• Sterling Silver An alloy of 92.5% fine silver and 7.5% other metal (often copper) to provide stability.
• Silver naturally tarnishes when in contact with oxygen and sulphur.
• When you are not wearing your sterling silver jewelry, we recommend storing it in a sealed plastic bag (like a Ziploc) to prevent tarnishing.
• As silver is soft, the best way to clean it is with a non-abrasive and very soft jewelry polishing cloth.
• Goldfill / Goldfilled “Gold-filled” is a USA industry standard that legally requires 1/20th, or 5% pure gold by weight.
• It’s a strictly regulated process that involves pressure bonding multiple thick layers of solid gold with extreme heat over a core of high quality jeweler’s brass resulting in durable, quality real gold product.
• Goldfill or Goldfilled jewelry wears the same as solid gold, so it will not tarnish but it will get dirty from wear.
• To polish, we recommend a very soft toothbrush or cloth and gentle dish soap.
• Gold Vermeil is a high quality form of gold plating in which a thick layer of gold (this must be more than 2.5 microns and is usually between 14k – 22k gold) is coated upon sterling silver.
• Gold vermeil can be washed with a small amount of gentle dish soap or non-chemical soap and warm water.
• Rinse well and allow to dry on a cloth or paper towel. Use a soft, non-abrasive cloth or jewelry cloth and gently rub the surface in a circular motion to clean.
• Gold Plated jewelry is made by bonding a very thin layer of gold over another metal.
• This process creates a layer somewhere from 1/1000 to 3/1000 of an inch of gold over a more affordable metal, usually silver or copper.
• Gold Plated jewelry will still tarnish and gently cleaning with a non-chemical cloth can help maintain the finish.
• Brass & Bronze 
• Brass or Bronze will darken with wear. If you do prefer this dark patina.
• Avoid getting your brass jewelry wet.
• A commercial brass cleaner like "JAX" will restore the original shine to your piece.
• We've also found a soft toothbrush and ketchup to be effective in cleaning brass.

OTHER MATERIALS

• Leather
• Avoid getting leather jewelry, accessories, and bags wet.
• Keeping them dry and clean will keep them in their best condition.
• Leather wears in over time which adds to its beauty.
• Leather bags "give" to accommodate what you are carrying.
• Leather is a natural product so always expect subtle variance in appearance...making it even more unique and beautiful.
• Should you choose to apply something to protect your leather bags, we suggest a beeswax leather cream and follow the instructions on the label.
• Be sure not to use on suede or printed leather and always test in a small hidden area first.
• Vegan Leather
• For those avoiding animal products, vegan leather is an alternative.
• Made from PU (polyurethane), this material works well for bags and accessories.
• To clean, easily cleaned with an unscented soap and water and wipe dry.
• Our designers working with Vegan Leather use only the highest quality materials that have passed strict standards testing.
• A great option for Chicago and midwest weather!