Product Care

Sterling Silver jewellery is suitable for everyday wear, and can be identified by the symbol ‘925’ stamped into the metal. Sterling silver is an alloy composite of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. This differs from fine silver which is 99.9% pure silver, and is generally too soft to use in most jewellery. 

Sterling silver is still a very delicate metal, but is used for jewellery due to the copper composite making this stronger. Whilst fine silver doesn’t tarnish easily, sterling silver will tarnish more easily due to the copper inclusion.

Care -
Simply polish tarnish with a silver polishing cloth (available for purchase here and in store), or dip it in a gentle silver cleaning solution.

Plating is a method of bonding a thin layer of liquid gold or silver to a base metal. At Francesca pieces are of the highest quality with plating thickness, varying from 1 to 2 microns.

We use either a base of brass or sterling silver, with a plated layer of either 14k or 18k rose or gold. Silver plating has a plated layer of sterling silver on a base. Our solid sterling silver pieces also include layer of plated silver onto a base of silver. This allows a brighter silver finish on some of our pieces.

The type of plating will be indicated in the product description of the item; it is important to read this to understand how your piece is made.

There are differences in the colour of plated pieces, for example a 14k gold plated piece will be a lighter colour than 18k gold piece, as there is more gold in the composite of a higher karat - meaning the higher the karat, the more pure gold in the mix.

Care -
Wear in plating over time is subject to change due to the acidity of the wearer's skin and exposure to products such as perfumes, moisturisers, tans or cleaning products. Plating wear is not a manufacturing fault, as it depends on the wearers environment.

To care for your piece, please remove before swimming, showering and exercise. Avoid contact with cleaning products, perfumes and skincare.

You can use a polishing cloth occasionally to shine your pieces, however over-polishing will wear the plating faster.

Francescauses gold filled beads and findings in our hand-made bracelets, necklaces, charms and earrings. With the elegance and beauty of gold, gold filled pieces are a long-lasting alternative to solid gold, and are made from a layer of 14k gold, bonded to a brass base. These pieces are generally suitable for everyday wear without tarnishing.

Care -
Avoid wearing it in treated water (pools, spa's etc), and limit exposing it to chemicals. Clean it using warm water and a soft cloth or a jewellery polishing cloth for a little extra shine. Avoid over-polishing to ensure longevity of your special piece!

Unlike many other metals, gold will never tarnish or fade, making it perfect for everyday wear. To care for your piece, simply polish it with a gold polishing cloth (available for purchase here or in store), or dip it in warm water using a mild detergent. Please avoid swimming in chlorine or saltwater, and limit  any contact with harsh chemicals as this can damage the soft metal.

PLEASE NOTE: Our 'Noir' range of solid gold and diamonds has been discontinued

Our famous beaded bracelets, some necklaces, earrings and charms are hand-made in our Hobart studio! We use industrial strength elastic, or industrial fine jewellery wire to create these pieces. We recommend reading the full product description to understand the materials used to create your piece.

About Gold Filled -
uses gold filled beads and findings in our hand-beaded bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Gold filled pieces are a long-lasting alternative to solid gold, and are made from a layer of 14k gold, bonded to a brass base. These pieces are generally suitable for everyday wear without tarnishing.

About Semi-Precious Stones & Pearls
Semi-precious stones are a natural product and therefore change over time. Exposure to sunlight, treated water and other chemicals or products change the appearance of your stones. Some stones are more prone to change quicker than others depending on their composition. This is completely normal for natural stones, and a good indicator of the authenticity. Manufactured stone does not change in this way unless affected by chemicals.

As a natural product, stones can also wear over time. Natural semi-precious stones (unlike precious gemstones) are not as hard wearing over long periods of time. You may notice with wear, your stones may start to change shape. This is normal wear and tear and will greatly depend on how often you wear your pieces, and how long you have had them for. 

Natural pearls that we use have a main composition of calcium carbonate, which in its layered form wears similar to a soft stone. You can identify natural pearls from manufactured plastics by rubbing them together - this will create a ‘dust’ as it wears the stone away. Unlike plastics, natural pearls can be scratched.

Care -
To clean your semi-precious stones, gently wipe them with a damp cloth. Avoid wearing them in treated water or exposing them to detergents, chemicals, tans, perfumes, and soaps. Some stones are porous and may take on colouring from tans and makeup.

PLEASE NOTE: Our 'Noir' range of solid gold and diamonds has been discontinued

Diamonds and other stones set into solid gold or sterling silver can be cleaned in warm water with a mild detergent solution, or by a professional jeweller.

Care -
Any activity that may cause the band to become misshapen will affect the setting of the stones. This may result in the loss of stones.

Rings with an open back setting can be soaked in a warm soapy water, and gently brushed with a toothbrush or eyelash spoolie.

Misshapen pieces are deemed wear and tear and are not covered under warranty.

Tarnish is a result of the metal oxidising and can be affected by many things. perfumes, moisturisers, tanning lotions, cleaning chemicals, and even ones' skin acidity can affect how metals may tarnish.

Oxidation is a natural process that occurs from the combination of oxygen with a substance forming oxide (metals reacting to air exposure ).

Tarnish is not a manufacturing fault and can easily be polished with a silver polishing cloth (available for purchase here and in store). Avoid over-polishing plated items as this can wear your plated piece quicker over time.

How you store you items will also affect if your piece will tarnish faster or not. purpose-made jewellery boxes are recommended for proper jewellery care. Do not store your items in our gifting/shipping boxes - these are only designed to protect your pieces during transit, and are not suitable for long-term use to keep your pieces in.

You can purchase a polishing cloth  available here and in store, to keep your pieces free of tarnish and looking shiny.

We do not recommend polishing your plated pieces too often, as this can contribute to wear in the plating.

Harsh chemicals will affect the colour of your pieces; please only use recommended jewellery cleaning products, and only use on solid metals such as sterling silver or solid gold.

Always read the product description on your pieces for the full list of materials, to ensure suitable use of cleaning products.

We recommend not to store your jewellery in the boxes you receive it in, these are designed for transport and not long-term use. A purpose designed jewellery box is best to prevent your pieces from oxidising as quickly (see FAQ 'Tarnishing'). We have jewellery boxes available to purchase here  to keep your pieces safe.

All Francesca Jewellery is lead and nickel free!

Please note that Francesca does not take responsibility for any allergies or reactions that occur whilst wearing our pieces. We highly recommend researching product materials prior to purchasing.

Black metal discolouration is a common effect of tarnishing due to ones’ skin acidity! This is easily removed with a jewellery polishing cloth.