Three rules. That's the whole guide.

Don't get it wet. Cologne goes on before the jewellery does. Back in the pouch when it comes off.

Take care of it and it will take care of you. Don't, and it won't — and that isn't a fault, that's physics. Every plated finish wears through in the end. Ours included. Here's how to be on the right side of it.

Take it off for

• Showers and baths — soap and hot water dull the finish.
• Pools and the sea — chlorine and salt water are the fastest way to kill any plated finish.
• The gym — sweat is acidic, and friction from reps wears plating at the contact points.
• Sleep — hours of friction against fabric, plus bent links and stressed clasps.
• Rain, washing up, anything else involving water. There's no clever exception here. Water and chemicals are what strip plating and cause the green. That's the entire mechanism, there is nothing else to it. Keep it dry and you're not fighting anything.

The daily habits

• Last on, first off. Cologne, aftershave, moisturiser and hair products go on first and dry fully before the jewellery goes on. Spraying through it is the most common cause of dulling we see.
• Wipe after wear. Ten seconds with a soft dry cloth lifts sweat and oils before they sit overnight. A glasses cloth or a clean cotton tee is ideal. Not kitchen roll — it's wood pulp and it drags on a plated finish.
• Back in the pouch. Clasp done up, stored dry, away from bathroom humidity. Don't pile pieces together, stones scratch metal.

Cleaning

A soft dry cloth after wear does most of the work.

Every so often, give it a proper clean: warm water with a little neutral washing-up liquid, five to ten minutes, then dry it properly. Dry it fully before it goes back in the pouch — damp is the thing you're protecting it from.

Never: ultrasonic cleaners, silver dip, jewellery polish, toothpaste, baking soda or anything abrasive. All of them strip rhodium plating.

Earrings

Our studs are 925 sterling silver with hand-set 5A cubic zirconia. Same three rules. Wipe the posts occasionally with a soft dry cloth. Sterling silver tarnishes if it's left sitting in open air, so keep them in a closed pouch or box when you're not wearing them and that doesn't happen.

What's a fault, and what's normal wear

A fault is something wrong with the piece itself — a stone lost from a bad setting, a clasp that gives out, a piece that turns up damaged. Email ossie@noctavince.co.uk with your order number and clear photos and we'll put it right. Our guarantee runs 12 months from delivery and the remedy is one free replacement. You also have 30 days from delivery to reject a faulty piece for a full refund under the Consumer Rights Act, we pay the return postage, and your rights are honoured in full.

Normal wear is a different thing. Plating thins with time and contact. That's true of every plated piece ever made, ours included, and it isn't a defect. Damage from water, cologne, chlorine, sweat, the gym, sleeping in it or harsh cleaners sits on that same side of the line. Faults are on us. Wear isn't.

Changed your mind rather than found a fault? That's 14 days from delivery. Full detail on the Returns page.