Our jewelry is built to last, but every piece of jewelry needs a little TLC every once in awhile! Here are some helpful tips for storing and cleaning your Atlas & Aether collection.

• Keep it dry! Water + metal = oxidation. Take off your jewelry before showering, washing your hands, and especially swimming in chlorinated pools. If you happen to get caught out in the rain, gently blot your piece with a soft cloth or towel to dry it off. Oxidation can be removed, but some gemstones will never be the same after repeated submerging.  
• Put on your jewelry last to avoid contact with perfumes, hairspray, etc. 
• Take off your piece before sleeping, especially if it has a chain. 
• Take off your jewelry if you will be working around chemicals or heavy machinery that can snag/repeatedly bump your piece. I never wear rings in the studio because I have too many tools that are hard enough to scratch metal or gemstones. All it takes is one little slip!
• Know what you're wearing! Some stones are soft, and while I take this into consideration in my designs to allow as much protection as possible, they just aren't as stable as a diamond, sapphire, or quartz. Take into consideration the activities you will be doing while wearing your jewelry. 
• Keep in mind that designs with exposed crystal points are at an increased risk of cracking when dropped on an edge and extra care should be taken to avoid dropping.

• Avoid storage in direct sunlight. Several stones commonly found in jewelry such as amethyst, rose quartz, aquamarine, citrine, kunzite, and fluorite are known to fade in direct sunlight. 
• Store your piece in a plastic bag, especially if you live in a humid environment (always avoid keeping your jewelry box in a full bathroom for this reason). Air flow and humidity are the biggest causes of tarnish.

There are a few more considerations when caring for electroformed jewelry.

• Avoid bending/excessive force. Electroforming makes pieces a bit more brittle than your average piece of copper jewelry. Adjustable rings and bracelets should never have to be forced.
• Rings with copper bands will come sealed with Protectaclear, however this is not a permanent solution. If you notice that your ring or finger is becoming discolored (green skin is annoying, but ultimately harmless unless allergic), it is likely that the sealant is wearing off. One quick fix is painting the inside of the ring with a clear coat of nail polish. 

Oxidation/tarnish is an inevitability with copper and sterling silver jewelry. Luckily it is possible to combat this with the above tips and some regular cleaning. Prevention is always the best way to care for your copper jewelry. The next best thing is early removal of tarnish so the use of gentle cleansers will be effective. 

• Use a sunshine cloth/polishing cloth when you notice your piece begins to dull. A light tarnish will be easy to remove. This should always be the first step as it is the most gentle.
• Use a soft, clean toothbrush with warm soapy water and gently scrub the copper. Make sure to thoroughly pat dry the piece with a towel or soft cloth.
• BE MINDFUL when using certain commercial copper cleaners that they are safe for gemstone use.  Many of them are not and extra care will need to be taken to work around the gemstone.
• There are several home made cleaning recipes for cleaning heavily tarnished copper jewelry such as ketchup, salt and vinegar, or baking soda and lemon juice. These all work wonderfully on the copper, but can also be too harsh for soft and porous gemstones. Always take care to avoid touching the gemstone directly with cleansers and keep water nearby in case you slip up and need to rinse off the gemstone right away.