Maintenance Guide

NOIR KĀLA fine jewels are available in a variety of durable and renewable materials such as 925 sterling silver, brass, 18k gold vermeil and 18k gold plated on sterling silver. Sono wood, black wood and leather are also available for their organic character. Handcrafted in Rajasthan, each piece is designed with a concern of quality and durability.

Our mission is to help inspire a slower and more conscious consumerism by creating timeless jewelry collections and by focusing on sustainable and renewable materials. We examine each component of our creations and are available to assist you in adopting the right habits to take care of your jewelry.

By preventing deterioration and maintaining them properly, you will be able to wear them for years to come. Be sure to handle them gently and store them in a safe place. We recommend that you consult our Metal Guide to learn more about the characteristics of each metal.

Check out our tips below to keep your jewelry looking good for the longest time.

925 Sterling Silver

925 sterling silver is an alloy composed at 92.5% of silver and at 7.5% of other metals such as copper and zinc. This is a great option if you enjoy its cooler, but equally rich tones, have sensitive skin, or if you are looking for a higher quality metal that will not discolour your skin.

Over time, jewelry made from silver can oxidize. This is a natural process, in response to ambient air, humidity, saline solutions or chemicals. Oxidation is a surface phenomenon, and it's easy to revamp your jewelry by cleaning it with a cloth intended for this purpose to give it back its original shine. If you appreciate a more vintage look, no extra care is needed.

To prevent oxidation:

⤔ Wear your jewelry: the most effective way to prevent oxidation!

⤔ When you don’t wear them, store them in a hermetic container or jewelry box to minimize contact with the surrounding air.

⤔ Avoid wearing jewelry in saline or chlorinated waters: spa, bath, pool, sea.

⤔ Avoid storing jewelry in high humidity areas (such as bathrooms).

⤔ Avoid exposing your jewelry to lotions and perfumes.

Brass

Brass is an alloy composed of copper and zinc. Its rather matte copper colour gives it a rustic and sometimes vintage appearance.

Due to the copper content, brass jewelry can sometimes leave a greenish mark on the skin (especially for rings) when the copper encounters the acidity of the skin. This is a natural reaction, more common in people with so-called alkaline skin. This does not happen to everyone, and this reaction is neither harmful nor worrisome. If this bothers you, we recommend that you buy our jewelry in 925 sterling silver, 18k gold vermeil or 18k gold plated on sterling silver.

Just like sterling silver jewelry, brass jewelry can also oxidize over time. This is a natural process, in response to ambient air, humidity, saline solutions or chemicals. Oxidation is a surface phenomenon, and it's easy to revamp your jewelry by cleaning it with a cloth intended for this purpose to give it back its original shine. If you appreciate a more vintage look, no extra care is needed.

To prevent spots on the skin:

⤔ Remove your jewelry before sleeping, playing sports or any activity that activates sweating.

To prevent oxidation:

⤔ When you don’t wear them, store them in a hermetic container or jewelry box to minimize contact with the surrounding air.

⤔ Avoid wearing jewelry in saline or chlorinated waters: spa, bath, pool, sea.

⤔ Avoid storing jewelry in high humidity areas (such as bathrooms).

⤔ Avoid exposing your jewelry to lotions and perfumes.

Maintenance of 925 Sterling Silver and Brass

Discover different tips and homemade recipes to clean your sterling silver or brass jewelry.

 Sterling silver cloth

Specially treated cotton fabric that gently cleans sterling silver and gives it back its shine and brilliance. Available in jewelry shops or online. 

Homemade recipes

Lemon – Soak a toothbrush in lemon juice. Rub gently on your jewel. Rinse with water and wipe with a clean, dry cloth.

Toothpaste – Soak a toothbrush in toothpaste. Rub gently on your jewel. Rinse with water and wipe with a clean, dry cloth.

White vinegar – Soak your silver jewelry in a glass filled with white vinegar for 2 hours. Rinse with water and wipe with a clean, dry cloth.

Baking soda – Fill a small bowl with a tablespoon of baking soda and a little warm water. Put the mixture on a toothbrush. Rub gently on your jewel. Rinse with water and wipe with a clean, dry cloth. 

Intervention of a specialist

Some factors such as the texture, pattern or age of the jewel can influence the tenacity of the oxidation marks. If the use of the sterling silver cloth or the homemade recipes are ineffective for eliminating tarnish, we suggest you consult a specialist jeweller who will work with more advanced equipment and techniques.

18k Gold Vermeil

Our 18k gold vermeil jewelries are 925 sterling silver pieces that have been plated with 18k gold. The appellation being regulated, a piece of jewelry called vermeil must be at least 2.5 microns thick. Our vermeil jewelry is 4 microns thick. It is 8 times stronger and more durable than simply plated jewelry.

