CARE & STORAGE TIPS

Designs by Laurel Leigh products with quality materials at a great price-point. However, all jewelry is delicate (especially earrings), no matter how it is made.

Body oils, perfume, sweat, water, cosmetics and dyes (i.e. new blue jeans) may damage beads, tassels, pompoms, fringe, fabrics, metal or painted item finishes (i.e. hand painted bamboo or painted wooden beads) with exposure and/or constant wear. Excess force, bending, shaking, twisting, pulling, snagging, tangling, dropping, exposure to chemicals or liquids, poor storage, etc. can disconnect components (i.e. pendants) and damage jewelry.

Items broken, faded or otherwise damaged due to general wear and tear, rough handling or improper storage will not be replaced or refunded at DbLL cost. I am happy to offer low cost options to repair an item if you break or damage a component. Please keep in mind that inventory constantly changes, and some components may not be available at the time repair is needed. This may result in a slight design change. 

JEWELRY STORAGE:

Proper storage of your jewelry (especially during travel) is extremely important. I recommend storing stretchy bracelets flat instead of hanging. I also recommend storing heavier necklaces flat, using care not to bend them in a position that places excessive tension on the wire. Tassel jewelry, pearls, painted and delicate pieces should be wrapped carefully to protect items when traveling.

NECKLACES:

The necklace beading wire I use in my designs is strong and I use the strongest wire available for my heavier pieces, but wire can snap and break if too much tension is placed on it due to excessive bending, pressure, force, etc. Please do not pull on necklace pendants as this may disconnect the pendants from the rings. Ceramic pendants are significantly more fragile than the porcelain beads used in my designs. Use care when setting them down on hard stone surfaces (i.e. marble or granite counters).  

EARRINGS:

Please use care when fastening or untangling posts, hooks or rings; too much force, pressure or bending can damage/break these components, which will not warrant a refund or replacement. Acrylic jewelry is fragile and my designs (i.e. ginger jar and pagoda earrings) tend to have fun shapes that give pieces delicate lines and angles that can easily break if dropped or not stored carefully for travel. Use care to prevent hand painted pieces from being scratched. 

Some metals are a bit softer, so be sure to not apply too much pressure when attaching the post backs to your earrings or you can bend or break the post peg. The safest way to fasten them is to gently line up the post “peg” behind your ear until you feel it line up with with the hole in the brass/plastic back, then gently push down in a straight line. Never force the closure if it does not feel like it will close easily. Certain post earring closure backs (a.k.a. ear nuts), other than the ones provided, may not fit post styles correctly and therefore, may damage your earrings. 

PEARL JEWELRY CARE:

Most of the pearls used in my designs are real freshwater pearls. I also incorporate the use of high quality glass pearls, cotton pearls and mother of pearl shell. Always protect any type of pearls from contact with items that can crush them or scratch the surface. The best way to keep your freshwater pearl luster shiny and beautiful is by wearing them. Your body's natural oils can keep pearls moist and lustrous. Wipe your pearls with a soft, lint-free cloth as soon as you take them off. The cloth can be dampened with water or it can be dry. If damp, allow the pearls to air dry before putting them away. I recommend not applying aerosol hair products, perfume, hand sanitizer, lotion, etc. in parts of the body that may come in direct contact with pearls as this may damage the luster. Dropping earrings made with mother of pearl posts may damage components.

GOLD/SILVER PLATED & RAW BRASS ITEMS:

I recommend keeping your silver and gold-plated jewelry dry. Even though the finish is tarnish resistant and long wearing, keeping your jewelry dry will help the finish last much longer. I also recommend that you not apply hairspray, perfume, hand sanitizer, lotion, etc. in parts of the body that may come in direct contact with silver or gold plated beads or accents. You may use a jewelry polishing cloth on items to clean/brighten them as needed. Certain items in my shop are made with raw brass (i.e. pagoda earrings). Raw brass is a commonly used material in jewelry, and it may tarnish depending on the amount of humidity it is exposed to. This is not a design flaw and does not indicate that materials used are of poor quality. Brass can be polished with a brass/jewelry cleaning cloth (inexpensive and available on Amazon). Please reach out if you need to polish an item and want to verify that materials are made of brass. Liquid brass cleaning products may damage the finish on some components. Be sure to handle jewelry items carefully while you buff and polish them. 

GOLD FILLED JEWELRY:

Gold filled jewelry is considered to be water resistant. Washing hands and showering is generally safe for gold filled jewelry. Keep your jewelry clean by letting it soak in a mixture of lukewarm water and mild dish soap for 10-15 minutes. Rinse of any soap residue and pat it dry with a soft cloth, then lay it out until fully dry before wearing or storing your jewelry. You may also clean your gold filled jewelry regularly using a soft jewelry cleaning cloth (approved for gold). Avoid direct contact with chemicals (lotions, sunscreen, hand sanitizers, skin care products, etc) and avoid wearing your gold filled jewelry in the ocean, in hot tubs or swimming pools. Apply any cosmetics, creams, oils, etc. prior to putting your jewelry on. 

JEWELRY POLISHING CLOTH USE:

Orders may include a complimentary jewelry cleaning cloth. This is intended for use with brass and gold or silver plated items. Do not use cloth on pearls, lapis or malachite gemstones. Hold jewelry item carefully and lightly rub with polishing cloth until naturally occurring patina is removed. 

PAINTED WOODEN & DYED GEMSTONE BEADS:

Painted wooden and dyed gemstone beads may temporarily transfer color to skin or clothing, especially if beads become wet from water, perspiration, hairspray, perfume or hand sanitizer application. Clothing and skin should not remain permanently discolored and clothing can be laundered with color safe bleach (as permitted by fabric care information). 

TASSEL & HAIR ACCESSORY CARE:

Items with tassels should be stored carefully when you are transporting or traveling with them (see above under Storage). Loose strands may be gently snipped away if needed. Tassels may need to be fluffed up and straightened occasionally. Gentle combing strokes with your fingernails or fingertips usually does the trick. You may also place tassels under a cotton t-shirt and iron them on the lowest setting (do not hold iron down for too long or certain threads may become damaged). Please do not pull on tassels or get your tassels wet. 

Fabric/elastic hair accessories can be hand washed in cold water using liquid detergent safe for delicate items. Reshape and air dry flat on paper towels. 

ORNAMENT STORAGE: 

I recommend storing your handmade ornaments in a temperature controlled environment. Exposing fabric, wood and paper in harsh fluctuating temperatures and humidity can damage them.