Materials & Care
Savannah jewellery is made to be worn, not stored. Here is exactly what it is made of, and the few small habits that keep it looking new for years.
What it is made of
Every piece starts as surgical-grade stainless steel — the same family of steel used for watch cases. On top of it we apply an 18k gold PVD coating.
PVD stands for physical vapour deposition. Instead of dipping the piece in a gold bath like traditional plating, the gold is vaporised in a vacuum chamber and bonded to the steel at a molecular level. The result is a finish that is several times harder and far more resistant to wear than standard gold plating — which is why it does not turn your skin green and does not flake off after a few weeks.
Stainless steel also contains no lead and no cadmium, and the PVD layer means your skin never touches the base metal. That is what makes these pieces suitable for sensitive ears.
It handles your actual life
- Showers — yes, including hot water and soap.
- The sea — salt water will not damage the finish.
- Sweat — wear it to train.
- Sleeping — nothing to remove at night.
You do not need to take it off. That is the whole point of it.
The three things that actually shorten its life
- Perfume and hairspray sprayed directly onto it. Alcohol-based products sit on the surface and dull it over time. Spray first, put your jewellery on second.
- Heavily chlorinated water. A swimming pool now and then is fine. A daily hot tub is the harshest thing you can do to any coated jewellery. Rinse with fresh water afterwards.
- Abrasion against other pieces. Rings knocking together in a bag or a drawer will mark any finish, gold or otherwise. Keep them apart.
How to clean it
Warm water, a drop of mild soap, and a soft cloth or your fingers. Rinse, then dry completely with a soft cloth — especially around clasps and behind stones, where water likes to sit.
Never use silver polish, jewellery dips, abrasive pastes, toothpaste, or an ultrasonic cleaner. These are designed to strip a surface layer, which is precisely what you do not want on a coated piece.
Storing it
Keep pieces separate — the pouch your order arrives in is made for exactly that. Dry, away from direct sunlight, and not in a bathroom cabinet where humidity sits.
If you are travelling, thread fine chains through a drinking straw before packing them. It sounds silly and it works.
Pieces with pearls
A few of our pieces — SILK PEARL, LYA, ARIEL, NAHIA, DEAR — carry pearls. Pearls are softer than metal and deserve a little more care:
- Put them on last, after perfume and make-up.
- Wipe them with a soft dry cloth after wearing.
- Avoid soaking them for long periods, and skip the pool.
Silver-tone pieces
SILVER DROPS and SOLSTICE have a silver-tone finish rather than gold. Everything above applies to them in the same way — same steel base, same care.
Still not sure?
If something does not look right, tell us before you try to fix it yourself. Most of the damage we see on jewellery comes from a well-intentioned cleaning product.