Jewellery Care

If you have any questions about caring for your jewellery, we are always happy to help! Send us an e-mail at shopthegroggyowl@gmail.com.

Gold-filled jewellery is a beautiful, long-lasting, affordable alternative to solid gold. Gold-filled means that there is a thick layer of gold pressure-bonded onto another metal. It is not to be confused with gold-plated jewellery. Unlike gold-plated jewellery, gold-filled jewellery has much more gold & is tarnish & peel resistant. Also, it can typically be worn by those with sensitive skin.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

Keep it dry. Apply makeup, hairspray or lotions before putting jewellery on. Avoid prolonged contact with water.

Gently wipe with a gentle polishing cloth to remove any skin oils, makeup, etc. or use warm soapy water. Dry thoroughly

Do NOT use abrasive chemicals or products to clean.

Do NOT using an abrasive polishing pad on gold-filled jewellery.

Store jewellery separately.

Gold vermeil is another affordable alternative, for those who don’t want more expensive gold-filled jewellery but want something in higher quality than just regular gold-plated jewellery. Gold vermeil is genuine .925 sterling silver that has been expertly plated with a thick layer of 14K gold or higher. It is not to be confused with gold-plated jewellery, which just a small amount of gold plated onto a regular base metal. Gold vermeil is a good option for those with metal allergies due to the durable thickness of the gold combined with the base of sterling silver. However, gold vermeil still requires care & the plating may wear away over time if not properly cared for.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

Keep it dry. Apply makeup, hairspray or lotions before putting jewellery on. Avoid prolonged contact with water.

Gently wipe with a gentle polishing cloth to remove any skin oils, makeup, etc. or use warm soapy water to clean. Dry thoroughly.

Do NOT use abrasive chemicals or products to clean. Do NOT using an abrasive polishing pad on gold-filled jewellery.

Store jewellery separately from other jewellery.

Store in an airtight container.

Plated jewellery is a nice affordable option. Plated jewellery means that there is a thin layer of gold or silver covering a base metal. All our pieces are nickel-free, so our plated jewellery can typically be worn even by those with sensitive skin. Due to the nature of plated jewellery, it requires a bit of care and the plating will wear away over time.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

Keep it dry. Apply makeup, hairspray or lotions before putting jewellery on. Avoid prolonged contact with water.

Gently wipe with a gentle polishing cloth to remove any skin oils, makeup, etc. or use warm soapy water. Dry thoroughly.

Do NOT use abrasive chemicals or products to clean.

Do NOT using an abrasive polishing pad on gold-filled jewellery.

Store jewellery separately.

Sterling Silver is such a timeless metal. It’s one of the most popular metals for jewellery because of its beauty, versatility and longevity. All of our sterling silver jewellery is made with pure .925 sterling silver, which means it can last a lifetime if taken care of. When oxygen or sulfur come in contact with silver, it does cause tarnishing – causing the silver to darken. However, if this happens, don’t fret! Sterling silver can always be cleaned and polished to look like new again. Caring for your sterling silver is very easy.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

Wear it! This helps keep the silver clean & prevent tarnishing.

Avoid exposure to cleaning supplies, lotions, hairspray, makeup, swimming, sunbathing.

Avoid exposure to harsh chemicals, especially those containing sulphur.

Store jewellery separately in airtight containers.

Clean with a special silver polishing cloth.

Polishing pads are great for sterling silver!

Clean with soap & water, or try one of the many homemade silver cleaners online. Sterling silver can often be cleaned with items right from your kitchen!

Copper is such an amazing metal. It has the look of “rose gold” because copper is in fact the metal that turns gold into rose gold. It is believed that wearing copper has many health benefits. Since copper is an essential nutrient for the body, wearing copper jewellery can allow a minimal amount of the mineral into the body without overwhelming it. However, we’re makers, not medical experts – so please consult a licenced health care professional.

All our copper jewellery uses pure, untreated copper. We don’t coat our copper, because we love the beauty of the natural changes copper takes. Also, coating copper will prevent its natural benefits – and why would we want that? Besides, copper is extremely easy to clean & can last a lifetime if properly cared for. Polish copper regularly to maintain the bright, “rose gold” shine. Or leave as is and allow the copper to develop a highly coveted, natural patina for a gorgeous rustic look.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

Copper can occasionally turn your skin green. Don’t fret! This is normal and harmless. It tends to happen when the metal interacts with your sweat. Simply rinse with soap and water.

