Jewelry Care

 

Our jewelry is handcrafted with care using only precious metals. Each piece is hand finished which makes them unique. We produce in small batches and color of plating may differ at times. Our jewelry is gentle on your skin; hypoallergenic. It won't make your skin turn green. 

Gold Vermeil

How do you pronounce that!? We've got you: ver - may. Not to be confused with regular gold plating, vermeil is a much thicker layer.  We at whatnotz.com use 14k or 18k gold layered on .925 sterling silver with a minimum of 2.5 microns. With good care your jewelry should last a very long time. Please note that with wear, the layer of gold will eventually wear off and expose the sterling silver underneath. Varying from 6 months to a couple of years depending on skin type and wear. After some time, you can take it to a good jeweller in your area and have it re-plated, if in barbados we now offer a replating service for a small fee. 

Pssst! We've tried and tested many times our jewellery with sweat, water and our beautiful ocean in Barbados and the pieces have not tarnished, in case you were worried. As we know also many of you don't like taking your pieces off when going to the beach and sleeping. However, please know this is at your own risk and a change in color  and wear and tear will not warrant an exchange. Over time your pieces will change color, which is totally normal process of gold vermeil. 

Care

    • Sweat and water, no thank you. Before exercising or showering, remove your vermeil jewelry, it only takes a minute. From time to time, clean your piece by buffing gently with a soft dry cloth to remove dust, dirt and oils that it has acquired from wearing them daily. Please also remove your jewelry while sleeping, as it puts unnecessary strain on it.

 

    • To preserve its plating properties avoid contact with cleaning agents, beauty products, oils, and chemicals. Your jewelry should be the last thing you put on while getting dress and ready. Additionally when you are rotating your jewelry pieces and won't be wearing it for a while, we strongly suggest to wash your jewelry with lukewarm water and a mild soap, make sure it is completely dry and store in an air tight plastic pouch. One is always provided when you purchase a whatnotz piece, keep it as it comes in handy. 

 

Sterling Silver

We use only .925 Sterling Silver for all our jewelry. In an effort to become more sustainable and because we care about our planet: 40% of our collection is made of recycled .925 sterling silver.  Same quality ~ less harm to our planet.  We plate our silver with rhodium, which gives it extra shine and durability. Rhodium is one of the costliest precious metals due to its rarity and also makes it hypoallergenic. 

Care

  • Avoid water when wearing your piece, because over time the sterling silver will oxidize.
  • However, the oils in your skin help keep sterling silver from oxidizing faster. So, wear often, and keep your piece in an airtight plastic pouch and the Whatnotz pouch to keep oxygen at bay.

  

Sterling Silver with Gold Plating 

We plate with 14k or 18k over sterling silver. The coating isn't as thick as our Gold vermeil pieces, this type of plating is made with a 1micron layer of gold. We added those in order to offer more affordable options for your wallet. However, here are a few things you should know: 

Your jewelry can lose its shine when exposed to air during a long period of time. Loss of shine or tarnishing is a natural process that can be recovered through a special washing.

We strongly recommend taking off your jewelry before going to bed, showering, or taking part in any physical activity.  Exposure to certain chemicals or environments may compromise the integrity of your jewelry. This includes (but is not limited to): perspiration (sweat), perfumes/colognes, cleaning products, chlorine, salt water, or silver polish, etc...

Cleaning your jewelry (special washing)

Mix a little soap with lukewarm water and rub the item with a soft toothbrush.  Toothbrushes are perfect for cleaning jewelry with difficult-to-access corners. If dirt persists, carry out the same process in clean water. Important: gold-plated items require greater care. Rubbing too hard may cause loss of plating. It is therefore important that you do this gently in order to avoid any damage. A special silver-polishing cloth is a great tool to make your jewelry shine again, in the event that it becomes darkened over time. However, this technique will not remove any scratches or dents present on the jewelry.

How to preserve your jewelry

Your jewelry should be kept away from any exposure to sunlight or warm places, ideally in a padded jewelry box or tarnish-resistant bag. You can also keep these in individual airtight plastic (polyethylene) bags. Never use rubber containers, as these can result in accelerated tarnishing and are likely to cause the jewelry to darken. Under no circumstances should you keep your jewelry in a bathroom or any humid locations.

Please note:

whatnotz cannot guarantee that the gold-plating of our items will last forever. Gold-plated items are, by their nature, more fragile and susceptible to lose colour over time. The speed at which this colour fades will depend on various factors, such as the use of chemical products on the skin, how much the wearer sweats, or even the pH level of the individual’s skin. For this reason, it is particularly important to ensure suitable care of your gold-plated jewelry.

14K Solid Gold 

When properly cared for, our 14K solid gold pieces can last forever. With its beautiful, subtle hue, 14k gold will not oxidize or discolor, so you can wear your jewelry every day, everywhere. To keep your 14k gold jewelry looking its best, be mindful of how you wear it. Any physically challenging activity could impact your jewelry. 

Care 

  • When not being worn, store your jewelry in a safe, dry place to protect it from the elements of daily exposure. 

  • While 14k gold is made to last a lifetime, it does require gentle care and occasional polishing. 

  • To maintain the shine of your jewelry, gently clean it with a soft-bristled brush or cloth using warm water and detergent-free soap.

  • Don’t use abrasive cleaners. 

  • Ultrasonic cleaners are safe to use on 14k gold jewelry.  

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel jewelry is an affordable and versatile material. And yes! Stainless steel jewelry will not only resist tap water; it can also withstand rain and many types of liquids. So, if you accidentally get it wet, wipe it off. The only thing you should avoid is wearing your stainless steel jewelry while swimming in sulfur baths, please be mindful of that. It can complement and enhance most outfits and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. It's also a good choice if you have sensitive skin or are allergic to other metals. With the right care and regular cleaning, however, you can enjoy your stainless steel jewelry for years.

 

Titanium Steel

Our Titanium Steel pieces are plated with 18K gold  with a special IP coating to make them waterproof. They are still prone to scratching so we suggest to rinse with clear water after a sea bath! You can polish them from time to time to restore shine. 

Stones

We use Cubic Zirconia instead of diamonds, as we believe it is better alternative, cost wise and also for the planet. Same look better for your wallet and the environment. 

Nylon Cords

Our 100% Nylon are waterproof and perfect for those with an active lifestyle. For People of Barbados ONLY we offer a change of cord after it has been worn out by island weather or you simply if you want to change the color, a small fee incurs. Please contact us: info@whatnotz.com