JEWELLERY CARE GUIDE
LOOKING AFTER YOUR PIECES
We’ve built Billie Jo pieces to move with you, from the coast to the city, day in, day out. Whether you're wearing solid 925 sterling silver or our premium gold vermeil, the right care will keep your jewellery looking its best for years to come.
Every order comes with a custom Billie Jo polishing cloth (silver and gold each have their own), plus a protective pouch and jewellery box, so you’ve already got everything you need to take care of your gear.
STERLING SILVER CARE
Our 925 sterling silver is made to live life with you salt, sand, and all. You can wear it in the ocean, the shower, or wherever your day takes you. Just be mindful: silver is a precious metal, and when it comes into contact with chemicals (like chlorine, sunscreen, or harsh cleaning agents), it can oxidise.
But don’t stress, that just means it might darken or dull a little. All it takes is a quick polish with the silver cloth included in your order, and it'll come back as fresh as the day you got it.
To keep your silver at its best:
- Wear it often – silver loves your skin's natural oils.
- Keep it chemical-free – rinse and dry it off if it’s been exposed to anything harsh.
- Store it right – use your Billie Jo pouch + box to protect it from scratches and slow down oxidisation.
- Avoid high-impact – silver’s strong, but it’s still a precious metal. We don’t recommend wearing it to the gym or on site if you're a tradie. Treat it well and it’ll last you forever.
STERLING SILVER FAQS
WHY IS MY SILVER TURNING DARKER?
That’s just natural oxidisation. Silver reacts with air, moisture, and chemicals. It’s not damaged, and it’s easy to fix. Just use the Billie Jo silver polishing cloth and it'll come back to life.
CAN I WEAR MY SILVER IN THE OCEAN OR SHOWER?
Yes. That’s what we love about it. Our sterling silver is made to move with you. Just rinse and dry it afterwards, and avoid leaving it exposed to chemicals like sunscreen or chlorine.
WILL SILVER SCRATCH EASILY?
Silver is strong, but it can still scratch, especially if you wear it while doing physical work. We recommend taking it off at the gym or on-site if you're a tradie.
DO I NEED TO CLEAN IT REGULARLY?
Only if it starts to look a little dull or dark. You don’t need fancy cleaners. Your Billie Jo polishing cloth does the job perfectly.
CAN I WORK OUT WHILE WEARING MY SILVER JEWELLERY?
We don’t recommend it. Sweat, friction, and heavy movement can speed up tarnishing and cause wear over time. If you want your pieces to stay looking sharp, it’s best to leave them in the box while you train.
GOLD VERMEIL CARE
Our gold pieces took us over two years to perfect and it shows. We’ve used the thickest possible layer of real 18k gold over a solid 925 sterling silver base. That means you're still wearing pure quality, just with a golden edge. But like all good things, it deserves a little extra care.
Gold vermeil isn’t solid gold, so if it’s scratched up, rubbed too hard, or constantly exposed to water and chemicals, the gold can start to wear, revealing the silver beneath.
To keep your gold looking fresh:
- Take it off before swimming, showering, or sweating it out at the gym.
- Avoid friction – no stacking it with other pieces that might rub or scratch.
- Keep it dry and chemical-free – especially from cologne, sunscreen, and cleaning sprays.
- Use your Billie Jo gold polishing cloth only – it’s designed for delicate gold surfaces (no abrasive cloths or silver polish).
The better you treat it, the longer it’ll hold its gold shine.
GOLD VERMEIL FAQS
CAN I WEAR MY GOLD JEWELLERY EVERYDAY?
You can, but keep in mind that it’s not solid gold. Our pieces are plated with 18k gold over sterling silver, so everyday wear will naturally cause the gold layer to wear down faster, especially if exposed to water, sweat, friction or chemicals. The more carefully you treat it, the longer the gold finish will hold up.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE GOLD STARTS TO FADE?
