Notes on Metal and Patina
Plated hardware, brass, resin and crystal each age differently. A practical guide to keeping designer pieces sharp.
Designer jewelry is rarely solid precious metal. Most of what we carry is plated brass, resin, glass crystal or leather — materials that hold up well when handled correctly and fail fast when they are not.
Perfume, hairspray and lotion are the fastest way to strip plating. Dress first, jewelry last. Remove pieces before swimming or showering without exception.
Most damage is not wear. It is storage.
Clean with a dry microfibre cloth. No jewelry dips, no ultrasonic cleaners, no alcohol — those are formulated for solid metal and stone, and they lift plating and loosen set crystals.
Store pieces separately in the pouch or box they arrived in. Chain tangled against a crystal collar will scratch both. Keep them out of direct light and away from radiators; resin and leather warp with heat.
Clasps and threads loosen with use. Check them every few months and stop wearing a piece the moment something feels slack — a repair is always cheaper than a loss.
