How to care for your jewellery.

 

Your environment and habits.

Looking after your resin jewellery will keep it looking good for a long time. Resin is a type of plastic and there are some things you will need to avoid to prevent damage:

·      Sunlight

Resin has a relatively low melting point, so avoid leaving it on hot surfaces or in direct sunlight as this could soften, cloud or discolour.

 

·      Water immersion

Resin is not waterproof as such, more water resistant. This means that whilst cleaning it with soapy water then rinsing and immediately drying it is OK, keeping it on in a bath, shower or whilst washing up or swimming is not OK. Silver will also tarnish more readily if exposed to water and chlorine or other chemicals.

 

·      Chemicals

Avoid powerful chemicals such as organic solvents  –especially acetone nail varnish remover. Also avoid contact with hair spray, alcohol-based perfume, domestic cleaning products, disinfectant sprays. These can all degrade and discolour your resin.

 

·      Smoking
Regular contact with cigarette smoke may cause resin to become yellow, as tar in the smoke is adsorbed onto the surface.

 

Silver tarnish

Silver naturally tarnishes in time. It’s a blackening caused by an oxidative chemical reaction of silver, from contact with sulphur compounds, for example hydrogen sulphide, in the air, water and skin secretions. The black substance formed is silver sulphide.

These habits will help slow down the process of tarnishing and keep your jewellery looking good for as long as possible:

  • Take off your jewellery when showering, sleeping, washing up.

  • Don’t wear it while swimming or using a hot tub. Chlorine reacts with the copper within the silver and causes tarnishing and even pitting.

  • Don’t wear it while whilst applying perfume, hairspray or skin lotions.

  • When not wearing your jewellery, keep it in an air-tight bag or box somewhere cool and dry, and out of strong light.

  • Clean your jewellery when needed

  • If your silver chain tarnishes (all real silver does), take the pendant off, and dip the chain in silver dip. Rinse it in fresh water afterwards and dry it thoroughly before replacing your resin pendant.

 

Cleaning your resin jewellery

Your jewellery can be cleaned gently with warm but not hot soapy water and a soft cloth or very soft toothbrush. You can use hand soap or a little washing up liquid. Rinse it well once clean and dry immediately. Tarnished silver is best cleaned by gentle rubbing with a silver cleaning cloth. Avoid using a silver dip except for a chain on its own.

Adjustable rings and bracelets.

Take care not to adjust rings and bracelets too often or too much, as this could make the silver brittle.