Gold vermeil is not solid gold and must be handled and treated with great care to preserve its quality. The durability of the plating varies depending on use, devotion to care instructions, climate, skin type and lifestyle. Be aware that the pigmentation of gold will decrease over time but can be plated again by a jeweller. With vermeil, you know that if the gold fades, your jewelry will still preserve its quality and durability since the base metal is sterling silver. If you want a golden piece that does not fade in colour, we recommend you consider our brass jewelry.

The choice of the fineness of the gold determines the colour of the piece. While 10k is a more subtle yellow, 24k is an intense and deep yellow. Appreciating the gold of a warm and pigmented yellow, our jewels are plated in 18k gold. 

To maximize the durability of the plating:

⤔ It is essential to remove your jewelry before sleeping, soaking in water, doing household chores, using soap, lotion, perfume, or abrasive cleanser, playing sports or any activity that activates sweating.

⤔ When you don’t wear your jewelry, store them in a hermetic container or jewelry box to minimize contact with the surrounding air.

⤔ Avoid storing jewelry in high humidity areas (such as bathrooms).

To clean your jewelry:

⤔ Because your jewelry is plated, you don't want to clean it abrasively, which will damage the plating. Fortunately, pure gold (24k) is known to be stainless in the air, it remains shiny. As our jewelry is plated with 18k gold, it may tarnish slightly with wear. For your jewelry to regain their shine, we recommend that you rub them gently with an ultra-soft cotton cloth.

18k Gold plated on 925 Sterling Silver

Our 18k gold plated on 925 sterling silver jewelry is 0.5 micron thick. This is less resistant and durable than our vermeil jewelry but can be a great option for jewelry worn occasionally or for those less likely to be soaked in water, such as massive earrings or pendants. For jewelry worn daily, we recommend vermeil or brass.

Gold plated is not solid gold and must be handled and treated with great care to preserve its quality. The durability of the plating varies depending on use, devotion to care instructions, climate, skin type and lifestyle. Be aware that the pigmentation of gold will decrease over time but can be plated again by a jeweller. Since our jewelry is plated on a high-quality metal (925 sterling silver), your jewelry will still preserve its quality and durability if the gold fades. If you want a more resistant gold-plated piece of jewelry, we recommend you consider our gold vermeil jewelry. If you want a golden piece that does not fade in colour, we recommend you consider our brass jewelry. 

The choice of the fineness of the gold determines the colour of the piece. While 10k is a more subtle yellow, 24k is an intense and deep yellow. Appreciating the gold of pigmented yellow, our jewels are plated in 18k gold.

To maximize the durability of the plating:

⤔ It is essential to remove your jewelry before sleeping, soaking in water, doing household chores, using soap, lotion, perfume, or abrasive cleanser, playing sports or any activity that activates sweating.

⤔ When you don’t wear your jewelry, store them in a hermetic container or jewelry box to minimize contact with the surrounding air.

⤔ Avoid storing jewelry in high humidity areas (such as bathrooms).

To clean your jewelry:

⤔ Because your jewelry is plated, you don't want to clean it abrasively, which will damage the plating. Fortunately, pure gold (24k) is known to be stainless in the air, it remains shiny. As our jewelry is plated with 18k gold, it may tarnish slightly with wear. For your jewelry to regain their shine, we recommend that you rub them gently with an ultra-soft cotton cloth.

Leather jewelry 

Leather is a tough material that goes through the years beautifully when you take care of it.

To prevent damages:

⤔ When you don’t wear your jewelry, store them in a hermetic container or jewelry box to minimize contact with the surrounding air.

⤔ Protect your jewelry from water that could deform or crack the material.

⤔ Protect your jewelry from air or salty water that could damage the material.

To maintain the leather:

⤔ Leather jewelry can be cleaned daily with a soft, clean, and slightly damp cloth. They can be revamped and maintained in the longer term with a cream for leather that you can find at the shoemaker or online. 

Wood jewelry

 Natural wood is a solid material that goes through the years beautifully when you take care of it. However, special attention must be given to lacework designs that are more fragile. 

To prevent damages:

⤔ When you don’t wear your jewelry, store them in a hermetic container or jewelry box to minimize contact with the surrounding air that may degrade or dry the material.

⤔ Protect your jewelry from water that could bend or distort the material.

⤔ Be aware that lacework designs should be handled with care. Be sure to store them in a safe place and protect them from shocks.

To maintain the wood:

⤔ Wood jewelry can be cleaned daily with a soft, clean, and slightly damp cloth. They can be revamped and maintained in the longer term by applying a small amount of canola oil.

Looking forward to help you!
- Jacinthe
info@noirkala.com