Care guide

Morrow & Loom pieces are made by hand with traditional crafts, such as mother-of-pearl inlay, layered natural lacquer and Song brocade, and set in gold vermeil or sterling silver. Each one is made to be worn. The advice below covers the materials we use today, and each product page has care notes for its own piece.

At a glance

  • Put your jewellery on last, after perfume, lotion and hair products.
  • Take it off before washing, swimming, showering, exercise and sleep.
  • Wipe each piece with a soft, dry cloth after wearing.
  • Keep pieces dry and out of strong sunlight. Do not soak, rinse or dip any piece.
  • Store each piece in its pouch, apart from other jewellery.

Everyday wear

Our necklaces, bracelets, studs, hoops and rings are made for regular wear. Natural lacquer grows a softer, deeper lustre the more it is handled.

  • Take pieces off for anything that knocks or rubs: the gym, gardening, cleaning, carrying heavy bags.
  • Lacquer and shell can chip if struck against a hard surface, so take rings off before heavy work with your hands.
  • Remove rings when washing your hands or using hand sanitiser.
  • Take jewellery off at night, so settings and fastenings are not strained while you sleep.

Water, perfume and sunlight

Water, perfume, lotions, oils and sunscreen are the main causes of dull metal, clouded shell and marked silk. Mother-of-pearl is soft and reacts to acids, and long hours of strong sunlight can fade lacquer and silk.

  • Keep pieces away from pools, the sea, baths and showers. Chlorine and salt water are especially hard on metal and shell.
  • Let perfume, lotion and sunscreen dry fully before putting your jewellery on.
  • If a piece gets wet, pat it dry straight away with a soft cloth and let it air-dry, away from direct heat and sunlight.
  • Do not leave pieces on a sunny windowsill or in a hot car.

Cleaning

Lacquer

  • Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth. The warmth of your hand and a soft cloth are all lacquer needs to keep its shine.
  • For a smudge, use a cloth that is barely damp, then dry the piece straight away.
  • Do not use polishes, solvents, alcohol or abrasive cloths on lacquer.

Mother-of-pearl inlay

  • Wipe with a soft, dry cloth after each wear to remove skin oils.
  • Never use vinegar, lemon, household cleaners or jewellery dips. Acids etch the shell and dull its shimmer.

Song brocade

  • Brush away dust with a dry, soft brush.
  • Do not wet, scrub or iron the silk. Keep it away from make-up, fake tan and oils, which silk absorbs easily.

Metal parts

  • For sterling silver, a silver polishing cloth can be used lightly on the metal only. Keep it off lacquer, shell and silk.
  • For gold vermeil, use a soft dry cloth only. Do not use polishing cloths, polishes or abrasives, which can wear through the gold layer.
  • Do not use liquid silver dips, ultrasonic cleaners or steam cleaners on any piece.

Tarnish on sterling silver

Sterling silver darkens naturally when it meets air, moisture and skin. This is normal for silver.

  • Wearing silver often and wiping it after wear slows tarnish.
  • Storing it in its pouch, away from air and humidity, helps too. A dry drawer is better than a bathroom shelf.
  • Light tarnish lifts with a silver polishing cloth used on the metal only.

Gold vermeil over time

Gold vermeil is a layer of gold over sterling silver. With wear, the gold layer can soften and thin, most often where a piece rubs against skin or clothing.

  • Keeping vermeil away from water, perfume and friction is the best way to make it last.
  • Wipe it gently and never polish it hard.
  • Some change in tone over the years is expected with regular wear.

Storage

Every order arrives in a pouch and box. Use them.

  • Keep pieces apart, in the pouch they came in, so metal does not scratch lacquer or shell.
  • Lay necklaces and bracelets flat or loosely coiled.
  • Keep pieces somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. Very dry air, such as next to a heater, is hard on lacquer too.
  • Keep studs and hoops paired together in the same pouch so they do not go missing.

Travelling

  • Pack pieces in their pouch and box, inside your hand luggage.
  • Fasten necklaces and bracelets before packing so chains do not tangle.
  • Take jewellery off before swimming, the beach or applying sunscreen on holiday.

Sizing

The Mother-of-Pearl Inlay Pendant comes in 40 cm or 45 cm lengths. The Lacquer Signet Ring comes in sizes 5, 6, 7 and 8. A ring that fits well is less likely to knock or slip off, so check your size before ordering. Our size guide explains how to measure.

When to get in touch

Write to us through the contact page if:

  • lacquer or shell has chipped, or an inlaid piece has lifted
  • brocade has frayed at an edge
  • a metal part, setting or fastening feels loose
  • you are unsure how to clean a mark or a piece of tarnish
  • something about your piece does not look right when it arrives

Please include your order number and a photo.

All sales are final, so please check your size before you order; see Shipping & cancellations for details. To learn how each craft is made, read The craft.