Jewellery Care

Tarnish Is Normal

Sterling silver naturally tarnishes over time — it's a reaction with air and moisture, not a defect. Some people like the patina. If you prefer a bright finish, it's easy to maintain.

Cleaning

• Use a soft polishing cloth to remove tarnish and restore shine. This is the easiest and most effective method.
• For heavier tarnish, clean with mild soap and warm water, then dry thoroughly.
• Avoid harsh chemical cleaners, especially on pieces with natural stone — they can damage the stone's surface.

Daily Wear

• Remove before showering, swimming, or cleaning — soaps, chlorine, and cleaning products accelerate tarnish.
• Put jewellery on last — after lotions, perfumes, and sunscreen. These products contain chemicals that can dull the silver.
• The more you wear sterling silver, the less it tarnishes — the natural oils in your skin actually help maintain it.

Storage

Store in a dry place, ideally in a soft pouch or lined box. If you won't be wearing a piece for a while, an anti-tarnish strip in the storage bag helps slow oxidation. Keep pieces separate to avoid scratching.

About the Stones

Most pieces feature hand-cut natural stone — dallasite, rhodonite, chert, epidote, and other materials found on Vancouver Island. These are real stones, not synthetic, and each one has its own character.

Care Tips

• Avoid dropping or impacting against hard surfaces — natural stone can chip or crack if hit hard enough.
• Clean gently with a soft damp cloth. No harsh chemicals or abrasives.
• Some stones may shift slightly in colour over years of sun exposure — this is natural and subtle.

About the Process

Each inlay ring is made with individually cut pieces of stone — not crushed material. Every piece is carefully measured, shaped, and ground to fit together flush around the band, like a puzzle. This process takes significantly longer than crushed stone inlay, but the result is worth it: the natural detail, colour, and character of the stone is preserved in every section.

The stone is bonded to the band using a high-strength resin adhesive. While this bond is very durable under normal wear, it does have limits — which is why the care instructions below matter.

Daily Wear

Your ring is made to be worn daily. The stone surface is polished smooth and sits flush with the band, so it won't catch on things. Just keep a few things in mind:

• Remove before heavy manual work — gardening, construction, weightlifting, or anything that might impact the ring against hard surfaces repeatedly. A hard knock can chip the stone edge or crack a section.
• Avoid gripping hard objects tightly — tools, handlebars, barbells. Repeated pressure against the stone edge can stress the bond over time.

Water & Chemicals

• Remove before swimming — chlorinated pools, hot tubs, and saltwater can degrade the resin bond over time. Brief hand-washing is fine.
• Avoid prolonged soaking — don't wear it in the bath, shower, or while doing dishes. Occasional water contact won't hurt, but sustained exposure is the enemy.
• Keep away from harsh chemicals — cleaning products, bleach, acetone, nail polish remover, and strong solvents can attack the resin and damage the stone surface.
• Apply lotions and sunscreen before putting your ring on — these products can leave residue in the seams between stone sections.

Heat & Temperature

• Avoid sustained high heat — don't leave your ring on a car dashboard in summer, near a campfire, or in direct sustained heat. Extreme heat can soften the resin bond.
• Rapid temperature changes can stress natural stone — going from a hot tub into cold air, for example. This is unlikely to cause visible damage but worth being aware of.

Cleaning

• Clean with mild soap and a soft cloth or soft-bristle brush (a soft toothbrush works well).
• Rinse briefly under lukewarm water and dry thoroughly.
• Do not use ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, or silver dip solutions on inlay rings.
• A gentle wipe with a damp cloth is usually all you need for day-to-day maintenance.

Storage

Store your ring in a soft pouch or lined box when not wearing it. Don't toss it loose in a drawer or bag where it can knock against harder objects like keys, coins, or other jewellery.

Over Time

Natural stone develops character with wear. Minor surface changes — a small scratch, a slight shift in polish — are normal and part of owning a piece made from real material. If anything ever feels loose or looks off, reach out and I'll take a look.

If Something Goes Wrong

Stone is stone — it can chip if hit hard enough, just like it would in nature. If a section chips or comes loose, don't panic. In most cases, I can repair or replace the affected piece. Get in touch and we'll figure it out.