Materials & Care

Our Materials

We are committed to using high quality, long lasting materials & finishes. We want you to be able to wear your Otiumberg jewellery everyday with confidence.

We use high quality recycled raw materials across the Collection with ethically sourced and untreated gemstones.

9-Karat Solid Gold

Our Solid 9-karat gold is an extremely durable and wearable metal that does not oxidise or tarnish easily. Our gold alloy is mixed with Copper, Zinc and Silver all of which add to the characteristics of the alloy which gives it its soft gold hue and high durability.

Even the strongest of metals need some loving care, therefore we recommend cleaning your pieces often. You should clean 1-2 times a month, especially if you wear them daily.

How to clean my solid gold

- Place your pieces to be cleaned into the empty bowl

- With our cleaning solution use the droplet to release 3-5 pumps of liquid onto your pieces in the bowl

- Use our bamboo toothbrush to brush gently around the inside and back of the stones, behind the settings, hinges and clasps to remove any embedded dirt - Rinse twice to remove residue and liquid completely

- Dry off with a clean cloth or hand towel

- For extra shine finish by giving one final dry buff with our gold polishing cloth

Do not use this method on stones such as emeralds, pearls and opals as these stones are much softer than others in our collection and have a higher sensitivity level to residue and moisture. Do not use any broken or damaged pieces.

Gold Vermeil

Vermeil consists of thicker layers of gold on sterling silver. Unlike other gold plating, standards dictate that the gold portion must be of a high quality and certain thickness. Therefore, if cared for correctly your vermeil jewellery will have long-lasting colour.

Vermeil pieces take on a similar cleaning method as our solid gold. It’s natural for the gold to fade and wear down over time, avoid applying too much pressure while cleaning as you want to keep the vermeil looking as bright as possible for as long as possible.

How to clean my gold vermeil

- Place your pieces to be cleaned into the empty bowl

- Immerse 1-2 pumps of liquid onto your pieces in the bowl, focusing more on contact areas such as earrings posts and clasps

- Use your bamboo toothbrush to brush gently around the piece

- Rinse twice to remove residue and liquid completely

- Dry off with a clean cloth or hand towel

- For any tarnish or dullness that you may still have showing, use your thumbnail with the gold polishing cloth to gently rub over this area, do apply pressure but not too much as this can remove the gold vermeil coat.

- Give it one final buff with our Microfibre cloth and it’s ready to wear!

Silver

Sterling silver is an alloy made of 92.5% pure Silver and 7.5% Copper (That's why you see the 925 mark on these designs). For an even longer lasting finish against tarnish and to maintain a brighter shine, our workshop plates the silver with an anti-tarnishing solution and rhodium. Rhodium is a member of the platinum group of metals, it is strong and enhances the durability of silver.

The simplest way to care for your silver is to wear it often. The natural oils in your skin help reduce silver's oxidation.

While not being worn, store the silver in a clean pouch and avoid water contact.

To clean your silver gollow these simple steps:

- Place your silver pieces in your bowl

- Drop 1-2 pumps of solution liquid onto the tarnished area

- Use your bamboo toothbrush to brush gently around the piece

- Rinse twice to remove residue and liquid completely

- Dry off with a clean cloth or hand towel

- Remove any remaining tarnish by using the microfibre cloth

Watch our video tutorial here

Chains

With time it’s natural for chains to build up residue from everyday wear. Although they don’t need to be cleaned that often, to keep them looking that extra bit brighter follow the steps below.

For more chunky vermeil chains such as the Love Link, Linked and Link Up, follow the below steps.

- Place your pieces to be cleaned into the empty bowl

- Immerse 1-3 pumps of liquid onto your pieces in the bowl - Start by scrubbing the closure and clasps

- Gently drag the chain though the bristle

- Rinse twice to remove residue and liquid completely

- Dry off with a clean cloth or hand towel

- Buff with the microfibre cloth to maintain a high shine

Watch our video tutorial here

For more delicate chains, in particular our solid gold pieces, follow the below steps

- Lay the gold polishing cloth in your hand

- Place your chain on top of the cloth within your hand

- Gently feed the chain through the cloth with it sandwiched inside

- Be very gentle with a soft grip for fine chains

- Focusing on rubbing the closures with the cloth

- Ready to wear without being rinsed and no use of the liquid solution

Watch our video tutorial here.

Diamonds & Gemstones

Diamonds are composed of pure carbon, which means they are one of the most durable stones known to man. We make sure our diamonds are ethically sourced from suppliers who follow strict social responsibility guidelines following the Kimberley Process.

Gemstones greatly dislike harsh cleaners and solutions. Do avoid contact with lotions, creams and harsh scented perfumes that can seriously damage and effect the stones colour, appearance and durability.

We advise taking finer pieces with delicately set stones off before showering, exercising or when in contact with any vigorous activity that may damage the stone.

Keep gemstones out of the direct sunlight as prolonged exposure can cause their colour to fade. And finally, store gemstones separately to avoid them touching and scratching each other.

Although diamonds and most of our gemstones are tough, they can still chip from a hard fall or blow. Store diamond jewellery away safely, ideally individually in our Otiumberg pouch with the box provided.

We recommend cleaning all of your pieces on a flat surface and to avoid cleaning over an open sink.

Do not use this method on stones such as emeralds, pearls and opals as these stones are much softer than others in our collection and have a higher sensitivity level to residue and moisture.

Follow these simple steps for clean your gemstones:

- You will need an empty bowl, a bowl filled with lukewarm water and our Otiumberg cleaning kit ready to hand.

- Place your pieces to be cleaned into the empty bowl

- With our cleaning solution use the droplet to release 3-5 pumps of liquid onto your pieces in the bowl

- Use our bamboo toothbrush to brush gently around the inside and back of the stones, behind the settings, hinges and clasps to remove any embedded dirt Rinse twice to remove residue and liquid completely

- Dry off with a clean cloth or hand towel

- For extra shine finish by giving one final dry buff with our gold polishing cloth

Ready to wear!

Watch our video tutorial here

Warranty, Repairs & Cleaning

We include a one year warranty on all orders and would be happy to repair any damages within this period. Our warranty does not cover general wear & tear or lost stones. We are also unable to return any items once they have been altered by a third party jeweller.

While we’re happy to cover the cost of the repair, if your piece has a missing or damaged stone, we do not cover the cost of replacing the stone. Reach out to us and we’ll send you a quote for a replacement stone.

Over time, plated gold vermeil can fade. This may vary depending on how you look after your jewellery. We offer a re-plating service an a nominal charge to restore your piece to new. It's simple and quick, ensuring that you are able to keep your gold vermeil piece looking perfect year after year.

We also offer a cleaning service at HQ where we would be happy to clean your Otiumberg pieces for £15 + pp.

For any information on the above, be sure to email us on hello@otiumberg.com