Every piece of jewellery is thoughtfully designed and hand crafted in our Launceston studio.
picolina’s pieces are slowly made and intended to be worn daily and long lasting when properly stored and cared for.
We recommend following these guidelines to ensure the longevity of your piece.
General care
Apply all beauty products, such as perfume, body lotions, hairspray and sunscreen, before putting on your jewellery.
Avoid wearing jewellery while exercising, showering, or swimming in chlorinated water, and remove before going to bed.
Store each piece of jewellery separately in an airtight bag or container away from humid or damp environments (such as bathrooms) - moisture in the air can accelerate tarnish.
We don’t advise cleaning jewellery with abrasive household or specialty jewellery cleaning products. Doing so may cause damage. Simply wipe with a clean soft cloth after wearing, or for more stubborn marks, use the cleaning method specified for each material category below.
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Sterling silver
Our silver pieces are made from recycled Australian 925 sterling silver, finished in a bright satin surface. Silver wears beautifully over time and is a durable precious metal for everyday wear. Silver also naturally tarnishes over time from exposure to the elements. Some environmental factors such as moisture and humidity can cause tarnish to appear much quicker.
General care, storage and cleaning is the best way to slow this process down.
Our safe at-home cleaning method:
Use a small amount of toothpaste or bi-carb soda and mix with water into a paste. Apply a small amount of the paste onto a soft cloth with a little water and lightly rub the piece to clean your jewellery. Once cleaned, rinse under running water and dry carefully.
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Gold plated
Our 24ct gold plating is a thin layer applied over the top of the sterling silver through a process called electroplating. With proper care, your piece should retain its beauty for some time, however the gold layer will eventually wear back on any piece that is well loved – especially in places that regularly come into contact with skin or fabric.
To maintain the beauty of your gold plated piece, we recommend it is removed when sleeping, showering, cleaning, swimming or exercising. In particular, chlorine, chemicals, perfumes, and body lotions can negatively affect plating as any moisture can cause the metal underneath to oxidise.
To clean your plated jewellery you can wash it carefully in warm soapy water, using a soft cloth to dry thoroughly.
To have your piece refinished please contact our studio.
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Oxidised silver
Our studio uses recycled sterling silver as the base for the ‘oxidisation’ surface treatment that forms a black patina on the metal. Oxidised sterling silver has a striking matte black surface with a gun metal lustre. Each oxidised piece has been sealed with an archival quality wax to prolong this beautiful dark patina.
Our oxidised pieces are expected to gently wear and polish over time with use, the surface evolving to reveal elegant silver highlights. To preserve the blackened appearance avoid using silver cleaning agents and cloths.
We offer a re-oxidising service for those wishing to restore their jewellery to its original dark finish. To have your piece refinished please contact our studio.