Jewellery care
Every LEVAUS piece is made by hand from natural materials — stone, bead, thread and worked metal. Natural materials age. Looked after, they age well.
Six rules
- Avoid contact with perfume, skincare, or any other chemicals.
- Remove your jewellery before you get into the shower, bath or pool.
- Remove it before going to the gym.
- Keep your jewellery in a dry place, away from humidity.
- Remove it before washing your hands or using hand sanitiser.
- Store your jewellery in a box or pouch, keeping each piece separated from the others.
If you only remember one thing: put your jewellery on last, once perfume and moisturiser have dried, and take it off first.
Why these matter
Turquoise, coral, amber and lapis lazuli are porous — they absorb what they touch. Water dulls their surface over time, and perfume, hairspray, sunscreen, chlorine, hand sanitiser and household cleaners can stain or bleach them permanently. Sweat does the same thing more slowly, which is why the gym is on the list.
If a piece does get wet, pat it dry with a soft cloth straight away and leave it out to dry fully before putting it away.
By material
Natural stone
Wipe with a soft, dry cloth after wearing. No water, no soap, no ultrasonic cleaners — these are the fastest way to ruin a porous stone. Variation in colour, veining and size between pieces is the nature of the material, not a flaw.
Silver and worked metal
Silver darkens as it reacts with air. Many people prefer that patina on Tibetan and Nepali work, because it settles into the detail and brings the pattern forward. If you would rather keep it bright, polish gently with a dedicated silver cloth.
Keep silver dip and liquid polish away from any piece that also holds stone or bead — it will get into the settings and damage them. Polish the metal only, and work around the stones.
Beads and thread
Beaded strands are strung by hand. Thread is the part that wears, not the beads. Lift a beaded necklace with two hands rather than pulling it over your head by one side, and avoid letting it hang under its own weight for long periods.
If a strand starts to feel loose, or you can see thread between the beads, stop wearing it and get in touch. Restringing is straightforward; a broken strand on a footpath is not.
Storing
Flat, dry, dark and separate. A soft pouch or a lined box is ideal; a drawer with a cloth laid down works. Keeping pieces apart stops metal scratching stone and stops strands tangling. Avoid bathrooms — the humidity is hard on both silver and porous stone.
Repairs
If something breaks, don't throw it out and don't glue it. Most of what we make can be repaired or restrung. Email hello@levaus.com with a photo and we will tell you honestly whether it can be fixed and what it would involve.
One last thing
These pieces are made to be worn, not stored. A necklace that shows a little wear has been used the way it was meant to be. The rules above are about avoiding the damage that cannot be undone — water on porous stone, chemicals on silver, a strand left to fray — not about keeping anything pristine.