Care Instructions
ON WEARING WITH LOVE
Every piece of Meadowlark jewellery is made with care from precious metals and natural gemstones. Whether you wear your own piece as an everyday extension of yourself, or take it out only for the most deserving of occasions, a little bit of love and attention will help it to last for a lifetime and beyond.
- Always protect your jewellery from sharp blows, scratching, chemicals, sunlight and heat/cold.
- Store your jewellery in a soft lined box or pouch. Try to keep pieces apart so they don't rub together - just like us, jewellery enjoys a bit of personal space.
- Your jewellery will age and tarnish naturally. While this is nothing to be alarmed over, you can keep your pieces in pristine condition by cleaning them regularly using a professional jewellery cleaning product. Always take time to read the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Be aware of tarnish which may occur as a result of oxidation, caused by the interaction of jewellery with certain elements such as oxygen or sulphur, as well as with certain acids. To remove tarnish you can clean your jewellery yourself with a polishing cloth, or visit us to have it professionally cleaned.
- Always remove your jewellery before that dip in the pool. Chlorine can cause damage to all metals and will erode gold jewellery.
- Avoid playing sports with your jewellery on, and always remove rings (or wear gloves) when you’re cleaning or doing gardening.
STERLING SILVER
Keep silver jewellery away from harsh chemicals like household cleaning fluids, as they create abrasions and reduce the lustre of the metal. Silver jewellery is best cleaned with a professional jewellery cleaning product. Thoroughly dry your silver jewellery after exposure to water.
GOLD
Keep gold jewellery away from harsh chemicals like household cleaning fluids, as they create abrasions and reduce the lustre of the metal. Gold jewellery is best cleaned with warm water and detergent-free soap. Thoroughly dry your gold jewellery after exposure to water.
GOLD PLATED
Our gold plated jewellery has a thin layer of 9 carat gold on top of sterling silver. This gold plating will eventually wear off over time, however exposure to nail polish removers, perfume, hairspray and harsh cleaning products can accelerate this process. We also do not recommend using a polishing cloth or strong jewellery cleaner on these pieces, instead clean them frequently in a mild dishwashing liquid diluted in water.
To enjoy your gold plated jewellery for longer it’s best to treat them as “sometimes” pieces rather than everyday ones.
If your jewellery does become in need of replating please contact us for a quote.
RHODIUM PLATED
Although we do not rhodium plate our Ceremonial jewellery, we can do so on request.
Rhodium plating is sometimes used to give white gold a shiny and bright finish. Rhodium plating will eventually fade and need to be replated, however exposure to nail polish removers, perfume, creams, hairspray and harsh cleaning products can accelerate this process.
Here is how to clean you plating if it does become discoloured:
- Cleaning is best done with warm water and detergent-free soap. Soak for 10 minutes and no longer than 15 minutes. With your fingers gently rub the jewellery and with a soft toothbrush gently scrub the finer areas.
- Rinse off all soap with lukewarm water, place the jewellery on a soft towel, gently pat dry and leave to air dry overnight.
- Use non-abrasive cleaning materials. If a cleaning substance is too strong it may remove the rhodium. Do not use jewellery cleaning products.
If your jewellery does become in need of replating please contact us for a quote.
PEARLS
Pearls are the most delicate of the gemstones – it’s part of what makes them special, but also means they ask for thoughtful care and wear.
- After each wear, wipe your pearls with a soft cloth. This will help prevent any buildup of oils or other substances that may have come into contact with your jewellery throughout the day.
- Clean with a damp cloth only as needed. If your pearls are visibly stained, mix a solution of lukewarm water and a mild dish soap, dip a soft cleaning cloth and use it to gently wipe the pearls.
- Do not submerge strung pearls in water, as this will weaken the silk thread.
- Let strung pieces dry all the way before storing. This helps preserve the silk thread.
- Don’t keep your lovely pearls hidden from the world. Pearls do best in a moist environment, so wearing them frequently keeps them from drying out.