Materials & Care
At Uila Jewelry, we believe celebrating life in style should not come at any cost and so we handcraft jewelry with a conscious. Uila only uses high-quality materials to bring to life our delicate and fine pieces for value. All of our pieces are made of gold vermeil and sterling silver. Our precious, clear and flawless cubic zirconias are also inherently conflict-free and ecologically friendly.
We know that jewelry terms can be confusing so we’ve simplified the materials we use and how you can treat your purchased pieces with love. Our jewelry pieces are fragile and require certain levels of care to maintain ‘uila’.
Daily wear and tear will of course happen but here are some things to know to keep your pieces pristine for longer. But don’t worry, if you forget, every Uila Jewelry purchase is accompanied with a small care guide!
“A little love goes a long way.”
Sterling Silver
The international standard for Sterling Silver is 925 which contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. This is the standard that we use for our products.
Sterling silver naturally oxidises with unpurified water. Usually a shower is fine but make sure to dry your jewelry after! However, salt water can be harsh and cause pieces to rust, oxidise or tarnish and so we recommend removing your jewelry to maintain that silver lustre. Other substances that can damage your jewelry include makeup and cosmetics, oils and moisturizer so be sure to apply these first and then put on your jewelry.
Gold Vermeil
Gold Vermeil is a premium gold finish for jewelry pieces. It is a thick coating of gold on top of solid sterling silver, which is usually 10 karat plating onwards. Please note this is different from gold plating as plating can occur on any metal base such as copper. Gold vermeil provides a thick layer of gold provides extra shine and protection for your sterling silver. However, this does not mean it is gold filled. At Uila, we commonly use 18 karat yellow gold and/or 18 karat white gold vermeil.
Whilst strong and sustainable, our delicate fine jewelry isn’t invincible so to treat it well, it is best to avoid applying perfumes and creams onto pieces and getting the pieces wet. Thus, wear jewelry after shower and applying these substances.
Long-term Loving
If unworn for a while, the jewelry will start to oxidise. Simply use a polishing cloth or, for a homemade recipe, warm water and some detergent and rub lightly with a damp soft cotton cloth to restore the shine.
When not in use, it is best to store your jewelry in ziplock bags or airtight containers just like the Uila box it arrives in. This is to ensure they remain in their lovely Uila conditions as long-term air exposure can lead to oxidisation or be tangled and scratched.
Over time, the gold layer on gold vermeil products may likely tarnish and will begin to adopt a vintage look. Don’t worry, this is an all natural process and will add character to your beloved piece.