Resin Jewelleries, (Breastmilk or keepsakes) ornaments: An Artist’s Guide

Now you got your precious keepsake resin jewellery but are not sure how to care for it or are scared to break or damage it. Or you are thinking of having a gorgeous keepsake made but not sure how to care for it in the future.

All our jewellery comes with care instructions, but just in case, we have bundled up our knowledge on jewellery care here. This blog is written primarily for resin jewellery.

Care Instructions for Resin Jewellery:

Some of our keepsake jewellery will contain a particular type of resin. Some stones contain only a drop while others require more resin due to the design, such as hair keepsake, flower keepsake or breastmilk jewellery.

Resin is a form of plastic. While our resin contains a UV stabiliser and the company promises a ‘no yellow’ effect – let me be honest, ALL resin will slightly yellow in time.

It is just a matter of time and the care and time you invest. In our tests, we found that even the UV stabilised resins will yellow one shade or two when exposed to ongoing harsh sunlight.

We aim to create family heirlooms that can be handed down for generations to come. 

Bear in mind that most yellowing will show up in white (ish) or clear coloured keepsakes and won’t be much of an issue for darker pieces like keepsakes made with remains.

So, what now! You desperately would love a keepsake that brings you joy for many years to come, but now you are worried about yellowing.

Well, we know resin can yellow over time, so we need to make sure we look after our keepsakes as best as possible.

Doesn’t matter if it is your precious diamond ring or a piece of keepsake jewellery, all jewellery should be taken off first and put on last.

Please always remove your jewellery when:

• Applying lotion, perfume, hairspray or other beauty products
• Showering due to soaps and chemicals or swimming (whether pool or sea) 
• Cleaning hands using alcohol wipes (if wearing a keepsake ring)
• While cleaning due to contact with chemicals, cleaning wipes included
• Sunbaking, Gardening
• Prolonged exposure to fluorescent light
• While cooking as the heat from the stove can damage your stone
• Preparing food, remember we use vinegar in the studio to clean resin spills

Some clients enjoy maintaining their keepsake as it can bring a sense of comfort and bring back memories.

What about the metal used for my jewellery?

Sterling Silver:

Sterling is the jewellery quality standard in the United States and most world markets. It is an alloy of 92.5% silver. The remaining 7.5% is usually copper though it is sometimes other metals such as nickel. The other metals in the alloy increase hardness so the material will be more durable.

18k Gold Plated:

18-karat gold plated refers to a type of jewellery or accessory with a layer of gold applied over a base metal through a process known as electroplating. This layer of gold is 18 karats, meaning it is 75% pure gold and 25% other metals such as copper or silver

Jewellery that is plated means that it is a cost-effective alternative to solid gold jewellery. This makes it a more economical option for people who love to wear it but want to avoid the high cost. Also, plated jewellery is right, more durable, and long-lasting compared to other plated jewellery

What if my jewellery is looking dull?

Same care instructions apply as above (no lotion, perfume, chemicals, and so on), 

We do recommend using a polishing cloth at least once a month to give some love to your creation. This will bring the metal back to shine and remove any tarnishing that occurs naturally for these metals.

I hope that you found this information useful. Please let us know of any care questions you may have, and we will find the answer for you.

Love,

Nairaa