Made to be worn.
A piece of jewelry becomes yours in the wearing of it.
Aubretta pieces are handcrafted using solid 14k gold, 14k gold-filled, sterling silver, and genuine natural stones. Each material ages a little differently, and a few simple habits will help keep your jewelry looking its best for years to come.
Solid 14k Gold
Solid gold is made to last a lifetime, and beyond.
Unlike plated finishes, solid 14k gold is gold throughout and won't wear through or flake. With regular wear, it may develop fine scratches and a softer patina. That's natural and part of a piece becoming lived in.
To clean, use warm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth or soft-bristled brush. Avoid harsh chemicals, and take extra care when your gold piece contains natural stones, as the stone may require gentler cleaning than the metal.
When you're not wearing it, store your piece separately to help prevent scratches.
14k Gold-Filled
Gold-filled jewelry gives you the beauty of gold with a little more ease.
Unlike traditional gold plating, gold-filled material has a substantial layer of 14k gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. With proper care, it can wear beautifully for a long time.
To help preserve the finish, remove gold-filled jewelry before swimming, showering, exercising, or using household chemicals. Avoid direct contact with perfumes, lotions, hairspray, and other beauty products when possible.
Clean gently with warm water, mild soap, and a soft cloth. Avoid abrasive polishing compounds or aggressive polishing, which can gradually wear away the gold layer.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver naturally changes with time.
Exposure to air, moisture, and skin chemistry can cause silver to darken or tarnish. This is completely normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong with your piece.
A soft silver polishing cloth can restore its shine. When you're not wearing your jewelry, store it clean and dry in its pouch or another enclosed space to help slow tarnishing.
For pieces containing natural stones, take care to polish the metal rather than the stone itself.
Natural Stones
Every stone has its own story, and its own needs.
Natural stones vary in hardness, porosity, and durability. Softer or more porous materials such as turquoise and coral deserve extra care and should be kept away from water, perfume, lotions, oils, cleaning solutions, and harsh chemicals.
Other gemstones may tolerate everyday wear differently, so any important stone-specific care instructions will be included with the individual piece.
Natural variations in color, pattern, inclusions, and texture are part of the stone, not imperfections. And over time, some natural stones may subtly deepen or change in appearance as they're worn. Think of it as the stone keeping a little record of you.
Water and Everyday Wear
Jewelry is meant to be worn, but it doesn't need to go everywhere you do.
For the longest life of your Aubretta pieces, remove them before:
- Swimming or entering hot tubs
- Showering or bathing
- Exercising
- Sleeping
- Cleaning or using household chemicals
- Applying lotions, perfume, sunscreen, or hairspray
This is especially important for gold-filled jewelry and pieces containing softer or porous natural stones. Solid 14k gold itself is highly durable, but when a piece contains a natural stone, the stone's care requirements should always come first.
A Little Patina Is Okay
Handmade jewelry isn't meant to stay frozen in the moment it left the studio.
Metal develops tiny marks. Silver changes with air. Stones can soften, deepen, or take on character with years of wear. That's part of owning something made to be lived in.
If you'd ever like your Aubretta piece professionally cleaned, polished, or looked over, reach out. I'm always happy to help determine what your piece needs.
When You're Not Wearing It
A little care between wears makes a difference.
Store jewelry clean, dry, and separately whenever possible. Keeping pieces apart helps prevent scratching, tangled chains, and harder stones from damaging softer materials. Your Aubretta pouch is a perfect place to keep your piece when it's not being worn.
The simplest rule?
Wear it. Love it. Take care of it.
Your jewelry doesn't need to remain perfect to remain beautiful. Every mark, softened edge, and subtle change becomes part of where the piece has been, and where it's going next.
Every piece begins with a story. The rest is yours.