All AnimalStone animals are solid 925 sterling silver and our solid gold pieces are 14K yellow gold or 14K white gold. Each animal is made through the last wax cast process and finished by hand. Due to the casting process, each animal may have naturally occurring blemishes that are part of the process and contribute to each animal’s unique look similar to each animal being unique in the wild. Wearing your jewellery regularly may show signs of visible traces of being loved such as scratches or tarnishing. These can occur even after a short time. Scratches and tarnishing are normal signs of being loved and worn and are not signs material defects.Store your silver jewellery in a clean, dry place away from direct sun exposure. Please avoid storing your jewellery in damp and hot conditions as this can cause silver and gold to discolour and tarnish. It is advisable to remove all jewellery when doing physical or labour intensive activities such as sports or work related.We advise not to wear jewellery while sleeping at night or during a nap. Skin and hair products such as body lotions, perfumes and creams can react adversely with jewellery causing precious metals to tarnish and/or erode. It is advisable to apply any cosmetic products in advance of putting on jewellery.All animals have a matte finish so we recommend using a mild dishwashing soap with a soft cloth to clean your animal. You can refresh the shine of your necklace or bracelet by polishing the item with a silver/gold cleaning cloth. Please note that when using a polishing cloth abrasion may occur which cannot be avoided. Consequently, existing engravings could become less noticeable.