Care Instructions

Understand your BORCH & CO.  bracelets by knowing the materials used and how to take care of the beauty.

 

316L STAINLESS STEEL

316L is the superior choice for high corrosion-free and hypoallergenic metal that can last for many years and retain a shiny appearance. One of the most significant benefits of stainless steel is that it is low maintenance. It is scratch, tarnish, and corrosion-free. It is this incredible durability that makes them ideal for bracelets to last a lifetime.

   High polished and brushed stainless steel

On stainless steel, a mirror finish is a highly polished commercial finish characterised by a bright, shiny, and reflective surface. You'll most commonly find it in aesthetic pieces, such as public architecture and furniture. Not only is a mirror finish visually appealing, the gradual removal of scratches in the surface through mechanical polishing processes reduces troughs or grooves in the material that harbour contaminants, such as dirt or bacteria.

Nothing complicated to maintain the high polished stainless steel, simply use a soft cloth with mild soap and water. 

    18k gold PVD Electroplated

Gold plated jewellery is one of the most popular jewellery options because of its affordability and variety in styles. It’s made through a process of plating a thin layer of 18k gold onto a more affordable base metal. BORCH & CO. uses a quality base metal such as stainless steel or silver, gold-plated jewellery is hypoallergenic, plating is almost always done with an electric current in a tub of solution and is a “wet plating” method.

 Maintain the beauty:

 PVD maintenance is simple. You can use a soft cloth with mild soap and water. Avoid all products designed to remove tarnish or rust, and contain hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, and/or phosphoric acid or caustic agents. Also avoid bleach and scouring pads. 

    Black PVD Coating

PVD coating, or Physical Vapor Deposition coating, defines a variety of vacuum coating methods wherein a black coating or thin film of black is applied to the bar. This coating generally also adds a protective barrier.

Essentially, PVD coating vaporises specialised materials through a high-tech vacuum process and deposits a thin layer on the case. It is accomplished by introducing reactive gasses (nitrogen, oxygen or hydrocarbon-based) to the metallic vapor, to create the coating, thanks to a chemical reaction. For this reason, PVD coating is done in a specialised reaction chamber.

Naturally, everything will eventually wear and tear over time, and equally so PVD – but not necessarily. If the bracelet is subject to knocks and scratches, there may be a risk that the coating will come off over time. The PVD may come off in some places in very long time (5 years in average), but bear in mind that the PVD coating is very durable, both against corrosion and scratches.

PVD maintenance is simple. You can use a soft cloth with mild soap and water. Avoid all products designed to remove tarnish or rust, and contain hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, and/or phosphoric acid or caustic agents. Also avoid bleach and scouring pads. 

925 STERLING SILVER

Silver is shiny, bright and casts that signature metallic glint we all know and love. It’s timeless and trendy, and universally used in jewellery making. It’s a tensile metal combining both beauty and durability. Designers—and buyers—can’t get enough of silver.

 BORCH & CO. is using pure 925 Sterling silver that has stood the test of time, which means it’ll likely always be in style as a jewellery metal we love. It’s darling, durable, and diverse, and we cannot get enough of it.

 On BORCH & CO. genuine sterling silver jewellery, you can find the hallmark 925 or some variation of the word sterling stamped in a discreet place like the back of a charm or inside a band.

 Maintain the beauty :

Pure water by itself doesn't damage sterling silver, but most of the water exposed to in our daily lives is not purified. Chemicals and contaminants in the water can result in tarnished and dull-looking silver, so it's best to know what's what when it comes to water. 

• Shower. It's not a great idea to shower with your jewellery on, but once in a while isn't going to do any lasting damage. Just make sure to dry it after.
• Swimming Pool. Take your silver off. Chlorine is a pretty harsh chemical, so if you accidentally forget to remove your silver jewellery before hopping in, make sure to rinse and clean it afterward. 
• Hot Tub. Same idea as the swimming pool, but there's even more chlorine in the hot tub and the heat can accelerate the chemical reaction. 
• Hot Springs. The sulfur in natural hot springs will wreak havoc on your silver. Unless you're going for that "dark oxidised" look, avoid at all costs. 
• Bonus Tip: Chemicals in lotions and perfumes can also cause your jewellery to tarnish. Apply them first, let them dry, and then put your jewellery on. This alone can make a HUGE difference in your silver's luster. 

It is optimal to remove jewellery during the following times: 

• Household chores, such as dishes, laundry, and when using cleaning supplies
• When exercising, at the gym, or playing contact sports
• When showering or bathing 
• Swimming, hot tubs, or saunas
• Very hot places (such as when lying out at the beach or pool)
• When getting ready (i.e: putting on lotion, makeup, hair products)
• Preparing, cooking, or eating foods that contain sulfur (this includes eggs and mayonnaise). 
• Outside chores or tasks, such as gardening 

 

GENUINE NAPPA/NAPA LEATHER

Given that it is high-quality leather, BORCH & CO. nappa leather comes from full-grain leather. Full-grain leather is the best of the best among all leather types. Unlike most leather types it still has its outer layer intact. This outer layer usually sanded or buffed to remove any imperfections. This outer layer is what we call "natural grain". The natural grain contains tightly packed fibres. This keeps the leather very strong and durable. Since nappa leather is usually from full-grain leather, then it is likewise as strong and as durable.

To be more specific it comes from either full grain or top grain leather. They differ only during the tanning process. Napa leather may therefore be as strong as full grain leather if it uses the same layer of animal skin as full grain.

This allows the BORCH & CO. leather to retain a lot of its original textures and markings. It also goes through a finishing process that enhances its durability.  It’s known for being very soft and pliable.

As a chrome-tanned leather, nappa leather is particularly soft and smooth. The natural characteristics of the animal skin are visible as they have not been obscured by paints and coatings.

 

Love and take care of your bracelet by understanding dos and don’ts:

Don’t wear while swimming

Leather takes a certain amount of care to upkeep. Getting your leather bracelet soaking wet by wearing it in the shower or while swimming can strip the oils from the leather’s surface. If this happens, the leather can stiffen and even crack as it dries. So while your leather bracelet is a great accessory in a lot of locations, the beach probably shouldn’t be one of them.

Do clean with a damp cloth

It is all right to clean your leather bracelet if it gets dirty. Use a damp cloth to clean the leather, being careful not to scrub hard as this can cause any dust or dirt to scratch the surface of the leather. Afterwards, let your bracelet air dry in a cool area.

Do avoid extreme temperatures

Leather does best in cool or room-temperature areas. Extreme heat can dry your leather out. While it’s perfectly fine to wear your leather bracelet outside on the occasional hot day, you should be careful not to leave your custom leather bracelet on a radiator or next to the stove and should perhaps avoid wearing it while cooking over a campfire. Paying attention to the temperature and your activities will help your leather bracelet lead its longest lifestyle.

Don’t clean with harsh chemicals

Abrasive cleaning materials can harm your leather, stripping necessary oils away from its surface and causing it to dry or crack. Avoid the use of soaps or detergents on your leather. Generally, there’s no need to clean your leather bracelet with anything stronger than distilled water.

A little bit of wear is actually good

One of the greatest things about leather is that it looks beautiful both brand new and after years of wear. A few scratches on the surface of your personalised leather bracelet won’t ruin its aesthetics. Instead, it will give it character, showcasing how much you love your leather bracelet.

 

BORCH & CO.