Pilgrim FAQ

What is Pilgrim Jewellery made from?

Pilgrim jewellery is made from brass which is a base metal and an alloy of copper and zinc.

The reason why brass is used is that it is stronger than its constituents hence making a durable piece and in addition makes a good base for subsequent platings.

These platings in Pilgrims case are the Nobel Metals, Silver, Gold or Rose Gold.

It is also worth noting that Pilgrim apply a lacquer over the top of the outer silver or gold plating.  This is very thin and further prevents the air oxidising the metal.  

Noble Metals do not corrode and have a very high resistance to oxidisation. providing you are careful with your jewellery it will give you many years trouble free service.

This is in common with most costume jewellery and the care instructions will be aligned with other brands. which is great because once you have learned to care for costume jewellery you can apply the same rules to your other costume jewellery too.

So far we have just talked about the metal components of Pilgrim Jewellery.

Pilgrim also use Swarovski Crystals, Freshwater Pearls, Semi Precious Stones and other materials to decorate their Jewellery

Is Pilgrim Jewellery free of Nickel and Lead?

Yes it is. 

Is Pilgrim Jewellery Hypoallergenic ?

Yes, because of its coating of Nobel Metals and it is worth noting that all of the earring studs are made from surgical steel which is also Hypoallergenic, this means that they are not likely to make your ears sore.

Understanding care for my Pilgrim Jewellery?

A lot of the care of jewellery is common sense if we understand a few basics.

Jewellery will change appearance due to exposure to chemicals present on ourselves or in our environment.

It is the metal that will change not the crystals.

The key to extending the life of your jewellery is to limit this exposure and to clean it when has been exposed to undesirable conditions.

When you’re not wearing your jewellery you should keep it in a dry place.  The worst place to keep it is in the bathroom where it can be exposed to humidity and household chemicals.

Don’t wear your Pilgrim Jewellery while you are swimming in a pool because of Chrlorine or in the sea because of salt.

It is also worth noting that jewellery should be the last thing you put on, so for instance don’t spray perfume or hairspray on to your jewellery, put the jewellery on afterwards.

When you are wearing your jewellery try not to expose it to perfume, hairspray etc.

It is also important to remember that your own body produces it’s own chemicals that can sometimes be worse than other, if you are taking medications, or other lifestyle rigours such as stress can cause imbalances in your body that can transfer onto your jewellery and cause it to tarnish and change colour.

It is finally worth remembering that a change in colour does not render the piece unwearable as no one else will notice the change apart from yourself.  Sometimes a piece of costume jewellery can be made to deliberately look aged.  Therefore who’s to know, it might make it look even more desirable!

How do I clean my Pilgrim Jewellery?

The general rule is to start off gently, don’t dive in and use a proprietary jewellery cleaner, these are best avoided on all costume jewellery.

It is very important to consider that Pilgrim jewellery often has had a thin layer of laquer applied to the surface to further protect the metals from tarnishing.  If you are too vigourous with cleaning it or use chemicals then you could damage or destroy this coating which will then allow your jewellery to tarnish quicker.

Start by wiping it with a soft cloth.

If your jewellery gets a bit too dirty and you feel it needs a bit more cleaning then use a gently detergent diluted in warm water.

It is important to then dry your jewellery, just leave it to dry on a piece of kitchen paper!

The next stage involves a piece of equipment, an ultrasonic cleaner.  These can be purchased quite cheaply and is an excellent way of removing dirt and residue from delicate objects.  They work by lowering the boiling point of the water in contact with the jewellery hence effectively giving the jewellery a good boiling hot bath yet still keeping the process gentle.

If you would prefer not to use an ultrasonic cleaner then try using hotter water and a soft toothbrush.