STERLING SILVER
Sterling silver 925 is an alloy made from 92.5% pure silver, desirable for both its lustre and resilience.
As with all silver, sterling silver 925 inevitably tarnishes through time as it is reactive to moisture and oxidising agents in the air. However, this natural wear should not be a cause for concern, only adding to the well-loved appearance of a piece over time.
To help protect them, avoid wearing silver pieces in water and ensure that jewellery is put on as a finishing touch after the application of fragrances and other chemical products. On days that you are not wearing your piece, keep it in its pouch.
If you should wish to clean your piece, gently wash in warm water mixed with a few drops of mild dishwashing soap, before buffing dry with a soft cloth. Additionally, a silver polishing product or cloth can be used. After cleaning, keep your jewellery in a cool, dry place to prevent excess tarnish.
GOLD VERMEIL
Not to be confused with gold plate, jewellery may only be classified as gold vermeil if a minimum coating of 14k gold is applied to sterling silver in a thickness of 2.5 microns. Our gold vermeil pieces are crafted by plating sterling silver 925 with 18k gold.
Because we care about the environment and others’ wellbeing and, simply, because it is right, we have committed to only using RJC approved gold when plating our pieces. "RJC approved" is an assurance label certifying that companies handle and trade gold in a way that is fully traceable and responsibly sourced.
As it is a coating, gold vermeil will gradually tarnish through exposure to oxidising agents. Put on gold vermeil pieces as a finishing touch, after perfume and other products and avoid water and harsh chemicals when wearing them. Keep gold vermeil pieces stored in their pouch and separate from other jewellery when unworn to avoid excess wear to plated surfaces.
To clean, gently wash gold vermeil pieces in warm water mixed with a few drops of mild dishwashing soap. Rinse thoroughly and leave to dry well on a soft cloth before returning the piece to its pouch for storage. Additionally, a soft or non-abrasive jewellery cloth can be used to gently rub the surface in a circular motion to clean. However, silver polishing cloths should be avoided as they may damage the plating.
LAPIS LAZULI
Prized since antiquity for its intense azure, lapis lazuli is mined in the ancient deposits of the Kokcha River valley of Badakhshan Province in North-Eastern Afghanistan. Formed from the metamorphosis of raw materials through powerful heat and pressure, lapis’ depth of blue and dappled gold is likened to that a star-flecked midnight sky.
In many civilisations, lapis lazuli was considered the flesh of the gods and has been present in legend throughout history. Famously, King Solomon was said to have been gifted a gold ring set with lapis by the Archangel Michael, which he used to control an army of demons to build his temple. In Sumerian mythology, the ancient Mesopotamian goddess, Inanna was said to have entered the underworld with a rod made from lapis, which she used to measure the length of a person’s life and the ancient Babylonians told of a tree that fruited precious stones, sprouting lapis from its top.
To the Ancient Egyptians, lapis lazuli represented truth and wisdom and was ground into medical elixirs, as well as crafted into amulets and ornaments such as scarabs, thought to offer protective and soul-cleansing properties. In the Middle Ages, Europeans ground lapis into ultramarine, the finest and most expensive of all blue pigments. Popular among the most significant artists of the Renaissance and Baroque, including Michelangelo, the colour was often reserved for the most central figures of a piece, such as the Virgin Mary.
Today, lapis lazuli is considered a powerful crystal for facilitating deep communication, stimulating the desire for truth, knowledge and understanding.
GENERAL CARE RECOMMENDATIONS
Always put on your pieces as a finishing touch, after applying lotions, creams, perfumes or sprays and avoid wearing your jewellery in water, for example when showering or swimming. On days where you are not wearing your piece, keep it in its pouch.
