Jewelry Care

L'AUNE jewelry is always made from quality materials. Like clothes, jewelry needs care from time to time to keep its shine. Here are a few simple and easy-to-follow recommendations. 

Sterling silver

It's always best to remove jewelry before showering, swimming or playing sports, and to put on jewelry after applying creams and perfumes, not before. Sterling silver tarnishes with time, contact with light, water, skin pH, body creams, perfumes, chemicals, etc. It's a process that's completely natural. This is a perfectly normal process and nothing to worry about. When you're not wearing them, store them in a dry place, in their box or in a closed container away from light. And avoid storing them in the bathroom, which is the most humid room in your house! To clean them, simply wash them with lukewarm water, mild soap and a delicate toothbrush, then dry them well. You can then use a polishing cloth to restore their shine. Avoid cleaning them with toothpaste or any other abrasive product that could damage their surface. Finally, a one-off professional cleaning/polishing will restore their original shine, remove scratches and other unwanted marks, and ensure the longevity of your jewelry.

* Do not wash your polishing cloth. It contains a product that revives the shine of metals. It will darken, which is normal, but it will still be effective.

Brass

Like sterling silver, brass tarnishes with age, contact with light, water, skin pH, body creams, perfumes, chemicals and so on. The result is a beautiful natural patina. To keep your jewels shiny, follow the recommendations for sterling silver above and use your polishing cloth regularly (ideally every time you wear them). Note that since brass reacts to the ph of the skin, it's possible for some people that it tarnishes more quickly or leaves a slight greenish mark on the skin (rings more than other jewelry). This is not dangerous and can be removed with soap. For those of you who don't react, brass is a great golden option at a lower price, since it can be repolished over and over again to remove scratches and regain the brilliance of its beautiful yellow color, very similar to that of 14k gold.

14k Gold-filled

Gold-filled jewelry is jewelry whose base, usually brass, is coated with a layer of gold. Thicker than gold-plated, this layer is applied with considerable heat and pressure, for a much more resistant result. This material won't tarnish, and if carefully cared for, it will remain beautiful for a very long time (it's always best to remove jewelry before showering, swimming or playing sports). Your gold-filled rings and earrings won't change color, but the chains on your necklaces, like those on all your other necklaces, can become encrusted with dirt. To clean them, a little lukewarm water, mild soap and a delicate toothbrush will do the trick. Polishing cloths should be used with care to preserve the gold layer.

14k gold-plated

Only a few L'AUNE jewels are made of 14k gold-plated sterling silver. This technique was sometimes appropriate when 14k-filled gold could not be used. I now prefer brass for a low-cost gold option, since this material can be repolished ad infinitum. When it comes to gold-plated jewelry, you need to be extra vigilant. Plated gold will not tarnish, but will slowly crumble over time, making the base material visible. Avoid using a polishing cloth on your gold-plated jewelry, as it will only remove the gold layer faster than normal wear and tear.

Solid 10k and 14k gold

Your solid gold jewelry can be worn on any occasion and requires no special care. Solid gold is a durable precious metal, resistant to water, sweat and skin ph. Even so, avoid wearing them during more strenuous activities that could damage or scratch them (renovation work, for example). Of course, there are times when your jewelry may need a little cleaning. A little lukewarm water and mild soap are ideal for removing cream residues and the like. A polishing cloth will restore their shine, and professional cleaning/polishing will remove scratches and other unwanted marks.

Professional cleaning

A free professional cleaning/polishing service is offered with every purchase of L'AUNE jewelry. This service is available for up to one year from the date of purchase. The fee for subsequent cleaning/polishing is $30 (this amount may vary depending on the extent of the work to be done on your jewelry).