beauty products, creams and hair spray can damage some gemstones. The residue will dull vibrant gemstones so make sure you remove your jewellery before applying these cosmetics. A soft toothbrush and warm water with a mild detergent used weekly, will make sure that any trapped dirt is removed. Pat dry with a soft lint free cloth.
Gemstones
Gemstones are measured your their hardness and graded from 1 to 10. While Diamonds are known for their superior hardness, other much softer gems such as Tanzanites and Emerald need to be treated with more care and saved for special occasions rather than everyday use. Pearls and Turquoise are very absorbent and they need to be kept away from all chemicals, lotions and beauty products. Keep them stored separately in their own pouch and wipe them over occasionally with a lint free cloth. Opals are a natural soft gem so they are not recommended for daily wear. As Opals can be very absorbent they may from time to time lose the colour, simply take off your Opal jewellery and leave it in a safe place to air dry and the colour should return. To clean Cubic Zirconias use a soft toothbrush along with detergent and warm water to loosen any dust or grease and bring back their shine and sparkle.
Protection
Sterling Silver, and solid Gold pieces are safe to wear in the shower, bath or sea water. However we recommend removing any Gold Vermeil or Gold Plated items when entering the sea or chlorinated water. Jewellery containing opals should be removed before entering any water. as this may cause the gemstone to lose some of its colour. Avoid spraying perfume and applying creams directly to your jewellery, as this will ensure the plating lasts as long as possible. Be careful with when you wear your jewellery, as it will suffer if pulled during vigorous activities.
Remove your items before doing chores such as gardening, working out at the gym or using any abrasive household products. These activities will scratch and possibly damage your jewellery. Remove your items before showering as bath soaps can leave a residue, which will dull your gemstones.
Maintenance
Just like you go to the dentist for a check-up, your jewellery also should be assessed frequently. Everyday wear and tear can loosen stones in settings and metal will dull down over time. It is a good idea to have these items checked at least once a year and get them professionally cleaned so they always look their best. Many items are fragile and handmade, so it’s a good idea to look after them as such. We suggest you do not wear your jewellery to bed to avoid tangling or pulling on chains which might cause breakages.