Your Maison Char piece is made to be worn and loved. Because each one is handmade, and often set with natural gemstones, a few simple habits will help it stay beautiful for years to come.
If you’re ever unsure how to look after your piece, please get in touch. I’m always happy to help.
Different gemstones need different care, so please also see my Gemstone Guide for hardness and care instructions for each stone. If you’re looking for help with ring sizes, you’ll find it on the Ring Sizing page.
Wear it last and take it off first. Perfume, lotions and hairspray go on before your jewellery.
Keep it away from chlorine, salt water, heat and harsh chemicals.
Polish gently, and store it somewhere dry and separate from your other pieces.
Sterling silver naturally darkens over time as it reacts with the air and your skin. This is normal and isn’t a fault. Wearing your piece regularly helps keep it bright.
Between wears, gently wipe it with the polishing cloth included with your order, and store it in a sealed bag or box away from humidity. Please avoid silver dips and harsh polishing products, as they can strip fine detail and may damage some gemstones.
Some pieces have deliberately darkened, oxidised areas that emphasise the texture of the metal. Polishing brightens the raised areas first and can gradually lighten the darker recesses too, changing the character of the design, so use the cloth lightly if you’d like to keep that contrast. Oxidation also softens naturally with wear, and that’s part of how a piece ages.
Deep textures can hold onto dirt, so it’s worth giving them an occasional gentle brush — see General Cleaning below. Washing and brushing may lighten darkened areas slightly over time, so keep the pressure light.
9ct gold, in yellow, rose or white, is durable and doesn’t tarnish the way silver does, though it can build up skin oils and everyday residue. Clean it with warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft baby toothbrush, then dry it with a soft cloth. A high polish will gradually pick up fine surface scratches with wear, which is a natural part of living with gold.
My 9ct white gold is not rhodium plated, because I like to keep the natural colour of the metal. It has a soft, warm white tone rather than the bright, mirror-white finish of plated pieces. Because there’s no coating, there’s nothing to wear through or flake away, and the colour is the same all the way through. It will pick up fine surface marks over time like any gold, and it never needs re-plating. If you’d ever like a piece refreshed, please get in touch.
Every gemstone has its own needs. Softer stones such as opal, moonstone and labradorite need gentler care, and even the hardest stones can chip with a sharp knock. Please avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners at home, and see my Gemstone Guide for how hard each stone is and how to look after it.
For most pieces, warm water, a few drops of mild unscented dishwashing detergent and a soft baby toothbrush are all you need. A baby toothbrush is gentle enough for metal and settings, and small enough to reach into textures and underneath stones. Brush lightly, rinse briefly in lukewarm water over a bowl rather than an open drain, then dry thoroughly with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Pieces set with opal, moonstone or labradorite should be wiped with a soft, slightly damp cloth instead of being soaked or brushed. Please also avoid bleach, harsh chemicals, abrasive cleaners, toothpaste and ultrasonic or steam cleaners.
With daily wear, claws and settings can gradually loosen. If a stone feels loose, a claw has caught or lifted, or a piece has been bent or damaged, please stop wearing it and get in touch so I can take a look. Rings that are worn every day are worth having checked from time to time.
Please contact me before attempting any repair, and I’ll let you know what’s possible.
Please email me at hello@maisonchar.com and I’ll be happy to help.