care
Caring for your jewelry
Lumenrose Jewelry is hand-fabricated and hand-crafted. Please wear pieces with care. Some styles are more delicate than others. I make all jewelry to last, yet it’s possible items may catch on clothing or bang against hard surfaces while worn. Each scratch and ding adds to the piece's character and makes it your own! Read below for details on each material and how to best clean your jewelry.
Description of Materials
TURQUOISE:
Almost all turquoise in Lumenrose Jewelry is natural. Natural turquoise (meaning it has not been synthetically stabilized or treated) is a relatively porous stone. It will absorb oils, lotions and soaps over time. Remove turquoise jewelry when showering and washing hands in order to preserve the color of the stone. You may notice the stone changing to a more green hue over time, which some people find desirable. Any color change is pretty much permanent. Never put turquoise jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner and remove turquoise jewelry when doing vigorous work or exercise. I source as much turquoise as I can directly from miners in the southwestern US. But like many other gemstones, turquoise is found worldwide and I do purchase stones from outside the US on occasion.
STERLING SILVER:
As much as possible I use recycled silver. With supply chain changes during the pandemic it has become harder to verify the recycled nature of silver. I have gained skills in reclaiming silver myself and recycle my own metal when I can. Silver naturally tarnishes over time when exposed to the atmosphere, moisture and skin oils/lotions. Keep pieces in a cloth or plastic bag stored away from moist air to prevent excess tarnish. Silver may be polished with widely available polishing cloths. I include a polishing cloth with most orders.
GOLDFILL:
Goldfill indicates that a metal has an outer layer of 14K gold bonded to an inner core of a base metal such as brass. In goldfill the outer layer of gold is 5-10 times thicker than gold plated metals and will last significantly longer. Keep pieces in a cloth or plastic bag stored away from moist air to prevent excess tarnish. Goldfill may tarnish to a pink hue over time and can be polished with widely available polishing cloths. I include a polishing cloth with all goldfill orders.
COPPER:
Copper’s rich orange tones can naturally oxidize and develop a patina over time. With prolonged exposure to moisture and under certain conditions copper can take on a green patina. Most copper in Lumenrose jewelry has been pre-oxidized with Liver of Sulphur or a heat patina, which gives it a darker tint in recessed areas. This tint will rub off if the copper is polished excessively with a polishing cloth and the look of the piece will be altered. When washing, if you would like to preserve the darker look of the copper in your jewelry, gently clean it with dish soap, water and a toothbrush. Make sure it dries fully, and if the piece has a stone, avoid washing the stone.
BRASS:
Brass also has the tendency to oxidize. A bright yellow brass will require some maintenance to keep it this way. A polishing cloth works well, as does steel wool if the jewelry has a matte finish to begin with. Using steel wool is effective if there are textures or grooves in the brass piece, but be aware that steel wool cleans by scratching the surface to remove build-up, so use it gently. You may also make a solution of 1/2c white vinegar, 1tsp salt and flour (add enough until you have a paste) and soak your jewelry for 10 minutes, then rinse. If the piece has a stone, avoid washing or wetting the stone.