Jewelry Care
It is the mission of Calita Studio to create intentional jewelry to serve as your source of empowerment. Quality and integrity are some of the founding principles of the brand but jewelry still needs to be handled with care to ensure it lasts a lifetime or more.
Our pieces are made to be worn regularly, but with the love of everyday wear and tear nicks, scratches, and even tarnishing can occur.
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Polymer clay
Can polymer clay break?
Yes. Polymer clay is extremely durable and flexible when cured properly, although never try to bend or force any kind of pressure on the material and keep away from sharp objects to avoid surface scratches.
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How do I clean the surface of my polymer clay jewelry?
You can use a damp cloth to remove dust or dirt. You can also use a small amount of rubbing alcohol to remove make up stains or small cuffs, although, be very gentle with rubbing alcohol, because it can damage the design and the glazing protection.
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How do I storage my polymer clay jewelry?
Store in a cool, dry area out of direct sunlight.
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Brass
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What is brass jewelry?
An alloy made up of roughly half copper and half zinc, which has a nice yellow color. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It has a bright-gold appearance, which, for centuries, has made it a popular material to be used in a wide array of pieces of jewelry. Is extremely sturdy and much more affordable alternative to gold.
Will brass jewelry tarnish and how to keep it from tarnishing?
The high copper content in brass can cause it to darken at a faster rate than silver. again, this is a natural reaction to water, humidity, and oxygen. Like silver, wearing and touching your brass jewelry is one of the best ways to keep it looking shiny and bright as the oils on your skin naturally polish your jewelry. If you do see some tarnish, you can polish it with a jewelry polishing cloth.
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Will Brass Jewelry turn skin green?
Some people experience a green coloring to the skin when it comes in contact with brass. This is perfectly harmless and is due your personal PH balance. If it bothers you, you can coat the jewelry with a clear nail polish as this will form a barrier between your skin and the jewelry.
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Can brass jewelry get wet?
No. Because it can darken faster than other materials, it is not recommended. If you prefer to avoid the dark patina to the metal, try to keep your brass as dry as possible. Avoid swimming with brass jewelry especially in salt water if you want to avoid the Statue of Liberty effect. Keep in mind your jewelry will tarnish at a faster rate in humid climates.
Store your brass jewelry in an airtight bag to minimize oxygen from interacting with it while not in use.
Sterling Silver
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What is sterling silver?
Instead fine silver is alloyed with copper to create sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. This percentage of fine silver is why you will sometimes see sterling silver referred to as '925 silver' or hallmarked with a 925 stamp.
The copper makes the silver harder, more durable and therefore much better to work with and use, but without compromising on color. Most silver jewelry that you buy and wear will be sterling silver.
Sterling silver jewelry is an excellent, high quality choice in most circumstances. The metal will not rust or perish, plus if you look after your jewelry it will look great well into the future. You should even be able to pass your silver jewelry on to future generations.
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Can sterling silver tarnish?
The answer is yes. The copper added to sterling silver will cause it to tarnish more easily, with the metal turning dark brown or black over time, especially in humid conditions. However, it's easy to clean and beneath the tarnish your sterling silver will still be in great condition: it won't rust or perish with normal use.
Can sterling silver get wet?
The short answer to this question is yes, you can (if you know it's sterling silver). Water generally does not damage sterling silver. This depends on the level of saturation! In situations, such as hand washing, where the silver is mildly exposed to water, it’s unlikely that damage will occur. However, if you let your sterling silver sit in water for too long, the metal can begin to oxidize and tarnish.
Gold Filled
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What's gold filled jewelry?
Gold filled is composed of a solid layer of gold (at least 5%) that is bonded to a base of another metal, such as sterling silver, copper or brass. Gold filled is also known as 'rolled gold' or 'gold bonded'.
Can gold filled jewelry get wet?
Unlike gold plated, it's safe to get your gold filled jewelry wet. We do recommend you remove it in saltwater or chlorine.
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Will gold filled jewelry tarnish?
Compared to lower quality alloys, gold filled can resist tarnish at a higher rate. Given more care, it will also last for a much longer time, compared to gold plated.
Gold Plated or Gold Vermeil
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What is gold plated jewelry?
(Pronounced ver-may) Gold of at least 2.5 microns is layered on top of sterling silver, brass or cooper.
Will gold plated tarnish?
Over time, the gold plating on the jewelry may come off, allowing air and moisture to react with the base metal and create tarnishing. Chemicals in perfumes, lotions, and makeup products can also degrade the gold plating, turning it green or making it discolored.
Can gold plated jewelry get wet?
Showering with gold plated jewelry or immersing the item under water for long periods of time can cause the gold layer to completely wear off. So no, it is not recommended.
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WHAT TO AVOID
- Avoid showering, swimming and excessive sweating on your jewelry;
- It is recommended to remove before sleeping;
- Avoid storing your jewelry in the bathroom or moisture is present.