To keep this effect to a minimum, we recommend the following: The use of lotions on the parts of the skin that will touch the jewellery should be avoided, as this can accelerate the reaction. Also, making sure that the piece does not get in contact with water (for example when washing hands, taking a shower or going swimming) will slow down the process.
Materials
Find all important information on the material of your Sheyn piece and how to take care of it. Our current jewellery collection is made of 925 Sterling Silver and 3D-printed steel, while older collections were also offered in brass and bronze. The Sheyn homeware collections are 3D-printed in organic PLA and concrete.
Jewellery
Materials
925 Sterling Silver
All our silver jewellery is made from 925 Sterling Silver, consisting of 93% silver, 4% copper and 3% zinc. Pure silver relatively soft, so it is alloyed with copper and zinc to increase its hardness and strength. The material naturally oxidises over time by exposure to the air and contact with the skin, but can be easily restored to its original condition.
3D-printed Steel
Our pieces made from 3D-printed steel are made from steel powder in a binder jetting process and are then infused with bronze. The final mix is composed by a variable range of 60% steel and 40% bronze. That’s why the material colour can range from a silver grey to a reddish bronze – bringing a unique colour to each piece.
Brass & Bronze
Brass & Bronze are alloys from copper, zinc and tin, resulting in a hard, gold/rose-gold coloured metal. Our brass consists of 80% copper, 15% zinc and 5% tin and our bronze pieces are made from 90% copper and 10% tin. This materials naturally oxidises over time by exposure to the air and contact with the skin, but can be easily restored to its original condition.
Polyamide
Polyamide is a strong & flexible 3D-printed material. In the production process, a laser draws thin lines into polyamide powder to bond it together. This is repeated for each layer until the product is finished. While polyamide products are flexible, they should not be overbent as they may break. The colour might fade over time due to wear and environmental conditions. Do not store exposed to direct sunlight.
Maintenance
Patina and Shine
All polished pieces made from made from silver, brass or bronze react to the environment and to your skin. As a result, they might tarnish or lose their shine over time, just like all jewellery made from these materials. To slow down this process, we recommend to store the products inside the Sheyn case and to avoid the contact of the piece with water, soap or lotions. The original colour can be easily restored with a coated jewellery polishing cloth or a silver bath.
Cleaning
Reaction to the skin
Common behaviour
Some people might notice a small dark mark on their skin after they have worn a brass, bronzer 3D-printed steel piece. This is a common and harmless chemical reaction, possible with all brass or bronze jewellery, and can be easily washed off.
How to reduce the effect
To keep this effect to a minimum, we recommend the following: The use of lotions on the parts of the skin that will touch the jewellery should be avoided, as this can accelerate the reaction. Also, making sure that the piece does not get in contact with water (for example when washing hands, taking a shower or going swimming) will slow down the process.
Homeware
Materials
PLA
PLA is an ecological compound based on corn. This makes all our PLA products 100% recyclable and eco-friendly. Clean the object with a wet cloth or under running water, not in the dishwasher. There might be tiny irregularities in the pattern, due to the nature of 3D-printing. The colour might fade over time if the object is kept exposed to direct sunlight. The object itself is not watertight – use the included glass container, if applicable.
3D-Printed Concrete
3D printed concrete items are covered in a protective layer and suited for outdoor use.
