To help your jewelry stay beautiful for years, here are care tips tailored to the materials I use:

Cleaning your jewellery

• After wearing your jewelry, gently wipe with a soft, lint-free or microfiber cloth, optionally dampened with lukewarm water. If needed, use a small amount of mild pH-balanced soap on the cloth—not directly on the piece. Avoid harsh jewelry cleaners or polishing cloths when cleaning gold-filled jewelry and pearls.

Wearing your jewellery

• Never submerge your jewelry, because water can damage pearls, weaken silk/polyester thread and accelerate wear on gold-filled components. Do not wear jewelry in the shower/bath, while swimming or in the gym.
• Avoid exposure to perfume, lotions and sprays.
• Don’t sleep with your jewelry on.
• Don’t stretch or pull on hand-knotted jewelry, as this will accelerate wear and tear.
• Put your jewelry on last, after applying makeup, hairspray, lotion, or perfume. Especially earls are delicate and can be damaged by chemicals.

Storing your jewellery

• Always store jewelry separately, ideally in a soft pouch or box, to prevent scratches.
• Store pearls in a soft pouch or box, but never in airtight plastic, as they need to breathe.
• Silk and polyester thread may stretch over time, especially if exposed to moisture or if hung vertically. Store knotted jewelry flat to prevent excessive stretching.
• Store gold-filled pieces individually in an airtight plastic bag to prevent oxidation and reduce rubbing that can dull the surface.

This depends on the frequency and intensity of wear. All string material deteriorates from body oils, cosmetics and friction. Generally speaking, hand-knotted jewelry should be re-strung every 2 to 5 years. Polyester will last longer than silk, but it will need to be restrung after years of use. These are signs you should have your hand-knotted jewelry restrung:

• The knots around the beads appear loose or there are gaps between the bead and the knot. 
• The cord looks stretched, making the jewelry look visibly longer or saggy.
• The cord looks frayed, fuzzy or discolored.
• If the gemstones are big and heavy, the cord will deteriorate faster. 

Inspect cords regularly. Look for loosened knots, discoloration, fraying, or sagging and restring immediately if any warning signs appear.

Restringing Recommendations:

• Wear (very) often → every 2–5 years
• Rarely worn or in good condition → every 5+ years at most

If necessary, I can re-string your hand-knotted jewelry. The price will depend on the length of the necklace and the number of beads. Please contact me at contact@anneclairescreations.com for pricing.

Yes! I use sterling silver, 14k gold-filled, and gold-plated sterling silver (vermeil) for all metal components. These materials are known to be nickel-free and skin-friendly. These options are less likely to cause irritation compared to costume jewelry metals, making them a great choice if you have sensitive skin.

Absolutely! I personally string all pearls and gems, wire-wrap each piece, and hand-knot every knotted design. All materials are carefully researched and sourced by me as well, so I can ensure you get the best quality. Each piece of jewelry is crafted with care and intention.

There are a few simple ways to recognize genuine pearls:

• Luster: Real pearls reflect light in a soft, radiant way. You’ll often see depth and subtle color variations on the surface, unlike the flat shine of imitation pearls.
• Surface texture: Real pearls usually have slight irregularities in shape and surface. Perfectly round, flawless pearls are rare and also very expensive! Most natural pearls have a bit of character.
• Tooth test: Gently rub a pearl against the edge of your front teeth (not biting it!). A real pearl will feel slightly gritty or sandy due to its natural layers. Fakes often feel smooth or plastic-like.
• Temperature: Real pearls feel cool to the touch at first and warm up when worn. Imitations tend to feel room-temperature right away.
  
  

All the pearls I use are genuine cultured freshwater pearls, sourced directly from trusted suppliers who work with pearl farms in Zhejiang Province, China.

The freshwater pearls I use are harvested from Zhejiang Province in China, a region known for producing some of the world’s finest freshwater pearls. I source them through a family-owned business based in Guangzhou, which works directly with selected pearl farms in Zhejiang. Their close relationships with the farmers allow them to hand-pick high-quality pearls, ensuring both beauty and consistency. This trusted connection helps me offer you pieces that are not only unique, but also crafted from pearls with a known and respected origin.

Pearls form inside mollusks, such as oysters or mussels, when a small irritant, usually a parasite or an injury to the mollusk’s soft tissue, triggers a natural defense response. To protect itself, the mollusk secretes layer upon layer of a smooth crystalline substance called nacre (also known as mother-of-pearl) around the irritant. Over time, these layers build up to form a pearl.

Most pearls today are cultured, meaning that pearl farmers carefully introduce a tiny piece of tissue or a bead nucleus into the mollusk to start the process. The mollusk then does the rest, naturally creating a pearl over many months or years.

The pearls I use are cultured freshwater pearls from Zhejiang Province, China, sourced through a trusted family-run supplier in Guangzhou. Each one is shaped by time, nature, and care.

Yes, I’d be happy to create something special just for you or for a loved one! ​​Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, looking for a meaningful gift, or simply want something uniquely yours, I’d love to create a custom piece just for you.

Here’s how it works:

You share your ideas, inspiration, or wishes with me, and I’ll create a mock-up or sketch for your approval. Once we agree on the design, price, and a rough timeline, I’ll get to work. Please note that since I live with a chronic illness, timelines may sometimes shift a little, but I’ll always keep you updated.

Some materials may need to be ordered especially for your piece, so custom orders do take more time. To begin crafting your one-of-a-kind piece, a 50% deposit is required.

Because custom pieces are made just for you, they are final sale and cannot be returned.

If you’re dreaming of a piece that’s truly yours, feel free to reach out to contact@anneclairescreations.com. I’d love to hear your ideas!

Yes, I do—upon request. If you’re looking for a special piece in solid gold, I’d be happy to explore the possibilities with you. Because the price of gold fluctuates and is significantly higher than gold-filled or vermeil options, I’ll gladly provide an estimate based on your wishes. Feel free to reach out to discuss your ideas!

It depends on the piece.

Some items are one-of-a-kind, made with unique gems or pearls that may not be available again. In those cases, once they’re sold, they likely won’t return. However, I may sometimes be able to create something similar. Please contact me to discuss the options!

Other designs can often be made to order, especially if I can source the same materials again. Please note that made-to-order pieces will have a longer processing time, as I may need to order the materials first (delivery time materials) before creating the piece by hand. ​​

If you’ve seen something you love that’s no longer available, feel free to get in touch with me through contact@anneclairescreations.com. I’m always happy to let you know what’s possible!