Our jewellery is made from sterling silver and stainless steel and with good care can become a treasured pieces for a long time to come. We encourage customers to store jewellery in a clean, dry, tarnish-resistant box or pouch. As a general recommendation, jewellery should be the last thing you put on before leaving the house and the first thing you take off at the end of the day. Simple things like spraying on perfume over jewellery can affect finishes. 

Please refer to the following recommendations on how to care best for your Pastiche jewellery.

STERLING SILVER.

Bright, polished and elegant; we love our sterling silver. It is a timeless material that has adorned women across many cultures for thousands of years and remains one of the most on-trend materials today. Its versatility is perfect for intricate details and its long lasting properties produce pieces to be treasured for years to come. We also love pairing these pieces with natural stones such as turquoise, howlite and rose quartz for an extra special touch. 

All Pastiche silver jewellery is forged from 925 sterling silver to produce the striking products of superior quality that have become synonymous with the Pastiche name. All silver designs from our 2018 collections onwards have been plated in Rhodium to further increase their quality and durability. Rhodium plating is a protective finish with a bright colour similar to white gold and does not tarnish. We ensure all of our sterling silver pieces are nickel-free, making this collection not only beautiful, but a great choice for all jewellery lovers.

Over time it is natural for sterling silver to tarnish. Salty air, sunlight, water, humidity and various chemicals can rapidly speed up this process. To prevent tarnishing, silver should be kept absolutely dry. Avoid contact with cleaning agents and chemicals as well as perfume. 

To clean silver, use a silver cleaning cloth to gently rub over silver surfaces. From time to time, sterling silver may require cleaning with products such as Silvo or a small amount of bicarbonate of soda. Remember that sterling silver is a relatively soft metal and should be treated gently. Avoid bending earring posts, applying excess pressure, or straining the delicate hinges of objects like lockets. 

PLATING ON SILVER.
Many of our silver designs have been electroplated with Rhodium, 14 karat rose or yellow gold. Electroplating is a process that uses an electrical current to coat the silver with a thin, but durable, layer of Rhodium or gold. 

Particular care should be taken when cleaning plated jewellery to protect the layer from being worn away. The life of the coating will depend on how often the jewellery is worn and how well it is cared for. Plated jewellery should be removed before showering or washing your hands. Let perfume and moisturisers absorb into the skin before putting on jewellery. To clean, simply wipe gently with a damp (chemical free) cotton cloth to remove surface dirt or dust.

STAINLESS STEEL

Pastiche remains the industry leader in stainless steel jewellery for women in Australia. Working in steel allows for fine, elaborate filigree, creating a complex beauty that has become a Pastiche signature.

Stainless steel is a material perfectly suited to contemporary jewellery design with the versatility to be highly polished to a mirror like brilliance or brushed to a subtle matte finish. The properties of stainless steel mean you can enjoy a product that is hard wearing, hypoallergenic, tarnish resistant and radiant. 

A dynamic colour range is achieved using the advanced technique of ion plating. It produces a harder, more durable and luminous coating in various colour options and is the technique used to plate all of our rose gold and yellow gold stainless steel pieces.

The properties of stainless steel make it perfectly suited to contemporary jewellery that is hard wearing, hypoallergenic, tarnish resistant and maintains a long lasting lustre. While stainless steel does not oxidise, rust or tarnish, it is beneficial to occasionally clean with a soft cloth and warm water to remove any grime build up.
After cleaning, jewellery must be dried thoroughly with a dry cloth. 

PLATING ON STAINLESS STEEL
Our rose and yellow gold steel products have been coloured using one of the most advanced surface finishing processes called Ion Plating (IP). It produces a harder and more durable coating with a higher brightness than that produced through traditional plating methods. IP has been shown to be five to eight times better in terms of wear and corrosion resistance. 

Although Ion Plating creates a near permanent chemical fusion of gold colour, the finish is still susceptible to a change in colour tone over time. Clean with a soft (chemical free) cloth and warm water to remove any grime build up. After cleaning, jewellery must be dried thoroughly with a dry cloth. Avoid contact with cleaning agents and chemicals.

CUBIC ZIRCONIA

Cubic zirconia (CZ) is a traditionally colourless stone that was originally created as an affordable alternative to a diamond. It is hard, flawless and with its brilliance and crystal clarity, it is a convincing rival. Cubic Zirconia is also available in an array of colours. These attributes make it a favourite in contemporary jewellery.
To clean cubic zirconia jewellery, use a small soft brush and hot soapy water to remove dirt. Rinse it in warm water and pat dry with a clean cloth. Avoid chemicals like perfumes and lotions as excessive exposure can alter the colour and appearance of stones.

LEATHER & COTTON

In some collections we have a selection of fine cotton or leather bracelets. Avoid exposing leather and cotton to moisture. Do not wear in water. Leather and cotton may change colour due to exposure to the sun and oils in the skin. To keep leather soft and extend its life, leather conditioner can be applied.

NATURAL STONES

We love pairing our sterling silver and stainless steel products with natural stones for an extra special touch. 

Clean natural stones by wiping them with a soft, damp cloth after each wear to remove dust and body oils from the gemstones. As most semi-precious stones are porous, avoid exposing these stones to soap and water. Protect them from exposure to hair spray, perfume or cosmetics, as the chemicals in these products can damage organic gemstones over time. Pearls in particular can be discoloured by soap, perfume and make up, so take extra care with them. Each natural stone is unique. Please be aware that there will be variation in stone detail and patterning.

We hope this assists you to care for your Pastiche jewellery and ensure it's sparkling for years to come.