JEWELLERY CARE

All jewellery made from Kate Sale Jewellery is crafted from recycled 925 Sterling Silver, 8 carat gold, recycled copper and enamel, both vitreous and 'cold' enamel.

STERLING SILVER:

Remember to store your jewellery in a safe and secure place. Avoid dust, moisture and direct light to ensure your jewellery does not tarnish and discolour. When wearing, simply follow the golden rule “Last On / First Off’. Put jewellery on last so that it is not sprayed with perfumes and hairspray. Take it off first, before your clothing and before going to bed to avoid it being snagged or crushed.

Never sleep, bath or swim in your jewellery. Chains may kink, earring posts may bend, and contact with water, especially chlorinated or salt water will speed up the tarnishing process. 

Sterling Silver may tarnish and oxidise. This is a natural reaction to chemicals in the atmosphere, heat and the body oils of the wearer. Discoloration can usually be removed by careful use of a good quality jewellery cleaning cloth. Contact with perfume, hairspray, chlorinated or salt water or household cleaning products should always be avoided. Silver is a malleable (soft) metal; therefore be gentle with earring posts, clasps etc as they can bend or break under excessive force. 

Polishing your jewellery before it becomes too tarnished will minimize the amount of work needed, but be sure to use the right type of cleaning cloth and stroke pattern. I light coat of a commercial silver cleaner will also suffice, but please read instructions carefully and avoid enamelled areas.

Should your jewellery ever become damaged or heavily tarnished, please feel comfortable to email me and I can advise you of the necessary course of action to return it to its former beauty. 

  

COLD ENAMEL:

This technique involves painting cold enamel onto a sterling silver piece and setting it with ultraviolet light.  Care needs to be taken when looking after a piece of jewellery with cold enamel, please do not wear your piece in the shower, in chlorinated water or when using cleaning products.  These can cause a discolouration in the enamel or lead to chipping.  Please care for your sterling silver as in the instructions above.  Soaking cold enamel pieces in silver cleaning products for an extended period can ruin the enamel, please use commercial cleaning products sparingly and as instructed on the label.