Fading is expected over time with gold plating. Since it's not solid gold, the outer layer will eventually wear down, revealing the sterling silver underneath. This isn't a fault, it's just part of how plated jewellery works. The better you look after your piece, the longer it’ll keep its gold colour.
CAN I CLEAN IT WITH REGULAR JEWELLERY CLEANER?
No. Those can be too harsh. Stick to the Billie Jo gold polishing cloth included with your order. It’s made for gold surfaces and keeps your piece looking crisp without damaging the finish.
IS IT OKAY TO WEAR GOLD VERMEIL IN THE SHOWER?
We don’t recommend it. Water, especially hot water or anything with soap, shampoo, or chlorine, can slowly break down the gold layer. Always remove your piece before showering.
HOW SHOULD I STORE MY GOLD JEWELLERY?
Always in the pouch and box we provide. Keep it separate from other pieces to avoid scratches or rubbing. Gold likes its own space.
STAINLESS STEEL 316L CARE
- Looking after your steel
Stainless steel 316L is the toughest thing we make. Built to take a beating, easy to look after. Here's the quick rundown. - The silver pieces
Solid 316L all the way through. Shower in it, sweat in it, wear it to the gym, the beach, the surf. It shrugs off water, salt, and sweat without a second thought. Don't baby it. - The gold pieces
Different story. It's a gold coating over a steel core, so give it more care. Skip the gym and heavy sweat, keep it away from chemicals, perfume, and cologne. Spray first, dress second. Treat it right and the colour holds. - Keeping it clean
Warm water, a drop of dish soap, a soft cloth. Wipe, dry, done. Once a week and it stays sharp for years. - What it doesn't love
Bleach. Chlorine pools. Random chemicals from the shed. Steel's tough, but nothing survives a chemical bath. Don't be that guy. - Storing it
Wear it 24/7 and you'll never think about this. But if it's coming off, pop it back in the packaging it came in and keep it somewhere safe. Easy to find, hard to lose.
STAINLESS STEEL 316L FAQs
IS THE STEEL READ 316L?
Yep. Every piece is 316L surgical-grade stainless steel, the same stuff used in medical tools. Tough, hypoallergenic, and built for everyday wear.
WILL IT TARNISH OR RUST?
The silver steel won't. It's solid 316L through and through, so it shrugs off water, sweat, and salt without tarnishing or rusting. Wear it everywhere.
WILL IT TURN MY SKIN GREEN?
No. There's no copper or cheap alloy here, so no green wrists, no irritation. Safe for sensitive skin.
CAN I SHOWER, SWIM, AND TRAIN IN IT?
The silver pieces, absolutely. Shower, surf, gym, all of it. Gold pieces need a bit more care, so skip the heavy sweat and chlorine to keep the colour sharp.
WHAT'S THE GOLD MADE OF?
316L steel infused with 18k gold. The colour is a finish over the core, not solid through, so it asks for a little more care.
WILL THE GOLD FADE?
Looked after properly, it holds for the long haul. Gold is a finish, so some softening over years of daily wear is normal. Follow the care guide and it stays looking good for ages.
HOW DO I LOOK AFTER IT?
Warm water, a drop of dish soap, and the soft cloth that comes with every order. Wipe, dry, done. Keep gold pieces away from chemicals, perfume, and cologne. Full rundown's in the care guide.
WHAT'S THE WARRANTY?
Silver steel is covered against tarnish and rust for 12 months. Gold gets a 1 year colour guarantee against flaking or peeling. Full details on the warranty page.
WHY IS STEEL PRICED DIFFERENTLY TO YOUR SILVER AND GOLD RANGE?
Our 925 sterling silver is a precious metal, so its price moves with the market. Stainless steel doesn't. It's the best quality metal we could find at the most accessible price, so you get the Billie Jo look without the precious-metal price tag. No corners cut, just a different metal.
HOW'S THE SIZING?
Sizing is accurate to what's listed on each product. If you need a hand, check out our sizing page and we'll get you sorted.