Jewellery care and materials

Jewellery Care and Materials

This page was last updated on 14 September 2026.

What our jewellery is made of, in plain terms, and how to keep it looking right. This page also explains the words we use on product pages, and the ones we deliberately do not.

The words we use, and what they mean

Jewellery descriptions are often written to blur what something actually is. We use these terms precisely:

Gold-plated: a base metal, usually stainless steel or brass, with a layer of real gold bonded to the surface. The product page names the base metal and the gold purity of the plating where our supplier confirms it.
Gold-tone: a gold-coloured finish that is not gold plating. We use this term when we cannot confirm a plating specification.
Sterling silver (925): solid silver, 92.5% pure. We use this only where it is confirmed.
Silver-tone: a silver-coloured finish that is not sterling silver.
Stainless steel: solid steel throughout, not plated.
Cubic zirconia: a laboratory-made stone. It is not a diamond and we never call it one.
Imitation pearl: a manufactured pearl, not grown in an oyster.

If a product page does not state a material, it is because we could not confirm it. We would rather leave it blank than guess.

Sensitive skin and metal allergies

Nickel is the most common cause of jewellery-related skin reactions. Where our supplier confirms a piece is nickel-free, the product page says so. Where they have not confirmed it, the page stays silent, and you should treat the piece as potentially containing nickel.

We do not describe any item as "hypoallergenic". It is a word with no fixed definition and no guarantee behind it.

If you have a known metal sensitivity, stainless steel and sterling silver pieces are generally the safer choice. If you react to something you have bought from us, stop wearing it and email support@salveri.com. That is a fault, and the consumer guarantees apply.

Keeping plated jewellery looking right

Plating is a surface layer, and every plated piece will eventually wear. How long that takes depends almost entirely on how you treat it. A few habits make a large difference:

Last on, first off. Put jewellery on after perfume, hairspray, sunscreen, and moisturiser, and take it off before you undress. Those products are what strips plating fastest.
Keep it dry. Remove pieces before showering, swimming, or exercising. Chlorine and salt water are particularly hard on plating, and sweat is more corrosive than most people expect.
Wipe it down. A soft dry cloth after wearing removes skin oils before they have time to work.
Store it separately. Pieces stored loose together scratch each other. A pouch or a lined box, one piece per compartment.

We do not describe any of our jewellery as waterproof. No plated piece is.

Cleaning

Warm water, a drop of mild soap, and a soft cloth. Dry it completely before putting it away.

Do not use silver dip, jewellery polish, ultrasonic cleaners, toothpaste, or bicarbonate of soda on plated pieces. All of them remove plating. Solid sterling silver can be cleaned with a proper silver cloth; plated silver-tone cannot.

For pieces with stones or pearls, keep them away from water altogether and wipe with a dry cloth only.

Tarnishing

Sterling silver tarnishes. That is the metal reacting with sulphur in the air, not a fault, and a silver cloth removes it.

Plated pieces do not tarnish in the same way, but the plating can wear through with time and exposure, revealing the base metal underneath. Normal wear over months of use is expected. Plating that fails within days of careful wear is not. Email support@salveri.com if that happens.

Product safety

We do not sell jewellery intended for children. Small parts are a choking hazard for young children, and children's jewellery carries additional safety requirements we do not undertake to meet. Please keep jewellery out of reach of small children.

If you have a safety concern about anything you have bought from us, email support@salveri.com. We take these seriously and will respond within 1 business day.

Business information

This online store is operated by:

Trading name: Salveri
Company name: Lumivaro Limited
Business Registration Number (Hong Kong): 80869010
Address: Flat 5, 4/F, Won Hing Building, 74-78 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong

Customer service and contact

Email: support@salveri.com
Contact form: Here

Customer service hours

Monday to Friday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm AEST/AEDT
Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm AEST/AEDT

We aim to answer every enquiry within 1 business day.