Care & Maintenance
At 1/9 Studio, we design jewelry to be lived in, loved, and handed down. A little mindful care keeps each piece looking its best and preserves the story it carries. Below we explain how we recommend you wear, clean, and store our different finishes — written in plain, practical steps so your pieces stay as intentional as the day you received them.
General Guidelines (Always)
Remove before showering, swimming, exercising, or using household cleaners.
Avoid direct contact with perfumes, lotions, hair spray, sunscreens, and chlorine. These speed wear and dull finishes.
Wipe after wear with a soft, lint-free or microfiber cloth to remove oils and residues.
Store each piece separately in a soft pouch or lined box to prevent scratches and tangling.
When in doubt, ask us. If you’re unsure which metal or finish suits your lifestyle, we’ll consult one-on-one.
Plated & Vermeil Pieces (Brass or 925 base + gold/silver layer)
Daily care: Gently wipe with a soft, dry microfiber cloth after each wear.
Occasional cleaning: Briefly soak in warm water with a drop of mild soap (no scrubbing); rinse and pat dry immediately.
Be gentle: Do not use abrasive cloths, toothpaste, or harsh chemical cleaners — they will remove the plating.
Storage: Keep in anti-tarnish bags or separate pouches, away from humidity.
When the finish thins: Re-plating is an option — we can advise or arrange professional re-plating to renew the piece.
925 Sterling Silver
Polish as needed: Use a silver-polishing cloth or a gentle silver cleaner to remove tarnish and restore shine.
Prevent tarnish: Store with anti-tarnish strips and keep silver away from humid environments and sulfur-containing materials.
Cleaning routine: Warm water + mild soap, gentle brush for crevices, rinse and dry. Avoid chlorinated water.
Gold-Filled (18K Gold Layer bonded to a base)
Robust everyday wear: Gold-filled pieces are durable and tolerant of regular wear.
Cleaning: Warm water with mild dish soap; rinse and dry thoroughly. Light polishing with a soft cloth is fine.
Do not over-polish: Repeated aggressive polishing can alter finishes over time — keep polishing light and occasional.
Stainless Steel (Plain or with Gold-Filled Layer)
Very low maintenance: Wipe with a microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints and restore mirror luster.
Deep clean: Rinse with warm water and a little mild soap; dry completely.
Avoid harsh chemicals: Bleach and strong cleaners will damage finishes — remove jewelry before swimming in chlorinated pools or salt water.
Durability note: Stainless steel is strong and water-safe, but can be heavier and harder to resize.
Solid Gold (18K / 24K)
Heirloom care: Solid gold can be polished, resized, and repaired by a professional jeweler.
Cleaning: Warm soapy water, soft brush for detail, rinse and dry. For deep scratches or polishing, seek professional care.
24K caution: 24K is very soft — best reserved for thicker forms or pieces not exposed to heavy wear.
Gemstones & Pearls (Short Notes)
Pearls & porous stones: Wipe with a soft damp cloth; avoid soaking, perfumes, and acids.
Gemstones: Some stones (opal, emerald, pearl) need gentler care; ultrasonic cleaners are not always safe. Ask us about the specific gem.
Quick Cleaning Recipe (Safe for Most Pieces)
Fill a bowl with warm water + a drop of mild dish soap.
Dip a soft cloth (or a soft brush for crevices) and gently clean.
Rinse in clean warm water.
Pat dry with a soft cloth and air-dry completely before storing.
(For plated/vermeil: keep the soak very brief and avoid scrubbing; for gold-filled and solid gold: gentle scrubs are fine.)
Professional Service & Re-finish
We offer guidance and can coordinate professional re-plating, polishing or repair when a piece needs restoration. For custom or sentimental pieces (wedding bands, gem-set jewelry), we recommend periodic professional checks to keep settings secure.
If you’d like, we’ll prepare a small, branded care card you can include with every order (short care steps + contact for re-finishing). Tell us the tone you want — concise luxury instructions, or a poetic care note — and we’ll produce it for your packaging.
