Aftercare | Hellcat Jewellery

✨ General Jewellery Aftercare: Keep It Wicked, Keep It Shining

Whether it’s silver, gold, or gemstone-studded, here’s how to give your jewellery the long life it deserves:

💍 Sterling Silver

Avoid water, steam, and lotions — they speed up tarnishing.
Polish regularly with a professional silver cloth. (a regular/ lint cloth won't remove tarnish)
Store in an airtight pouch or box, away from sunlight and humidity.

🥇 Gold Jewellery

Gold doesn’t tarnish like silver, but it can still lose its lustre over time.
Avoid wearing your gold pieces while swimming (chlorine is the enemy!) or applying skincare products.
Wipe gold jewellery with a soft, lint-free cloth after wear to remove oils and build up.
Clean occasionally using warm water, a drop of mild soap, and a soft toothbrush — then rinse and pat dry.

💎 Gemstones

Most stones don’t love chemicals, heat, or hard knocks. Treat them gently.
Remove gemstone jewellery before doing any heavy work or using cleaning products.
Clean with a soft, damp cloth — avoid soaking unless you're sure your gemstone can handle it (porous stones like opal, turquoise, or pearl are especially sensitive).
Store gemstone pieces separately to avoid scratches.

🔮 Extra Hellcat Tips

Traveling? Keep pieces in individual pouches to prevent tangling and scratches.
Consider using anti-tarnish strips in your jewellery box.
If your piece ever needs professional TLC, reach out — we offer cleaning, polishing, and resizing services to keep your Hellcat treasures looking fierce.

🖤 Is Sterling Silver Turning Your Finger Green? Don’t Panic — Here’s What to Do 🖤

It’s surprisingly common — and totally natural — for your skin to show a slight green tint when you first start wearing sterling silver jewellery. Whether you’re rocking your very first piece or adding to a growing collection, this reaction is usually just your skin adjusting to the metal. For most people, this effect fades after a few wears.

🪙 What Is Sterling Silver, Really?

Sterling silver — often stamped as 925 — is made from 92.5% pure silver, blended with 7.5% other metals (usually copper) to make it stronger and more durable. Pure silver on its own is too soft for everyday wear, so this alloy helps your jewellery keep its shape while still offering that iconic shine.

🧪 Why Does Silver Tarnish or Discolour Skin?

A few common culprits behind quick tarnishing or skin discolouration include:

Natural pH levels in your skin (especially if they change due to weather or hormones)
Wearing jewellery while sleeping, when your body tends to sweat more
Lotions, perfumes, sunscreens, hand sanitiser, and other skincare products
Wearing silver in water (washing hands, showering, swimming)
Body oils that can react with the metal over time

These factors can cause the silver to tarnish faster and leave behind a harmless (but annoying) green or dark mark on your skin.

🧼 What To Do If It Happens

Remove the jewellery and gently clean it with a silver polishing cloth.
Wash your hands with warm water and mild soap to remove any green staining on the skin.
If the reaction persists, try applying a thin layer of clear nail polish to the inside of your ring or contact points. Reapply as needed.