To reduce the green, you can coat the underside of your jewellery in clear nail polish.

Store copper in a dry container, in a cool area & wrap pieces in a tarnish resistant cloth.

Remove copper jewellery before any rigorous activity.

Remove copper before you apply hand cream, lotions or perfume.

The quick & easiest way to clean your copper is with a polishing pad.

You can polish copper with products from your kitchen, like lemon, ketchup or soy sauce. Place jewellery in a small bowl and cover with your choice of cleaner. Let soak for 5-15 minutes. Rinse in mild soap and water.

If you find your copper jewellery is getting dull, it needs to be polished. This can be easily polished with a pro polishing pad.

Brass is such a beautiful metal for a wide-variety of pieces, from everyday jewellery to big statement accessories. It’s durable & versatile – it can shine like gold, or develop a gorgeous patina for a lovely rustic look. All our brass jewellery is made from pure, untreated brass. It will develop a tarnish over time, but don’t fret! It can always be easily cleaned to look like new again. Brass can last a lifetime if properly cared for. Clean brass regularly to maintain the bright, golden shine. Or leave as is and allow the brass to develop a sought-after natural patina for a gorgeous rustic look.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

Oils from your skin and the oxygen in the air accelerate tarnishing. To slow the tarnish process, wipe the piece with a soft cotton rag after wearing & store in a plastic bag with an anti-tarnishing strip.

Remove jewellery before prolonged contact with water, or before rigorous activity.

To avoid a black residue, apply a coat of clear nail polish to the underside.

The quick & easiest way to clean your brass is with a polishing pad.

There are many ways to clean brass using items found in your kitchen! Search up DIY methods online, or follow these tips below:

  • For a very subtle tarnish (the brass is just a little dark) – let sit in soy sauce for about 2-10 minutes and then rinse with soapy water and dry thoroughly.
  • For medium tarnish – use 2 tbsps of baking soda & add drops of lemon juice until you have a paste. After it finishes fizzing, scrub with a toothbrush. Let sit in paste for 30 minutes, rinse with water & dry thoroughly.
  • For heavy tarnish - place in vinegar & let soak for 30-60 minutes. Scrub clean with a toothbrush. Once clean, rinse with water.

If you find your brass jewellery is getting dull, it needs to be polished. This can be easily polished with a pro polishing pad.

Aluminum is a great metal for jewellery. It’s water-safe, super lightweight, and won’t tarnish! We only use pure 1100 Aluminum that is food grade or food safe. This means is it safe for your skin as it does not contain the usual additives that cause tarnishing or skin discoloration. Food grade aluminum is hypoallergenic, and very flexible – so suitable for most wearers! Aluminum jewellery can last if properly taken care of.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

While aluminum is water-safe, it is recommended to remove jewellery before prolonged contact with water to avoid the ink from the hand-stamped designs from fading.

If your cuff scratches over time, you can easily buff with a polishing pad. If it is heavily scratched, use very fine steel wool to buff out the scratches and follow up with a polishing pad.

While the malleability of aluminum makes it easy to adjust your bracelet, if you are constantly stretching it, it will be susceptible to breakage over time. Try to open the cuff just enough to slip the narrow part of your wrist through the gap.

We use a variety of gorgeous gemstones in our pieces. We try to source local as often as we can. For example, our rough-cut amethyst stones are from a small family mine located in northern Ontario. Gemstones vary in hardness, and therefore durability, so please take care when wearing your gemstone jewellery. The beauty of gemstones is that they can virtually last forever with care.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

When cleaning the metal of your jewellery, be careful to avoid damaging your stone & only use chemicals safe for that particular stone.

If you have a gemstone stretch bracelet, avoid over-stretching the bracelet. Gently roll the bracelet onto your hand and wrist when putting it on.

Remove jewellery before rigorous activity. Some gemstones can be delicate & prone to scratching or breaking if not taken care of.

Remove jewellery before working with any harsh chemicals.

Most gemstones can be cleaned safely with lukewarm, mild soapy water, however we highly recommend taking a look at a gemstone cleaning guide to ensure you are taking the best care of your particular stone. There are plenty of resources online, but please feel free to contact us with questions.