We work with a number of materials and manufacture costume jewellery as well as fine sterling silver pieces. Every item will have its specific materials listed in the information box and/or as an icon above the description on its product page in the online shop.

The metals used in our costume jewellery are metal alloys which can be made up of various metals, including (but not limited to) brass, steel, iron and copper mixtures that are plated thinly with a silver or gold metal.

Our Stainless Steel is standard, sturdy and durable stainless steel.

Our sterling silver jewellery is the standard 925 metal.

Because over 90% of our jewellery is hand-made locally (products made by hand will be identified as such in their product listings in the shop) each piece is somewhat unique and there may be very slight variations as to what is seen on screen. Gemstones, natural stones, crystals, beads, pendants and metals may vary in colour shade, size and shape. For all our jewellery products the details provided are the general and approximate average specifications – we always do our very best to remain accurate and true to the images shown online. But remember, every handmade piece is a unique piece.

You should always remove any type of jewellery – no matter the metal type – before doing any of the following:

- Using any household cleaning supplies

- Cooking with mustard, onions, eggs, or any other foods that contain sulphur

- Sunbathing or excessive exposure to direct sunlight

- Swimming, both in a pool or in the ocean

- Exercising or any activity that causes you to sweat

- Spraying hairspray and perfume

- Putting on lotion and makeup.

- Metal alloy jewellery should not be immersed in water, and should be removed before showering, bathing and swimming.

Oxygen in the air will tarnish metals so properly storing your jewellery will help minimise that oxidation as well as prevent scratches, dust and dirt from forming.

Here are some storage tips:

-Store individual pieces separately

-Store each piece in an airtight bag

-Store in an area with low humidity

-Keep clasps/closures unhooked

-Place a packet of silica or a piece of chalk in the storage bag.

Most jewellery will tarnish with time – whether it’s sterling silver, silver plated or a metal alloy. How quickly this happens will depend on the metal type, environmental factors, your skin type and how you care for your jewellery. There are however many ways to minimise, delay and remove tarnishing. Please see the Care Guide for the particular metal you have purchased.

If properly cared for, the shine and colour of sterling silver items can be easily revived once they have tarnished by cleaning or polishing them. Wearing and storing your sterling silver correctly will also go a long way to maintaining the shine and preventing discolouration.

Simply polishing your silver works well when the tarnishing is not too severe.

Silver is soft and can become scratched easily so it’s best to use either a special silver cloth to polish your items or a cotton/micro-fibre/flannel soft and nonabrasive cloth.

Do not use paper towels or tissues to polish your jewellery as they contain fibres that can scratch the silver.

When polishing, use long back-and-forth motions that mirror the grain of the silver. Do not rub in circles as this will magnify any tiny scratches. Also, change to a different section of your cloth frequently to avoid placing tarnish back on the silver. You can use an ear bud to get into small, detailed areas.

We recommended using unscented soap and warm water to wash your sterling silver jewellery as this is the gentlest and safest way to do so. Make sure you dry the items immediately after washing them to prevent water-mark stains forming.

Not all methods of cleaning work for all types of silver jewellery. You should not, for example, ever clean jewellery with pearls or opaque gemstones (e.g. turquoise, opal, onyx) with chemicals, as this could cause serious damage to these softer stones. Give these pieces a very brief rinse if they become too dirty.

Even for jewellery with clear gemstones (e.g. blue topaz, amethyst, garnet), take special care when using a silver cleaner as the chemicals could lodge under the gemstone settings or loosen any glue.

As a rule of thumb, stay away from commercial cleaners and dips for sterling silver as they can remove the anti-tarnish layer and ultimately harm the jewellery.

You can softly and lightly polish silver-plated items with a damp, non-abrasive cotton/micro-fibre/flannel cloth to restore shine and remove dust and dirt.

Be very careful when polishing as excessive rubbing can remove the plating (depending on the thickness) and leave pieces worse than when you started.

Keep plated jewellery away from hard surfaces as bumps and scratches will cause the plated layer to wear away faster.

Costume jewellery, i.e. jewellery that is made from alloy metals and not precious metals such as sterling silver, is naturally more susceptible to environmental factors causing discolouration and as such the plating and finishes of such jewellery can fade from wear and tear over time, so it’s especially important to take care when wearing and storing costume jewellery. For example, if you have very acidic skin, perspire a lot or live near the ocean and its salty air, your costume jewellery will most probably not fare well. If you have eczema or very sensitive skin, there’s a possibility you may have an adverse reaction to costume jewellery metal such a rash or green mark forming on your skin after wearing the item.

Here are some tips to help prevent the above and preserve your jewellery made from alloy metals:

Coat your costume jewellery – the metal only – with one or two layers of clear nail polish to prevent the top layer of metal colour wearing off

Do not shower, swim or exercise while wearing costume jewellery

Make sure your costume jewellery doesn’t come into contact with perfume, lotion, cleaning products, chemicals, sweat, excessive heat and sunshine

Wipe costume jewellery with a soft, clean cotton cloth as soon as you remove it. The goal is to remove any oil, salt or acid contaminants and to dry the piece.

Never remove jewellery by pulling on the stone as this may result in a loose, and later lost, stone.

Store each piece of gemstone jewellery separately so that harder stones don’t scratch softer ones. Almost every gemstone is harder than the metal it is set in and can scratch the finish on your metal jewellery if you throw your jewellery in a heap in a drawer or jewellery box.

To clean transparent crystalline gemstones, simply soak them in water with a touch of gentle dish soap. Use a bowl of water rather than the sink to eliminate the risk of anything going down the drain. If necessary, use a soft cotton cloth to scrub behind the stone. Rinse the soap off and pat dry with a lint-free cloth (you want to make sure threads won't catch on the prongs of any stone settings). Do not use chemicals to clean precious stones.

Pearls are very soft and can get scratched easily if not stored separately. Keep your pearl jewellery in a fabric-lined box or bag.

Your skin produces acids that can harm your pearls, so if worn regularly pearls should be wiped down with a soft, slightly damp cloth after every wearing.

You can use a drop of olive oil on your cleansing cloth to help maintain your pearls’ lustre.

Pearls can be damaged by chemicals and intense heat. Only use jewellery cleaners that are clearly marked safe for pearls. Never use ultrasonic cleansers, dish or washing detergents, bleaches, baking soda or ammonia based cleansers. Never use toothbrushes or any other abrasive materials to clean your pearls

Always take off your pearls before using any cosmetics, hair spray, or perfume and avoid heat and dry air because both can cause pearls to turn brown, dry out and crack.

Usually, one size fits all. Most of our necklaces and bracelets feature extension chains of 3cm - 7cm allowing you to customise the length of your jewellery item to suit you perfectly. As a general rule of thumb our necklaces are between 42 – 45cm in length (without the extension chain) and our bracelets are around 15cm long (without the extension chain). Sizing details for each specific item will be listed in the details box on each product page. Please note that the listed sizes are approximate and may vary by a couple of millimetres.

Our items generally fit most body types as most are adjustable in size, however if you have concerns that our sizing may not be right for you please email us at hello@theedenshop.com as we may be able to tailor-make your item to your specific size requirements.