Care and Maintenance Instructions

Silver Jewellery Care & Maintenance

Latelita jewellery is made from high quality 925 Sterling Silver and Gold-plated sterling silver and with proper care and maintenance it will last a lifetime.

A good rule of thumb is to let the jewellery be the last thing you put on in the morning and the first thing you remove in the evening.

Sterling silver is prone to tarnishing, use a silver polishing cloth regularly to prevent tarnish from forming. Anti tarnish papers are also recommended.

Store your jewellery in a zip lock bag as this will prevent scratches and tarnishing when your jewellery is not being worn. Remove your jewellery when showering, swimming or applying perfumes and lotions – this will also prevent tarnishing.

Make sure to remove your jewellery out of the presentation box as soon as you receive your item and place it in a zip lock bag for storage if you are not going to wear it immediately. Extended periods of being kept inside the presentation box may cause your item(s) to tarnish due to moisture in the air.

Polishing

Sterling silver is an active element and is prone to tarnishing; a dulling that naturally occurs when silver reacts with sulphur or hydrogen sulphide in the ambient air,(or inside the presentation box) and care should be taken to avoid the build-up of tarnish. Polishing the sterling silver regularly with a silver polishing cloth will prevent the tarnish from forming and keep the high shine of the sterling silver intact. However, it will not remove scratches. If your jewellery is tarnished you can clean it with Goddards Long Term Silver Polish Cloth and bring it back to its first day shine.

Cleaning your jewellery

A safe way to clean most jewellery is to pour a small amount of a mild liquid soap in lukewarm water and use a small, soft brush. Toothbrushes are ideal for cleaning jewellery which can otherwise be difficult to clean. If the jewellery is very dirty, leave it to soak for about 10 minutes. Rinse with clean water and pat dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Silver polishing liquids and silver dips

Silver polishing liquids are definitely not recommended. Mild silver dips (like Goddard’s Silver Dip) are recommended for tarnished items but should be used with extra care as they may destroy the oxidised details present on some Latelita designs. Silver dip can be used as long as it is rinsed away completely. If residue dip solution remains on especially the clasps and chains it may eventually destroy the look of your jewellery piece.

Oxidised sterling silver

Oxidised details (darker areas on the design) are found on some Latelita sterling silver pieces. To preserve the oxidation, do not polish the jewellery aggressively as it will wear away the oxidised finish. Oxidised sterling silver and sterling silver with oxidised details should not be subjected to silver polishing liquids, silver dips and ultrasonic cleaning.

The oxidised finish will disappear with time and this is not considered a defect, but a natural result of wear and tear. The oxidised finish can be reapplied by a goldsmith.

Plated jewellery

For daily care, wipe the jewellery gently with a soft cloth. Do not polish the item aggressively as it will only serve to wear away the plating. Avoid contact with abrasive or rough surfaces as a scratch may cut through the plated surface. Do not expose to silver polishing liquids and ultrasonic cleaning.

The plated finish will wear away over time. This is considered normal wear and tear rather than a defect. It is possible for a goldsmith to re-plate the jewellery item. We also offer re-plating service at a cost defined per individual product. Please contact help@latelita.com for more information.

Protecting your jewellery

Corrosion of jewellery occurs under moist or wet conditions, especially when also exposed to warmth and air. Perspiration from jewellery wear is a common cause of corrosion. Jewellery should never be worn in the bath, while swimming, in the sauna or when participating in sports.

Do not expose the jewellery to contact with make-up, hairsprays, creams and perfumes as they can speed up the tarnishing process. Avoid exposing your jewellery to household chemicals including bleach and ammonia as they can damage the metals.

A good rule of thumb is to let the jewellery be the last thing you put on in the morning and the first thing you remove in the evening.

Storage

To minimise scratches and other damage, store the jewellery separately in a tarnish-resistant pouch, or in a separate compartment in a protective box. It will minimise scratches and other damage and prevent tarnish.

It is recommended that Latelita jewellery is either put in a small zip lock bag inside the box provided or that silica gel packets or anti-tarnish strips are added to the box, as they will absorb the moisture etc from the air and slow down the tarnishing process.

Warranty

All Latelita pieces come with 6 months warranty against manufacturing defects. Such defects occur within the first few times the piece is worn and such items are replaced free of charge.

Please note that our warranty does not cover the following:

*Loss or accidental damage

*Damage from regular wear and tear. This includes broken chains and clasps, scratches, dropped stones.

*Damage from improper use or storage (pulled chains, bent studs, lost earring backs, dropped items, oxidation due to improper storage)

*Items purchased through 3rd party retailers. Please reach out to the retailer directly to get further assistance.

We offer repair service for all* items at a cost of £25+VAT. In cases where an item is not possible to be repaired we may offer a replacement item free of charge.

* All items that are still available for sale on our website. Discontinued items are not included in this offer.