Jewelry Care & Warranty

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Jewelry can experience discolouration over time due to multiple factors including exposure to moisture, chemicals and air. Metals like silver and gold are delicate, and despite our best efforts, they can still fade due to a process called oxidation.

Plating rubbing off naturally occurs with wear and tear, and is not considered a manufacturing fault.

 

 You can follow these simple steps to help your gold plated jewelry last longer:

  • While our jewelry is water-resistant, we recommend removing your jewelry before showering, swimming or exercising. Or ensure to wipe completely dry after coming into contact with moisture.
  • Allow perfume, lotions and creams to be absorbed into skin before putting on your jewelry.
  • After use, clean Jewelry gently with a soft dry cloth (all orders come with a special Saint-Désir jewelry cloth) to remove any oil or dust and restore their shine. 
  • When not in use, store your jewelry in your Saint-Désir jewelry box or in cool, dry place to prevent oxidation, scratching and chains getting tangled.
  • Try to prevent your jewelry from knocking into counter tops and rubbing against each other.

 

To clean your jewelry:

  • Wipe down after each wear. When you remove your jewelry for the day, get in the habit of giving it a quick wipe with a soft cloth or a jewelry cloth.
  • Soak the jewelry. In a small bowl, combine warm water with a few drops of mild soap. Stir the soap into the water to create some suds. Add one piece of jewelry and allow it to soak for about five to 10 minutes.
  • Remove dirt. If there is any dirt embedded in the crevices of the jewelry, use a cotton swab or a soft-bristled baby toothbrush to gently remove it. 
  • Dry thoroughly. After the jewelry is rinsed, se a soft, lint-free cloth, dry the jewelry and buff the surface so it shines.

WARRANTY

We offer a 12-month warranty against manufacturing faults from the date of purchase on items with proof of purchase. Our warranty covers faulty items only. It does not cover general wear & tear, damage caused by misuse or mishandling.  Please refer to our care instructions above for general care instructions.

Our pieces come with a guarantee that cannot be excluded under the Canadian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major fault.

FAQs

Will your jewelry turn my skin green?

Let's bust a myth shall we. Despite what most have heard, the skin that turns green underneath a piece of jewelry doesn’t occur due to the poor quality of the ring, nor is it harmful. It is simply a response to certain materials within the jewelry, and can appear even when wearing fine expensive jewelry. This patch of skin that may turn green occurs when the materials oxidise. This means they react to the pH levels of your skin, which can leave a stain.

People who happen to have a higher acidic pH within their skin tend to experience this. Another common factor is the chemicals in your hand creams or perfumes which can cause the metal to oxidise even if your skin is not sensitive to metals. The most common ingredient in any piece of jewelry that causes this scenario is copper. Pure gold and silver are naturally too soft to work with, and therefore must be alloyed (stabilised) with other materials in order to create a secure, good-quality piece of jewelry.

Copper is an alloy that is often combined with silver or gold-plated jewelry in order to create the shape and consistency of the piece. For example, the 925 sterling silver jewellery that we offer is composed of 92.5% silver, and 7.5% copper (hence, the number 925). This formula results in the highest quality silver jewellery, and is used by high-end brands as well as more affordable fashion jewellery brands, and therefore it must never be assumed that a trace of copper equals poor quality. 

What can I do to prevent my skin turning green?

If you are one of the few people who experience staining when you wear jewelry, follow the simples steps above to prevent such occurrences while also increasing the longevity of your Saint-Désir accessories. 

What do I do to treat a green finger?

If you have unfortunately experienced this green staining, you can remove this by scrubbing your skin with soap and warm water. Use a nailbrush to provide a little more friction.

If this doesn’t work, you can also use make-up remover or rubbing alcohol for more stubborn stains. Wipe over the affected area with some cotton, and then rinse off with warm water and soap. 

What is the difference between 'Regular' Gold Plating, 'PVD' Gold Plating, Gold Filled and Gold Vermeil jewelry? 

'Regular' Gold Plating occurs when a thin layer of real gold is plated onto another metal. Gold plating is often done to give the look of real gold at a fraction of the cost of having a piece of jewelry that is solid gold. Gold plating doesn’t offer the durability of gold PVD coating and when scratched can reveal the base material. We use the highest quality PVD process so that you get the aesthetic and durability.

There are a number of gold plating processes, including Physical Vapour Deposition ('PVD'). This is a process than can be used for numerous materials but is often used as a way to apply one metal (in our case, between 1-2 microns of 18k gold) with another metal (in our case, stainless steel, brass or 925 sterling silver, unless stated) to bond them together. 

PVD is a vacuum coating process that utilises a titanium nitride that produces a brilliant decorative and functional finish. PVD is an extremely durable coating which is more resistant to corrosion from sweat and regular wear than gold plating.

Gold Vermeil (pronounced vehr-may) is a term to describe jewelry that has a Sterling Silver base with gold plating at least 2.5 microns thick. Regular Gold Plating is usually less than 1.0 micron so Gold Vermeil can last many years longer than standard Gold Plating.

Gold Filled jewelry has almost 100x more gold than regular Gold Plated jewelry with at least 5% of the jewelry total weight. Since the gold is mechanically bonded to the base rather than plated, it can’t rub off. It has the same qualities as solid gold jewellery at a fraction of the cost - it's tarnish resistant and waterproof, making it great for everyday wear. Gold filled jewelry is also great for people who are allergic to metals, as the material will not cause an allergic reaction.

What do you mean by water-resistant?

Our jewelry is plated using 18k Gold PVD Plating, Gold Filled or 18k Gold Vermeil (see above). This means that our jewelry can withstand more exposure to moisture. With proper jewelry care, your jewels will last much longer than standard coated jewelry. However, we still advise to not wear your jewelry in water to maintain its shine.

It’s important to remember that all metal is susceptible to natural wear and will eventually oxidise, fade or require expert maintenance in its lifetime. Maintaining your gold plated pieces is a simple task and if you follow our jewelry care advice (which is included in all orders).

Is our jewelry hypo-allergenic?

Hypoallergenic jewelry is made from materials less likely to cause a reaction. 

If you have an allergy to some jewelry, most of the time it's due to either traces of Nickel and Copper. Brass is a Copper and Zinc alloy but our Stainless Steel pieces do not contain Nickel, Chronium or Lead which are common irritants for people who are sensitive to some jewellery.

The main concern would be if the plating wore thin, your skin would be exposed to the base metal. However, our jewelry is either PVD Gold Plated/Gold Filled or Gold Vermeil using 18k gold which means they are safe for sensitive skin.

SUPPORT

In case of any faulty goods please contact us with a photo and proof of purchase details. Items will be replaced at our discretion. At this point, we do not offer a repair service.

Please contact us directly at admin@saintdesir.ca in regards to any warranty claims or care instructions.