Caring for your Sarnion piece
Every Sarnion piece is cast to order in solid 925 sterling silver or solid gold and finished by hand in our Istanbul workshop. Precious metal is made to be worn for decades; a minute of care now and then is all it asks to stay at its best.
What comes with your order
Each piece arrives in an anti-tarnish pouch with a two-layer polishing cloth. Together they handle almost all routine care.
- Clean with the inner, lighter cloth. It carries a mild cleaning agent that lifts tarnish and skin oils from silver and gold.
- Buff with the outer, darker cloth to bring back the shine.
- Keep the cloth dry. Never wash it: it darkens with use, which is the cleaning agent doing its job, and it stays effective for years.
Five everyday rules
- Last on, first off. Put your jewellery on after lotion, perfume and hairspray, and take it off before washing your hands.
- Keep it dry. Remove it for the pool, the sea, the shower, the sauna, the gym and sleep. Chlorine, salt water and sweat are the main enemies of plated finishes.
- No chemicals, no machines. Household cleaners, bleach, silver dips, abrasive polish, toothpaste and ultrasonic cleaners can strip a patina or wear through a plating in one go.
- Store it apart. Each piece in its own pouch, in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Silver scratches silver when pieces tumble together; fasten chains before storing so they do not tangle.
- Travel in the pouch. The pouch keeps air and friction away in a bag or suitcase.
Finish by finish
Oxidised silver. The dark patina in the recesses is intentional and sits in the silver itself; there is no lacquer to flake. With wear the high points brighten and the contrast deepens, which is the finish at its best. Clean gently with the cloth only. Silver dips and liquid polish strip the patina, so keep them away.
Polished silver. Hand-polished to a mirror and then plated with white rhodium, so it stays bright rather than tarnishing. A wipe with the soft outer cloth is enough. Do not use abrasive polish or dips; they wear the rhodium layer.
Gold vermeil and gold plated. A layer of gold over sterling silver. Follow the five rules above, and wipe the piece with the soft outer cloth after wearing to remove oils. Avoid rubbing hard, and never use polish, dips or water with soap: a dry cloth is the whole routine.
Rose plated silver. Rose gold contains copper, which is more sensitive to perfume, sweat and moisture than yellow gold. Treat it exactly like vermeil, with a little extra attention to the five rules.
Black rhodium plated. Rhodium is harder than silver and resists scratches well, but it is still a surface layer. Dry cloth only; no abrasives. Over years the edges you touch most may lighten toward silver, a look many wearers come to prize.
Two Color. Treat the oxidised body as oxidised silver and the gold accent as a plated finish: cloth only, no dips.
Solid gold. Does not tarnish. Lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap, a soft brush and a thorough dry are all it needs. 18K is softer than 14K and 10K, so give it the same care you would a fine watch.
Pieces with stones. Keep perfume and hairspray away from the stone, clean around it with a slightly damp soft cloth and dry fully. Do not soak set stones.
Good to know
Will my ring change over time? Yes, gently. Polished surfaces take on a soft satin with wear, oxidised pieces grow in contrast, and plated finishes slowly mellow at the points you touch most. This is precious metal living with you, not a fault.
Can I resize it? Each piece is cast in the size you choose, so please use our size guide before ordering. Resizing by another jeweller is not covered by the warranty.
Something feels wrong? Email support@sarnion.com with your order number and a photo and we will tell you what to do. Faults in metal, casting or workmanship are covered by our limited lifetime warranty.
