Care for handmade jewelry

You have a beautiful pair of handmade earrings from Petit Bonbon—and you want to enjoy them for as long as possible. Good maintenance makes the difference between earrings that dull after a few months and earrings that continue to shine for years. In this blog, we share our best maintenance tips, specifically for gold-plated jewelry and earrings with semi-precious stones.

Why do handmade pieces require extra attention?

Handmade jewelry with semi-precious stones and gold-plated brass is high-quality and durable—but not indestructible. Like all beautiful things, they deserve proper care. The enemy of your earrings? Chemicals, moisture, and careless storage.

The 6 Golden Rules for Maintenance

1. Put your earrings on last

Perfume, hairspray, sunscreen, and makeup are the biggest enemies of gold-plated jewelry. Apply all your personal care products before putting on your earrings. This avoids chemical reactions that can damage the plating.

2. Take off your earrings when near water

Showering, swimming, washing dishes—always take off your earrings first. Water itself isn't the problem, but chlorine, salt water, and soap are. Even tap water can, in the long run, leave a film on gold-plated surfaces.

3. Clean regularly with a soft cloth

After each wear, gently wipe your earrings clean with a soft, dry cloth (microfiber works perfectly). This removes skin oils and small dirt particles that reduce shine.

4. Store them separately

Do not store your earrings in a heap in a jewelry box where they can rub against each other. Use separate compartments, small pouches, or the Petit Bonbon gift box. Semi-precious stones are harder than gold-plated brass—they can damage other jewelry if stored loosely.

5. Avoid direct sunlight and heat

Do not store your jewelry in direct sunlight or near a heat source. UV light and heat can discolor semi-precious stones and damage the plating.

6. Do not use silver polishing cloths or aggressive cleaning agents

Silver polishes are too aggressive for gold-plated jewelry and semi-precious stones. Only use a soft dry cloth or a cloth lightly moistened with water for stubborn dirt. Never put them in an ultrasonic cleaner or jewelry cleaning solution.

My gold plating is wearing off—what now?

With intensive use, gold plating can thin over time. This is normal for all gold-plated jewelry, even of the best quality. Petit Bonbon offers a repair service for earrings that could use some love. Send us an email for more information.

Specific Maintenance for Semi-Precious Stones

• Rose quartz, amethyst, and other quartzes are quite robust but avoid prolonged contact with water
• Labradorite and moonstone are more delicate—store them in a dark, dry place
• Never clean semi-precious stones with chemical agents—only with a slightly damp cloth

Proper maintenance of your handmade jewelry is simple if you know the basic rules. A few minutes of attention after each wear will ensure your earrings remain beautiful for years. At Petit Bonbon, we want you to enjoy every handmade piece for a long time.

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