Maintenance & repair

Stone maintenance

Fine stones, like precious stones, require a little care to keep their shine.

To avoid scratching them, we advise you to wash them using a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Generally speaking, you should also avoid exposing them to the sun for too long, as this could alter the colour of the lighter stones.

Silver maintenance

Sterling Silver or 925 Silver jewellery oxidises naturally over time. This phenomenon can be accentuated depending on the type of skin and particularly its acidity. Blackening of silver jewellery can also be caused by contact with detergents, cosmetics or frequent exposure to dust. Tarnishing is therefore not a manufacturing defect.

All our jewellery is delivered with a treated micro-fibre cloth that allows you to revive the silver while providing a protective layer against tarnishing. You can also rub your silver with baking soda mixed with warm water (one tablespoon of baking soda in a coffee cup) for that DIY touch.

More information about tarnishing below in the Q&A section.

Your jewellery and water...

A question that often comes up is whether or not you can swim with your jewellery.

Generally speaking, it is NOT ADVISABLE to put your jewellery underwater, whether in the shower, the pool, the sea or the ocean.

Although our jewellery is safe in water, the same cannot be said for soaps, salt water or even worse chlorinated water.

Exposure to water is a cause for breach of warranty.

Repairs

You have broken your bracelet, or you want to give it a new look? Do you want to change the color of the macramé thread? Do you need to enlarge or shrink your jewellery?

We offer a maintenance and repair service for your jewellery that covers most needs from 29€. This service offers you a complete reassembly of your jewel and a polishing/adjustment of the silver pieces.

Q&A

Why does my jewellery turns black ?

If you wear Sterling Silver, it's not a question of "if" your jewel will tarnish but "when". Fortunately, there are solutions to help protect your Sterling Silver jewels. To better understand what happens, you need to know what causes tarnish: sulphur, moisture, skin pH and sunlight. This guide will give you an overview of tarnish, how to prevent it from spreading and some techniques to remove it once it has formed. Be proactive and you can keep your silver jewellery shining.

What is tarnishing ?

Tarnished Sterling Silver has a yellow, brown or black film that masks the characteristic shine of silver. Tarnishing of Sterling Silver is not beautiful on the surface - making what was polished and shiny, dull and lifeless - but does not cause significant physical damage as rust does to iron.

What causes tarnishing ?

You can blame it all on sulfur, moisture, and sunlight. When one or more of these agents meet the outermost layer of some metals, it triggers a chemical reaction. The reaction leaves a thin, discolored layer on the surface of the metal. This is called oxidation. (The copper in sterling silver is very reactive, which is why Sterling Silver can tarnish quickly).

Tarnishing is a fact of life here on our sunny, watery planet. Sulfur is present in small amounts in the atmosphere and in the air we breathe. It is even more concentrated and corrosive in cities and industrial areas. The problem is that higher levels of exposure to sulfur, moisture, or light cause the tarnish to spread rapidly. Time is not on silver's side either: the longer the metal is exposed to these agents, even in relatively small amounts, the more it tarnishes.

What should be avoid ?

Sunlight, as well as light bulbs that emit gas.
Water, especially sulfur-rich well water, sea water and sea air, spas and swimming pools.
Natural gas, often used in heat sources and stoves.
Smoke of any kind, including tobacco, exhaust, chimneys and candles.
Fabrics and leathers treated and tanned with sulfur compounds.
Paper, which is treated with water and chemicals containing residual sulfur.
Fingerprints and other forms of contact with body oils.
Cosmetics and body products, such as lotions and perfumes.
Food and wine, especially foods containing eggs, onions, salt and oil.
Storage under glass, in display cases or in plastic bags, where exhaust fumes can accumulate

How can I improve the longevity of my jewellery ?

Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your silver jewellery.
Store your jewellery in a cool, dry place away from the sun.
Ensure that storage cabinets are airtight.
Store jewellery in tarnish-resistant bags or organisers.

How to remove tarnish ?

First, check if your metal is dirty. Clean the piece with a bit of hydro alcoholic hand gel and rub with a cotton swab, cotton ball, or cotton makeup pad. You can also rub lightly with a natural bristle brush.

If this does not help the discoloration, the Flibustier Paris technical team advises you to use a polishing cloth, which usually removes the slight tarnish. A soft cloth was given to you for this purpose with your jewel so that you can clean it and protect it from tarnishing. Once you have finished using the cloth, you can purchase more from our website.