.925 Sterling Silver is the most sought-after metal that individuals look for when buying jewellery. With anti-tarnishing properties, it is also a metal that does not generally irritate the wearers skin.

The number ‘.925’ refers to the concentration of silver in the material, with the purest form of silver being .999, the difference between these two values if the extra metals added to strengthen the pure silver, in this case .925 silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. This small amount of copper that is added gives the metal extra strength to be able to be formed into jewellery or given extra detail. 

Sterling Silver will naturally oxidise due to a reaction with chemicals in the environment and air, this does not mean your gorgeous jewel is tarnished but with the right care methods your Sterling Silver pieces will be shining bright always.

When receiving your sterling silver jewels, you may notice a black ‘anti-tarnish’ tab in the bottom of your Indie and Harper box, these tabs absorb chemicals in the air before it affects your jewels. If you chose to keep your jewels in the box provided it will prevent oxidisation from occurring.

Whether you care for your sterling silver jewels greatly or not, they will still need a polish up now and then! Polishing your sterling silver jewellery is typically the best way to clean it. Using a special polishing cloth (that is non-abrasive to avoid scratching!) - move to a new section of the cloth regularly and follow the grain of the silver.

If your ring is designed to be oxidised as a part of the design, then avoid any areas as this may ruin the design details. 

Rhodium Plating 

Some of our beautiful Indie and Harper sterling silver jewels are rhodium plated. Rhodium plating is added onto jewels over the sterling silver to increase shine, durability and luster. When a piece has this plating, it will make the sterling silver more scratch resistant, making them less prone to tarnishing helping your jewels looking perfect than ever for longer!

With regular and proper care, your sterling silver jewels should last many years and stay as gorgeous as ever!

Amongst our shining gold jewels, we have gold plating, gold fill and gold dipped jewels, each different type has different ways of being formed and cared for.

Solid gold jewellery is unlikely to tarnish or lose its shine but, in the case, that it does any type of polishing cloth using a light buffering movement will remove any tarnish. Our solid gold jewels are 9k gold meaning other alloys are mixed into it to ensure it is more durable which helps retain its quality.

Gold filled jewels are made by heat and pressure which bonds a layer of karat gold to another metal, in our jewels the other metal is either brass or sterling silver. To look after any jewels that are gold fill lightly polish with a cloth to remove any marks or tarnish as well as ensure that your gorgeous gold fill pieces are kept in a safe place. We currently use both 18k and 14k gold fill materials for our gold fill jewels.

Gold plated jewels are made with a layer of gold on the surface over another type of metal, at Indie and Harper our gold-plated jewels are 9k or 24k gold plated over either brass, zinc alloy or .925 sterling silver.

As your gold-plated jewels are not 100% solid gold, extra care is needed to maximise its lifespan. To prevent tarnish, do not spray perfume or other sprays near or on the piece of jewellery, as well as making sure any lotion you have on is dry before the piece is worn. Clean your plated jewels with a very soft cloth to remove any dust and dirt after everyday wear as often as possible (remember to be gentle!).  To prevent scratching, ensure your jewels are in a jewellery bag or box away from other jewel to prevent any rubbing.

Do not use a polishing cloth with these jewels are it will break away at the plating!

Although we have many different types of gold jewels with each piece varying, as long as they are cared for as needed, every piece of gold will look elegant and gorgeous on each of our beautiful customers.

Amongst our shining rose gold jewels, we currently have jewels with 9k solid rose gold, rose gold plating and rose gold fill. Every type of rose gold has a different way of being formed and cared for.

Solid rose gold jewellery is unlikely to tarnish or lose its shine. In the case that it does, any type of polishing cloth using a light buffering movement will remove any tarnish. Our solid rose gold jewels use 9k Rose Gold, this means that other metal alloys are mixed into it to ensure it is more durable and will retain its quality.

Rose gold filled jewels are made by heat and pressure which bonds a layer of karat rose gold to another metal, in our jewels the other metal is always either brass or sterling silver. To look after any jewels that are rose gold fill lightly polish with a cloth to remove any marks or tarnish. Make sure you keep your rose gold jewels in a special place, where they will not be damaged or exposed to anything that could cause them to become damp. We currently use both 18k and 14k rose gold fill materials for our gold fill jewels.

Rose gold plated jewels are made with a layer of gold on the surface over another type of metal, at Indie and Harper our rose gold-plated jewels are either over brass, zinc alloy or .925 sterling silver.

As your rose gold-plated jewels are not 100% solid rose gold, extra care is needed to maximise its lifespan. To prevent tarnish, do not spray perfume or other sprays near or on the piece of jewellery, as well as making sure any lotion you have on is dry before the piece is worn. Clean your plated jewels with a very soft cloth to remove any dust and dirt after everyday wear as often as possible (remember to be gentle!).  To prevent scratching, ensure your jewels are in a jewellery bag or box away from other jewel to prevent any rubbing.

Do not use a polishing cloth with these jewels are it will break away at the plating!

Each varying type of rose gold jewel although may be made differently, must be well looked after to ensure its durability and to ensure that each piece is always looking sparkling on all our amazing I+H customers!