Caring for Your Ben and Cocoa Jewellery
Every piece from Ben and Cocoa is handmade with care, whether it’s a simple everyday ring, a delicate glass design, or a deeply personal memorial piece. With the right care, your jewellery will stay beautiful and meaningful for many years to come.
Below you’ll find simple guidance for looking after your jewellery at home.
General Jewellery Care
To keep all of your jewellery in the best possible condition:
- Remove your jewellery before bathing, showering, swimming, or using hot tubs
- Avoid contact with perfumes, hairspray, cosmetics, lotions, and cleaning products
- Take jewellery off before gardening, DIY, or exercising
- Store pieces separately in a soft pouch or jewellery box to prevent scratching
- Put jewellery on last and remove it first when getting ready
Jewellery is designed to be worn and loved, but like anything handmade, it benefits from a little care and attention.
Sterling Silver & Gold Jewellery
Silver and gold are precious metals and will naturally change over time.
Sterling Silver
- Silver can tarnish when exposed to air, moisture, and chemicals
- Tarnish is not damage — it can be gently polished away
- Use the polishing cloth provided or a soft jewellery cloth
- For deeper cleaning, warm water with mild soap and a soft brush can be used (rinse and dry thoroughly)
Gold (including gold-filled or plated items, where applicable)
- Gold is more resistant to tarnish but can still dull over time
- Clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth
- Avoid abrasive cleaners or harsh polishing compounds
Memorial Jewellery & Inlaid Pieces
Many of our memorial and keepsake pieces contain personal materials such as ashes, hair, fur, sand, glass, or other inclusions, encapsulated within glass or resin.
These pieces are made to be worn and treasured, but they do require a little extra care.
To protect your memorial jewellery:
- Avoid prolonged exposure to water, especially hot water or steam
- Remove before swimming (including the sea and swimming pools)
- Avoid impact, pressure, or dropping the piece
- Keep away from harsh chemicals, perfumes, and household cleaners
- Store safely when not being worn
Glass and resin are durable, but they are not indestructible. Treat your piece gently and with the respect it deserves.
Glass Jewellery
Our fused and kiln-formed glass pieces are designed to be strong enough for everyday wear, but they remain glass.
- Avoid knocks against hard surfaces
- Do not expose to sudden temperature changes (e.g. hot water followed by cold)
- Clean gently with a soft cloth
- Never use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads
Rings, Bracelets & Everyday Wear
Rings and bracelets naturally experience more wear than necklaces or earrings.
To prolong their life:
- Remove rings when washing hands, applying hand cream, or doing physical tasks
- Avoid twisting, bending, or forcing jewellery on and off
- If a piece begins to feel loose, tight, or uncomfortable, stop wearing it and contact us for advice
What to Expect Over Time
Because each piece is handmade:
- Minor marks and patina may develop with wear
- Silver may darken naturally
- Resin or glass inlays may develop fine surface marks over years of wear
These changes are a normal part of owning a handcrafted piece and often add to its character and story.
Repairs & Maintenance
If your jewellery becomes damaged, scratched, or no longer feels quite right:
- Please contact us before attempting any repair yourself
- We will always do our best to advise on cleaning, refinishing, or repair where possible
Memorial jewellery in particular is handled with the utmost care, and we are always happy to discuss the safest options for restoration.
A Final Thought
Many Ben and Cocoa pieces carry deep personal meaning — symbols of love, remembrance, connection, and memory. Caring for your jewellery is also a way of honouring the story it holds.
If you ever have a question about your piece, we’re only a message away.