Caring for your treasures...
I really hope you love your Mystic Treasure pieces, just as much I love dreaming them up and creating them for you.
It's important to look after them and as with any product, their life span will depend on the care you give it.
So here you will find all of our handy care guide info, to help you keep your treasures looking their best.
Shiny, happy jewellery.
Looking after your Mystic Treasure jewellery pieces, starts before you've even put them on! Therefore, how and where you keep your jewellery when you aren't wearing them, is really important.
Step 1 - Storing your treasures.
- Where possible, we recommend storing each piece exactly as it arrives! Wrapped in acid free tissue paper, secured on its card & in its organza bag.
All of our packaging has been carefully chosen, specifically for this reason. So, storing your jewellery pieces individually, away from light and air, will preserve your treasures and help keep them looking their best!
Please note: Keeping your pieces together and touching, can accelerate tarnishing and may also tangle & scratch them.
Alternatively - if the above isn't possible - then you can also try storing your jewellery treasures in an air tight container or jewellery box with a moisture-absorbing product. (Like protector strips or small silica packets.) It won't do the job as well... But it is better than nothing.
Step 2 - Wearing your treasures.
- Your jewellery should be the very last 'thing' you put on when getting ready!
After you have dressed, applied any and all cosmetics (this includes hairspray, perfume & lotions)... And you have let them dry first.
As chemicals, lotions and potions can create a sticky residue on your jewellery. Which in turn can gather dust & dirt, dulling your treasures and accelerating tarnishing.
- Remove your jewellery before doing household chores, especially rings when washing dishes.
Remember: many household cleaners contain bleach and or other harsh chemicals that are harmful to jewellery.
- Remove your jewellery before showering, bathing & swimming.
Please do not submerge your treasures in any water or apply any cleaners / chemicals.
If you do accidentally get your jewellery wet: then remove the piece as soon as you can and gently blot away the moisture with a soft, dry & clean cloth.
Microfibre cloths are great for this! However, please do not rub your jewellery as it could cause scratches.
- Remove your jewellery before physical activities.
Safety first! You really don't want to pull or snag your jewellery do you?. Especially during a workout or other physical activities.
Sweat can also have the same effect as harsh chemicals on your jewellery!
- Remove your jewellery before sleep / going to bed.
Not doing so causes unnecessary stress to your jewellery and its components! Which could cause damage and will make them more likely to break.
Step 3 - Cleaning your treasures.
We recommend that you clean your jewellery after each wear, before putting it away.
- Simply wipe using a soft, clean & dry cloth.
Again, microfibre cloths are great for this! However, please do not rub your jewellery as it could cause scratches. A gentle wipe, is all that it needs.
Cotton buds are also fab for collecting & removing trapped dust and particles from hard to wipe areas.... Especially when it comes to woven & wire wrapped treasures.
As a final note: If your sterling silver or silver plated treasure has lost their lustre, it may just need a little bit of TLC to get it back to to its former glory. If that’s the case then a gentle polish with a quality jewellery cloth should do the trick.
However, if you're ever in doubt or find yourself in need of additional help or advice, please do get in touch.
Copper Jewellery.
All of the above recommended aftercare still applies.
However due to the differences in properties of the metal and the finishes that are applied to our copper treasures, some additional guidelines are worth noting.
Oxidised & Varnished
All of our copper jewellery designs are oxidised with a Liver of Sulphur patina and then painted by hand - twice - with a high grade liquid varnish that is safe to wear on the skin.
However, even with this varnish coating:
- Copper jewellery can cause your skin to discolour with a green or blue colour.
This is not a copper allergy. This is a natural, harmless reaction called oxidisation and occurs when oxygen and your body's natural oils combine, creating a layer of copper carbonate on the top of your skin.
You may be likely to notice this when wearing rings and bracelets.
- Rings and bracelets that fit snugly, may cause you to sweat between the copper and skin.
It is rare to be allergic to copper due to its anti-microbial properties.
A tip to avoid the discolouration is to:
- Follow the above jewellery aftercare. Keep the piece clean and remove before sleeping / going to bed.
The double varnish layer I apply reduces the likelihood of this reaction. However, any protective coating used on copper metal is only semi-permanent and will degrade over time.
Not following our recommended aftercare, will degrade the varnish. Which will cause the piece to begin to darken naturally over time.
If you wish:
- A jeweller's polishing cloth or extra fine grade wire wool, can be used to restore the shine.
The copper can then be resealed with a metal varnish, you are welcome to contact us as Lisa is happy to provide a 'copper re-sealing service'.
Copper Bracelets, Bangles and Cuffs.
In some cases, our bracelets can be rounded slightly to fit the shape of your wrist.
- Using soft, even pressure from the centre & moving outwards / along the piece. Making sure to be gentle when doing this! Especially near the ends / clasp.
This should only be done once!
As too much back/forth with the copper will weaken the piece and depending on its structure (thickness / style / contains gemstones), it could cause irreparable damage! Which Mystic Treasure can not be held liable for.
Therefore, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the fit / size of your bracelet - for example; it is too big / loose - please contact us a.s.a.p. and Lisa will be happy to assist!
Copper Jewellery and Heat
In direct sun and high temperatures, copper will get extremely hot to touch due to the heat properties of the metal.
- Please take care and avoid wearing jewellery against the skin in hot temperatures.
Décor Treasures
Indoors
All of our hangers, wall art and home décor treasures are perfectly happy indoors.
Our suncatchers and treasures contain light throwing beads particularly love being placed in a window that sees lots of light, so that they can do what they do best, which is shine bright.
To keep them looking their best:
- Please do not submerge your treasures in any water or apply any cleaners / chemicals.
Remember: many household cleaners contain bleach and or other harsh chemicals that are harmful.
- Simply wipe using a soft, clean & dry cloth.
Copper Wire Out in the Garden
Our copper wire décor treasures - unless otherwise stated in the description - can be placed outdoors in good weather.
Please be aware:
- When our designs are used outdoors, the metal varnish will degrade quicker when exposed to the external environment e.g. water/humidity.
The more moisture and salt content in the air, the quicker this process happens.
- Any metal alloy components will rust over time and may fail e.g. plated chains.
When copper is exposed to the elements, the raw copper metal reacts with the air causing patina to form over the surface of the piece, this can be dark brown, black, blue and green in colour, even forming rust in some cases.
Copper is a metal that reacts with the air and is always in a state of flux.
- Even indoors the varnish will degrade, except at a much slower rate.
For designs that need a spruce up, they can be polished to a high shine finish once again with a jeweller's polishing cloth, or by rubbing over with a very fine grade of wire wool. Before being resealed with a liquid metal gloss varnish from any hardware store.
- On average I would recommend varnishing / resealing, once per year.
All metal varnishes used on copper will only ever be semi-permanent and will degrade in time over the years due to the oxidisation in the external environment.
- I do not recommend placing our designs out in the winter time or in bad weather like wind/hail/snow and when the temperature drops below freezing. As some glass/gemstone beads will crack under extreme temperatures.
Take care of your designs and they will last a very long time.
In direct sun and high heat:
- Be careful not to touch the designs as the copper will get hot!
- Remove from the sun in temperatures over 25 degrees Celsius, as the hot copper wire may cause some beads to crack & break.