Material Information and Care Instructions
Much of the following is common sense and there are
countless variations which work well for many.
Remember, the one constant is, everybody is different!!!
Use of Organic Jewelry in particular and Natural Materials
is at your own risk.
Natural materials are usually not the right choice for moist
areas of the body & new piercings or stretches. On the flip side, if you
have metal sensitivities, natural jewelry can be the best thing you have ever
worn. However, if you are the type of
individual who reacts to everything in the world, start slowly with different
natural materials. Irritation, tissue
loss, infection, or allergic reactions are always a possibility with ANY
material. Know your own body & respond
appropriately if you react to a new material. Discontinue wear, put in an Implant Grade
Jewelry or Glass and treat like a fresh piercing. Handle natural materials with clean hands and
wash jewelry periodically with a mild, non-chemical soap such as Dr. Bronner’s
liquid soap & water even if not being worn.
Clean with tea tree oil if something stronger is desired, but do not
leave tea tree oil on your jewelry. Make
sure you do not have an allergy to tea tree oil by first performing a patch
test on your skin.
To care for your jewelry oil wood, bone and horn periodically (monthly or as needed)
& before insertion,
with either jojoba, mineral or Vitamin
E oil. Food grade oils are not
appropriate for oiling, they may break down with heat & time. Be sure to wash natural jewelry often &
reapply oil as necessary. Apply just a
drop of oil, use oil sparingly and never
over oil. Use a micro fiber cloth to remove any excess oil. Frequent
applications of oil may cause the material to darken.
Natural materials are sensitive to changes in heat, humidity
and water. Thus, autoclaving, hot tubs, pools,
saunas, blow dryers, etc, should be avoided or used with caution. Long exposure
to direct sunlight (such as on a windowsill or inside a hot car) is not
suggested. All these circumstances may cause the material to crack, warp , split
or the grain to lift.
Natural materials may react to and or absorb chemicals &
water. These chemicals can then be
released into the skin, causing irritation or allergic reaction. This includes, but is not limited to:
cleaning & sterilizing agents, soaps, lotions, antibiotic ointments &
hair products. Please keep natural
jewelry away from contact with chemicals of any kind & become aware of what
types of chemicals are in the products you use for any reason.
Natural materials can be brittle, especially Stone &
Amber neither takes kindly to being dropped, bitten or otherwise mistreated.
Store your jewelry in bubble wrap or a padded jewelry box or case so it can't be
knocked over and broken easily. Amber is
particularly sensitive & may soften, crack or even melt in contact with
certain chemicals or with extreme heat.
Stone should never be oiled, dropped or mistreated. Do not wear Stone or Glass in the shower as soap
or shampoo can make your skin slippery enough for the jewelry to fall onto the
tile floor.
Special caution should be taken when exposing plugs with
inlays ( bone dust ) or overlays (silver caps & dyes ) to moisture as they obviously
are not waterproof. Do not oil inlays, just oil the wear space.
Certain metal jewelry may cause reactions in sensitive
individuals & may include nickel allergies or discoloration of the
skin. Silver jewelry may tarnish &
metals containing copper, including bronze, may develop a greenish patina. This may be removed with a hand polishing
cloth or with a buffing wheel. Brass,
Copper and Bronze Jewelry if wiped down daily with a microfiber cloth before
wearing will keep them from leaving a greenish hint on your skin.
Brass is generally an alloy of Copper and Zinc.
Bronze is generally an alloy of Copper and Tin.
Copper is essential to all living organisms, yet lends its
germicidal properties to Brass and
Bronze.
All three of the above metals have been used in/for jewelry
for ages.
Species of hardwoods which are not very dense &
generally those lighter areas of the wood grain may require occasional
refinishing to keep them feeling smooth & performing their best. Wood forms the circulatory and support system
in trees. The grain you may see running
up & down in hardwood plugs is what the tree used to transport water. When the plugs get wet, they may try to
absorb the water, the cells that form the
grain can swell or "lift".
This can make the wearing surface feel less smooth than when new. The plugs are sanded, then washed, then
sanded again after they dry to take off any of the cells that are going to
swell up when in contact with water.
This process is repeated several times during manufacture. However, with use, wear and exposure these
cells may try to do their job again.
It is suggested that all hardwood jewelry be sanded periodically-especially
Maple & Chaktekok; frequency depends on how often they are worn, where they
are worn & how often they come in contact with moisture. Give them the following attention when they
feel a bit textured.
Sand gently with a dry piece of 400 or 600-grit sandpaper,
then polish with a piece of cloth. The
idea is to remove the swelled grain, not just push it down. Wrap the sandpaper around your finger or a
pen to sand the inside of flared or drilled plugs. Wash the plugs with water and a mild
non-chemical soap to eliminate any residue & re-oil prior to insertion.
With minimal care your natural jewelry can last years and
years.
Let us know if you have any suggestions, comments or tips
you have discovered through
experience next time you are at our studio. Enjoy!