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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the pieces made of?
Al the collections except the Regina and Electron collections are made of Porcelain from the clayfields of Victoria and Tasmania, Australia.
The Regina Collection is made of resin, the Electron Collection is made using Vintage Radio Valves and sterling silver.
Where are the pieces made?
All pieces are designed and manufactured in Australia, handmade in Victoria by a small team of highly skilled crafts people.
Are they fragile?
No. Porcelain has an undeserved reputation for fragility because of most people's association of it with teacups and saucers, but it is in fact a very robust material when fired to high temperatures. A little more care needs to be taken than with metal jewelery but porcelain jewelery is harder wearing than resin and will with-stand normal daily use without chipping, cracking or staining.) Some breakages have been reported for porcelain rings when the wearer has clapped vigorously and the porcelain ring has come into contact with a metal ring on the other hand.
How are they made?
The original pieces are made from clay and hand-carved using wood-etching tools. A plaster mould is then made. A series of techniques are used to make the pieces depending on the strength required. Rings need to be very strong and so a three piece mould is used with the porcelain being pressed into it, then hand-tooled for the finer details. Earrings and brooches use a single piece mould with the porcelain poured into it in liquid form.
The pieces are fired in a kiln twice – first to a low temperature, when in some pieces a grey oxide wash is applied and sponged off to highlight the details. For the second firing a clear glaze is applied and the pieces are fired to their maximum temperature of 1300 degrees Celsius, resulting in a glossy surface and maximum strength. Any unglazed base of the pieces are ground smooth, then Sterling Silver and other components are used to create the finished pieces.
Care of Porcelain pieces
If over time your porcelain piece develops grime from daily wear it can be washed with soap and water or in ordinary dish-washing water with a soft cloth to restore its pristine state.
How is the black porcelain colour achieved?
Oxides (Black Iron, Black Copper, Manganese and Cobalt oxides) are added to the liquid porcelain in powdered form. These pieces are fired only once to their maximum strength temperature and are ground smooth after the firing with carborundum paper. If you were to break a black piece open, you would find the colour all the way through the piece, not just as a surface addition.
Are the earrings Stirling Silver?
Yes. All the earring wires are Stirling Silver and suitable for people with hypo-allergenic conditions.
What is resin?
Resin is a synthetic material, and comes as a two part poly-eurothane liquid which is mixed together, pigmented to achieve the desired colour and poured into silicone rubber moulds until it sets hard. It is then ground, drilled and Sterling silver components added. The moulds are made from clay originals which are hand-carved using wood carving tools.
Care of resin.
Over time, resin pieces may show signs of 'frostiness' particularly if in contact with perfume. A vegetable oil or an oil based moisturizer can be rubbed into the surface of the piece with a soft cloth to restore its original finish. Although resin is a durable material, care must be taken when wearing and storing to ensure the long life of pieces.
How are the brooches secured?
All of our large brooches have a two point pin system, allowing the brooches to be oriented in multiple ways for secure wear.
Do the belts come in different sizes?
Yes - Small, Medium and Large.
The small size fits a standard size 8 -10, Medium a 12 – 14, Large a 14 -16.
The elastic enables these belts to be worn in three positions - under the bust, on the waist or at the hip, ensuring an extremely versatile wardrobe addition.
