Care Instructions
For longevity of your ZULA piece take care of it by storing in packaging it came in or in your precious jewelry area;
Be careful when removing your clothing and knits (including scarves),
Most earrings come with small rubber backings. These are provided to ensure you do not lose an earring while wearing them.
About the Metals
Silver
ZULA uses sterling silver that is recycled. She buys it from precious metal refineries in Ontario and also recycles the silver in her own studio. Every bit of silver and scrap is used or refined to use again.
TO CLEAN
Wipe using ZULA’s Polishing Cloth. Scrub using an old toothbrush with toothpaste. If you have various silver pieces that need to be cleaned at once create a bath for them. In a jar combine a tablespoon of baking soda, an approximately 4 x 4” scrap of tinfoil and the silver jewelry. Pour boiling water in the jar. You will see the pieces touching the tinfoil slowly brighten. In about 10 minutes you have bright silver jewelry again! Rinse in water and pat dry with a towel.
Gold Filled or Goldfill
Gold filled is a United States layered gold product that is easy to care for and will usually maintain its golden shine for a lifetime.
Gold filled is constructed in layers. The core metal is jewelers’ brass. A gold alloy is then bonded to the surface of the brass core with heat and pressure. The bonded raw material is then sold as wire and then made into chain. Gold-filled is legally required to contain 5% or 1/20 gold by weight. This 5% is then described by the karatage of the gold alloy. Most gold-filled is 12k or 14k gold filled. ZULA uses 14k gold filled hooks for earrings and 14k gold filled chain.
TO CLEAN
Gold filled does not de-laminate or peel like plated products.
To clean gold filled it is best to use mild soap and water.
Hot weather and water will not damage the material; however,
exposure to chemicals or acids will damage the gold layers
and erode the product’s integrity.
Gold
ZULA uses recycled gold making pieces in 14k + 18k in yellow, rose and white golds.
TO CLEAN
Wipe using ZULA’s Polishing Cloth. Use a toothbrush or cloth with toothpaste or soap to massage the grime out of the piece. Rinse and towel dry. You can also bring the piece to ZULA for a deep ultrasonic cleaning in her Vancouver studio. To make an appointment, contact us here.
Copper
Copper looks better over time with the natural patina it forms on its surface in brown, hues of oil slick colours such as red, rust, blue and green. (Copper will not turn powdery turquoise like on building roofs unless exposed to the elements of moisture and air for long periods of time). Please be aware that copper has the tendency to turn the skin green and this is normal; however, wearing earrings keeps the copper from direct contact with the skin.
TO CLEAN
If you prefer the bright look of copper, clean with a jeweller’s cloth or make a solution of 1 cup of white vinegar and a teaspoon of salt. Dip the pieces in the solution and take out in about 2- 5 minutes when it looks bright enough for you. Wash with soap and water to remove the vinegary smell and pat dry with a towel. You can reuse this solution by storing it in a plastic or glass container with a plastic lid.
Blackened Copper
Has a dark patina on the surface and has been waxed.
DO NOT CLEAN
To ensure the blackness stays, do not clean and resist handling and rubbing. Overtime the high points on the blackened pieces wear to show the warmth of the copper underneath. This age and antique-ing over time is desirable and the wearer will cherish a very unique piece they helped create.
Bronze
ZULA uses a bronze alloy that is made of 100% recycled metals. Bronze has a high copper content and has the same tendencies as copper to turn the skin green and patinas in hues of brown and oil slick colours.
TO CLEAN
Wipe using ZULA’s Polishing Cloth. Use a toothbrush or cloth with ketchup to massage the patina out of the piece. Wash with soapy water to remove the vinegary smell, rinse and towel dry.
Caring for Your Pieces by Collection
Nature Collections Care
All pieces are made by hand. The Leaf collection is embossed with the texture of real leaves ZULA has found in nature. So each pendant and earrings will have a different vein pattern and be shaped in a different way. No two earrings are perfect matches because of this and lend a unique charm to the collection.
To create the Cedar Branch, Birch, Oak, Yellow Cedar Cone, and ROOT collections ZULA gathers branches and roots off the forest floor usually on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia then casts them in her Vancouver studio in a process similar to lost wax casting. The mold is broken thus only one casting is created of each branch or root ensuring an exact replica from nature in solid silver, bronze, and gold. Some earrings are matched closely, some are deliberately put together for an asymmetrical look. The pieces are not coated or dipped in metal (electroplated), which is a common misconception. Because they are cast, they are now solid silver (or bronze, or gold) and are much more durable than their electroplated counterparts.
Please refer to your jewelry metal type and follow directions.
NEON LOVE Collection Care
Collection can be washed with soapy warm water, rinsed + towel dry.
Black Star Collection Care
Wash with soapy warm water, rinsed + towel dry.
FAIRYTALE Collection Care
Sterling silver is blackened to show the images pictured and give an antique quality to your piece. Depending on your body chemistry, this “antiquing” may rub off over time creating a personalized piece with highlighted and darkened areas featured in all the right places. Wipe with a damp soapy cloth if cleaning is needed. This collection is designed for everyday wear including showering and sleeping. If you need your piece reoxidized, please send a note here.
MOON Collection Care
Sterling silver is blackened to help your crescent moon pop and provide an antique quality to your piece. Depending on your body chemistry, this “antiquing” may rub off over time creating a personalized piece with highlighted and darkened areas featured in all the right places. Wipe with a damp soapy cloth if cleaning is needed. This collection is designed for everyday wear including showering and sleeping. If you want to preserve the oxidixation avoid scuffing, touching, and getting your piece wet. If you need your piece re-oxidized, please send a note here.
Bright silver earrings can be rubbed with toothpaste or wiped with a jeweller’s cloth.
BONE Collection Care
To clean silver silver areas just scrub using an old toothbrush with toothpaste. *note that oxidized copper + silver components should be just be wiped with a damp cloth only if needed to avoid removing the oxidized black areas. If you need your piece reoxidized, please send a note here.
Shield Collection Care
To clean silver silver areas just scrub using an old toothbrush with toothpaste. *note that oxidized copper + silver components should be just be wiped with a damp cloth only if needed to avoid removing the oxidized black areas. If you need your piece reoxidized, please send a note here.
