Your handmade piece is special — a little care keeps it looking great for years.
Every piece I forge is made to be worn, not kept in a drawer. But metal is metal: water, chemicals, and daily wear all leave their mark. Here's exactly how to clean and maintain your hand-forged jewelry based on what it's made of — iron, copper, bronze, aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, silver, and leather. This matches the care card that ships with every order — no contradictions, just more detail.
The golden rules (every material)
- Wipe it down regularly with a soft, dry microfiber cloth. That's 90% of jewelry care right there.
- Take it off before swimming, showering, or exercising. Water and sweat are the enemy of every finish.
- Keep chemicals away — perfumes, lotions, hand sanitizer, and household cleaners. Put your jewelry on after all of that.
Iron — 6th anniversary
Iron is my signature metal, and every iron piece leaves the forge with a protective coating. That coating makes iron ring care simple:
- Wipe with a dry microfiber cloth — that's it.
- Avoid water on your iron pieces. Don't shower or swim in them.
- Hand sanitizer will damage the coating, so take your ring off before using it.
Do this and your iron will hold its finish for years.
Shop the 6th anniversary iron collection →
Copper — 7th anniversary
Copper changes over time — it darkens and develops a rich patina. That's not damage, that's character, and a lot of people love it more than the original shine.
- If you like the patina: just wipe with a dry microfiber cloth and let it age.
- If you want the brightness back: gently buff with a dry microfiber cloth.
Same golden rules apply — off for swimming and showers, no harsh chemicals.
Shop the 7th anniversary copper collection →
Bronze — 8th & 19th anniversary
Bronze behaves like copper: it darkens naturally and builds a patina that many people prefer. Bronze jewelry care is identical:
- Dry microfiber wipe for everyday cleaning.
- Buff a little harder when you want to bring back the shine.
- Keep it away from water, pools, and chemicals.
Shop the 8th & 19th anniversary bronze collection →
Aluminum — 10th anniversary
Aluminum is lightweight and low-maintenance:
- Soap and water are fine — just dry it fully afterward.
- A microfiber wipe keeps it bright between washes.
Shop the 10th anniversary aluminum collection →
Titanium
Titanium is one of the toughest metals I work with. It shrugs off daily wear better than anything else:
- Soap and water are fine — dry fully afterward.
- Microfiber wipe for a quick polish anytime.
Still take it off for swimming — chlorine is rough on everything.
Shop the titanium collection →
Stainless steel
Stainless is right up there with titanium for toughness:
- Soap and water are fine — dry fully afterward.
- Microfiber wipe for a quick polish anytime.
Same rule: off for the pool. Chlorine doesn't care how tough your metal is.
Sterling silver — 25th anniversary
Silver tarnishes. That's chemistry, not a flaw — and it's easy to manage:
- Soap and water are fine — dry fully afterward.
- Polish with a microfiber cloth to bring back the shine.
- Store it in an anti-tarnish bag when you're not wearing it. This makes the biggest difference of all.
Shop the 25th anniversary silver collection →
Leather (bracelets)
- Keep it as dry as possible. Take it off before washing hands, showering, or swimming.
- Condition it occasionally with a leather conditioner to keep it supple and help it last.
What if it needs more than a wipe?
Finishes wear, life happens, fingers change size. If your piece ever needs a real refresh, I refinish jewelry in the shop — $25 ($20 for registered owners). Resizing is $30 ($24 registered), re-engraving included.
Register your piece and you'll get 20% off all resizing, refinishing, and repair services for life — plus I'll have your piece on file so there's no guesswork when you need work done.
Questions about your specific piece? Just reach out — I made it, I know exactly what it needs.
Jewelry care FAQ
Can you shower with an iron ring?
No. Water damages the protective coating on iron jewelry. Take your iron ring off before showering, swimming, or exercising, and clean it with a dry microfiber cloth only.
How do you clean a copper ring?
Wipe it with a dry microfiber cloth. Copper naturally darkens and develops a patina over time — if you like the aged look, just let it be. To restore brightness, gently buff with a dry microfiber cloth.
Why is my bronze ring turning dark?
Darkening is normal for bronze — it's called patina, and many people prefer it to the original shine. It's not damage. Buff with a dry microfiber cloth if you want to brighten it back up.
Can you use soap and water on aluminum jewelry?
Yes. Soap and water are safe for aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, and sterling silver jewelry — just dry each piece fully afterward. Never use soap and water on iron, copper, bronze, or leather.
How do you stop sterling silver from tarnishing?
You can't stop it entirely — tarnish is a natural chemical reaction. But storing silver in an anti-tarnish bag when you're not wearing it slows it dramatically. Polish with a microfiber cloth to remove tarnish that does form.
Does hand sanitizer damage jewelry?
Yes — hand sanitizer can damage the protective coating on iron jewelry and dull other finishes. Take your rings off before using it.