We know you love your May Martin pieces and we want you to have it forever! Take care of your gems and chains with the below instructions.

Store your May Martin jewelry in small plastic bags to avoid exposure to chemicals and moisture in the air. Always handle our pieces delicately.

Please note that metals can tarnish over time when exposed to chemicals such as water, hair spray, perfume and lotions.

Gold Filled vs. Gold Plated 

We get this question pretty regularly and want to make sure you know what you’re wearing when you put on a gold filled May Martin necklace, bracelet, anklet, ring, or pair of earrings.

We choose gold filled over gold plated whenever possible for a few reasons:

1. You get more gold (UP TO 100 TIMES MORE) in gold filled pieces

Because of how the material is made, gold filled pieces are typically 5% gold alloy while gold plating only gives you around .05% (half of one percent) of gold alloy.

2. Gold filled pieces are simply made better

When a gold filled piece is made, the core metal (usually sterling silver or jeweler’s brass) is sandwiched between two hefty layers of solid gold then compressed by powerful rollers. The pressure applied through this process bonds the gold alloy to the core metal and ensures that the entire piece is surrounded by the shiny goodness we love so much.

Gold plating, on the other hand, uses an electric current to charge particles of gold so they bond to the core metal. This process gives you a thin dusting of gold around the piece that can easily tarnish and wear off.

 3. Gold filled jewelry's easier on sensitive skin

Because of the way the material is made and the amount of gold surrounding the core metal on gold filled pieces and the higher quality core metals typically used, they're usually easier on sensitive skin than gold plated pieces.

4. No one likes high-maintenance jewelry

Although 14 karat Gold Filled jewelry will not tarnish quickly, it will get dirty. The oils from your skin and dirt from the environment around you will transfer to the metal and need to be washed away.

The easiest way to clean your handmade gold filled piece is to scrub it with soft jewelry brush and unscented dish soap. Rinse well, pat dry, and let it air dry.

Then, just make sure your jewelry is completely dry before putting it away.

NOTE: Some parts of our jewelry like coins and intricately-detailed charms may be gold plated rather than filled. When in doubt, just check the item description and we’ll tell you exactly what you’re getting.