The Arcive pieces are built to be worn every day without being taken off. But a little care — the right care — extends their life and keeps them looking exactly as they should. Here's everything you need to know.
What You Can Do In Your Jewellery
Because every piece is made from 18k gold PVD-coated 316L stainless steel, they're built for:
- Showering and bathing
- Swimming — pool and sea
- Gym and exercise
- Sleeping
- Hot weather and humidity
The PVD finish bonds at a molecular level rather than sitting as a surface film, which is why it resists conditions that would strip standard gold plating within weeks.
What to Be Careful With
The finish is durable but not indestructible. A few things to be mindful of:
- Harsh chemicals — bleach, ammonia, strong cleaning products and prolonged chlorine exposure can affect any metal surface over time. Rinse after pool use.
- Perfume and body products — apply these before putting your jewellery on, not after. The alcohol and chemicals in fragrance can affect the surface finish over time.
- Abrasion from other jewellery — hard contact between pieces can cause micro-scratches. Store pieces separately.
How to Clean Your Pieces
Regular cleaning is simple and takes under two minutes:
- Mix a small amount of mild soap (washing-up liquid works) with warm water
- Submerge or dampen the piece and work gently with your fingers or a soft cloth
- For detailed areas, use a very soft toothbrush
- Rinse thoroughly and dry immediately with a soft cloth
Don't use abrasive cloths, commercial jewellery cleaners or ultrasonic cleaners — these can dull or damage the PVD coating over time.
Storage
Each Arcive piece comes in a soft pouch — use it. Storing pieces in contact with each other causes micro-scratches on polished surfaces. Individual pouches prevent this and keep your pieces in better condition over the long term.
How Long Will They Last?
With normal daily wear and basic care, The Arcive pieces are built to hold their finish for years — not the weeks or months you might expect from standard gold-plated jewellery. The combination of PVD coating and 316L steel base simply performs differently.
If you ever have a concern about a specific piece, email us at hello@arcive.shop and we'll sort it out.