Cleaning & Care Guide
I take great care in the making and finishing of each piece of jewellery, and hope that you will be able to treasure your jewellery pieces for many years to come. Over time your jewellery may come to have wear in certain areas or become damaged, so I offer a cleaning, re-plating and repair service for all Naomi Bishop Jewellery pieces, to bring them back to their former glory.
If you would like to use this service for your jewellery, please contact me via email at naomi@naomibishopjewellery.com and send some images of your piece of jewellery, so we can discuss suitable options.
General Care
To keep your jewellery looking its best for as long as possible, I recommend removing your jewellery if you are showering or in chlorinated water, while exercising and while applying makeup or sunscreen. Chemicals in these environments and excessive sweat and oils can affect the appearance of the metal.
Regular cleaning of your jewellery is recommended, and I have included specific instructions on how to do this below. To store your jewellery safely when not being worn, please keep in a box or pouch.
Cleaning Guide
Please see below for instructions on how to clean your jewellery at home, depending on the finish of your jewellery. Always take great care when cleaning your jewellery, to not bend or damage hooks or wire components out of shape.
Sterling Silver - Silver finish
To clean your jewellery, use a liquid soap and warm water to gently remove any dirt or oils, then rinse in clean water and dry thoroughly with a soft clean cloth. A sterling silver polishing cloth may also be used to bring back some shine to your jewellery piece.
When you aren't wearing your jewellery, store it in its jewellery box or a jewellery pouch to avoid tarnishing. Some of my designs, however, may tarnish quite nicely due to their textured surfaces, so it is up to personal taste as to whether you allow the silver to tarnish naturally or not.
If your silver jewellery shows signs of tarnishing and you would like to bring it back to life, follow these simple steps for cleaning at home:
1) Line a heatproof bowl with aluminium foil (shiny side up).
2) Place the silver jewellery in a bowl and cover with approx. 1 tablespoon of Bicarbonate Soda.
3) Pour boiling water over the jewellery until immersed and let it bubble & fizz.
4) Once cooled, remove the jewellery and rinse under clean water, then dry with a soft clean cloth. For designs with detailed sections, gently clean with a soft toothbrush as you rinse the piece.
5) Store in a jewellery box or pouch once completely dry.
NOTE: This process is not recommended for black oxidised sterling silver pieces, as this may cause the colour treatment to be removed. Please see below for care instructions.
Sterling Silver - Black oxidised finish
The black oxidised finish is achieved by dipping the sterling silver design into a specialised solution, which chemically oxidises the surface of the metal. With time, some areas of the design may wear and reveal the silver beneath.
If the oxidised finish has worn away, it is possible to have the piece re-oxidised again, to take it back to its original black finish. I offer a re-oxidising service for a small fee, so please get in contact with me if you wish to use this service.
To clean jewellery that has a black oxidised finish, wash it gently with a liquid soap and warm water to remove any dirt or oils, then rinse in clean water and dry thoroughly with a soft clean cloth. Do not use any harsh or abrasive cleaning solutions or cloths.
Sterling Silver - 24ct Gold-plated finish
The gold-plating process is where a thin layer of 24ct gold is adhered to the surface of the sterling silver design. Over time, the gold-plated surface may wear in areas to reveal the silver beneath.
If the gold plating has worn away, it is possible to have the piece re-plated again to take it back to its original gold finish. I offer a replating service for a small fee, so please get in contact with me if you wish to use this service.
To clean gold-plated jewellery, wash it gently with a liquid soap and warm water to remove any dirt or oils, then rinse in clean water and dry thoroughly with a soft clean cloth. Do not use any harsh or abrasive cleaning solutions or cloths.