Jewellery Care Guide

Everything we sell is imitation jewellery: base metals and alloys with a plated or oxidised finish, set with glass, synthetic stones, cubic zirconia, beads or imitation pearls. These finishes are lovely but not permanent. A little care makes a big difference to how long a piece keeps its look.

Five rules for every piece

Put jewellery on last, take it off first. Apply perfume, deodorant, hair spray, lotion and makeup first and let them dry before you wear your jewellery.
Keep it dry. Remove jewellery before bathing, swimming, washing dishes, exercising or applying mehendi. Sweat and water are the main causes of discolouration.
Wipe after wearing. Use a soft, dry cotton or microfibre cloth to remove sweat and skin oils before you put it away.
Store it airtight and separate. Keep each piece in its own zip-lock pouch or a closed box compartment, ideally with a silica-gel sachet. Air and humidity speed up tarnishing, and pieces rubbing together scratch each other.
No chemicals, no polishing dips. Avoid silver-dip cleaners, toothpaste, baking soda, lemon, vinegar and ultrasonic cleaners. They strip plating and oxidised finishes.

Oxidised jewellery

Oxidised pieces have an intentionally darkened finish that brings out the carved or embossed detail. The base is usually brass or another alloy with a silver-tone plating, then darkened.

The dark areas are the design. Don't scrub them to make the piece "shine", because you will remove the effect.
To freshen up the raised areas, rub gently with a dry soft cloth only.
Over months of wear, the raised areas may slowly turn yellowish or coppery as the plating wears. This is normal for plated base metal and is not a defect.
Jhumkas: hold the bell, not the stud, when removing them, and don't hang them by their chains. Check that screw-backs and push-backs are snug before you go out.
Ghungroo (bells) and chains: store flat or hanging so links don't knot.

German silver jewellery

"German silver" is a traditional name for an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc. It contains no silver, and it does contain nickel. If you know you react to nickel, please choose another material.

German silver darkens naturally with air and sweat. A dry cloth restores most of the shine.
For stubborn dullness, wipe with a cloth very lightly dampened with plain water, then dry it completely at once. Do not soak it.
Store it airtight. Of all the materials here, it is the most sensitive to humidity.

American diamond (AD) jewellery

AD is the Indian name for cubic zirconia (CZ), a lab-made stone, set in plated metal.

Keep AD pieces in separate compartments. The stones can scratch other jewellery, and plating around the stones scratches easily.
To bring back sparkle, brush the back of the stones gently with a soft, dry, clean makeup brush to remove dust and powder.
Don't use water or liquid cleaners: moisture can get under the stones and cloud them.
Check prong-set stones occasionally. If one feels loose, stop wearing the piece and contact us if it is new.

Kundan and kundan-meena jewellery

Imitation kundan uses glass stones set with foil and adhesive in a plated frame. Meena is coloured enamel work, usually on the back or edges.

Never wet kundan. Water can loosen settings and spoil the foil behind the stones.
Store kundan sets flat in their box, cushioned with cotton or tissue, so heavy necklaces don't bend.
Fasten and unfasten necklaces by the dori (thread) or hook, not by pulling the set.
Meena enamel can chip if knocked. Lay pieces down gently, and keep them apart from metal jewellery.
Pearls and beads on kundan sets are imitation. Keep them away from perfume, which dulls their coating.

Bangles and rings

Slide bangles on with a little hand cream on your hand, not the bangle, and wipe the bangle afterwards. Never force a tight bangle: it can bend, or crack the plating. See the Size and Fit Guide.
Take rings off before washing hands with soap or using sanitiser.
Adjustable rings bend at the opening. Adjust them gently, and only a few times, because repeated bending weakens metal.

Earrings and nose pins

Clean posts and hooks with a cotton bud lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol before first wear and occasionally after, then let them dry fully.
Don't share earrings or nose pins, for hygiene.
If your skin becomes red, itchy or irritated, stop wearing the piece. Some people react to metals used in fashion jewellery.

Travelling

Pack each piece in its own pouch inside a hard case. Close clasps and screw-backs so they don't catch. Keep jewellery in your hand luggage, away from toiletries that could leak.

What normal wear looks like

With regular use, plated and oxidised imitation jewellery gradually changes colour and loses some shine. This is part of the material, not a fault. If a piece arrives damaged or defective, see our Returns, Exchange and Damage Policy.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-31