Jewelry Care

Jewelry care is important for the longevity of your jewelry regardless of the metal quality but some metals do hold up better than most - like solid gold. Rustic souls uses a mix of 14k gold, 14k gold fill, sterling silver and brass. Every product description will state metal content but you can usually tell by price. Solid gold is very expensive, gold fill can be pricey but not near as much as solid gold. Gold plated can be about the same price as silver. And brass is the cheapest. If you have questions about what a pieces is made out of, please contact us for clarification before purchasing. If you have an allergy and need a different ear wire we can do that as well. 

Difference between gold fill and gold plated

Gold-filled jewelry has 100x more gold alloy than gold plated and because that layer is so much thicker, it means gold-filled jewelry lasts longer and stands up to wear and tear better than gold plated. All it would take is one small scratch on a gold-plated piece to expose the jeweler's brass underneath.

General daily care involves putting your jewelry on after you are dressed and ready to go to avoid harsh chemicals like perfumes and hairsprays. Also avoid cleaning solutions and chlorine while wearing your jewelry; as well as keeping your jewelry from getting wet day to day. If your jewelry is exposed to chemicals make sure to wipe them down every few wears to remove traces and use a polishing cloth as needed to brighten and shine.  

Patinaed pieces should never be cleaned! You can use a dry cloth to wipe down ear wires or other polished components in your piece but any area that has been patinaed should never be cleaned or soaked. Always avoid water on these pieces!

Feathers can be gently wiped down to clean dust if necessary. Never wash or rinse. If feathers do happen to get wet or damp and curl in a way that isn’t desirable, put a tiny bit of water on your fingers and very lightly tap over the feathers than lay them flat between two books to dry and straighten.

How to clean: if you don’t have a jewelry cleaning solution add warm water with a small amount of mild dish soap, let sit for approximately 5-10 minutes then wipe clean. You can also use an old soft toothbrush to get into small areas that have buildup after the piece has soaked.