Jewelry Care & Wear

Jewelry is meant to be worn, lived in, and loved. A little care will help your pieces age beautifully—and in some cases, wearing them often is the best care of all.

All Alison Marie Jewelry is made with solid metals—nothing is plated—so your pieces are designed to last and can always be refreshed.

Young woman looking down wearing a n organically shaped saw pierced brass pendant necklace that has silver accents and a cobalt blue sea glass cabochon.

Polishing & Brightening

A variety of polishing cloths work beautifully on all of the metals I use, including sterling silver, 14kt gold fill, brass, and copper. One is typically included with your order.

Regular, gentle polishing is often all that’s needed—especially for pieces worn frequently.

Brass & Copper

Brass and copper will naturally deepen in tone and develop patina over time, particularly in humid or coastal environments. This aging is part of their character.

For deeper cleaning on jewelry without gemstones, especially after time spent in saltwater or seaside air, you can use this method:

  1. Line a bowl with aluminum foil

  2. Add baking soda and a small drop of dish detergent

  3. Pour hot (not boiling) water over the piece

  4. Let sit briefly, then rinse and dry thoroughly

This method is best reserved for solid metal pieces without stones.

Gemstones

Natural stones vary in hardness and care needs. Avoid soaking gemstone jewelry or exposing it to harsh temperature changes. When in doubt, gentle wear and a polishing cloth are always the safest choice.

A Final Note

If your jewelry ever needs extra attention—or if you’re unsure how to care for a specific piece—please reach out. I’m always happy to help keep your jewelry wearable, loved, and part of your everyday life for years to come.

General Care

  • Remove jewelry before swimming, showering, sleeping, or exercising

  • Avoid contact with lotions, perfumes, oils, and household cleaners

  • Store pieces separately to prevent scratching

Sterling Silver

Sterling silver often looks its best when it’s worn. It loves the natural oils in our skin, and regular wear can actually help keep it bright. If a piece hasn’t been worn for a while and begins to darken, a gentle polish is usually all it needs.

14kt Gold Fill

14kt gold fill is a thick layer of solid gold bonded to a core metal, making it far more durable than gold plating. With normal wear and care, gold fill holds its color beautifully and is well-suited for everyday jewelry. Like all metals, it benefits from gentle handling and occasional polishing.

I work with metal and stone as materials of transformation. Each piece is shaped by hand, guided by intuition, and rooted in story—both mine and yours. Jewelry, for me, is a way of holding memory, honoring process, and creating objects meant to be worn, lived in, and passed forward.