A keepsake is only a keepsake if it survives. Most damage to personalised pieces comes from four things: moisture, friction, sunlight and chemicals. Avoid those four and almost everything lasts.
Engraved and plated jewellery
Put jewellery on last, after perfume, deodorant, lotion and hair products, and take it off before washing, swimming, exercise and sleep. Almost all plating loss comes from contact with cosmetics and sweat, not from age.
Clean with a dry, soft cloth. Wipe along the piece rather than scrubbing into the engraving, because grit trapped in an engraved line acts like sandpaper. Never use toothpaste, baking soda or commercial silver dip on plated pieces — they strip the finish.
Store each piece separately in its pouch. Jewellery kept loose in one box scratches itself, and shallow engraving is the first thing to go.
Printed and enamel keepsakes
Keep them out of direct sunlight. Print fades faster in a sunny window than through years of handling. Clean with a slightly damp cloth and dry immediately; do not soak, and do not use alcohol-based cleaners, which lift printed ink.
Avoid dishwashers and microwaves for any printed or enamelled piece unless the product page explicitly says otherwise.
Paper: planners, journals and cards
Paper's enemies are humidity and light. Keep books away from bathrooms and kitchen surfaces, and store cards flat rather than propped in sunlight.
Use pens that do not bleed on the paper weight you have — test on the last page first. If a page gets wet, press the book closed under a weight while drying rather than fanning it open, which warps the binding.
For long-term storage, keep paper goods upright in a dry drawer, not stacked flat under heavy objects.
Wood and leather
Both dislike water and dry heat. Wipe wood with a barely damp cloth and dry it straight away; never leave it in standing water and never put it near a radiator, which cracks it along the grain.
Leather benefits from occasional conditioning and from being kept out of direct sun. Both materials darken with age, which is normal and not a defect.
Fabric pieces
Wash cold, inside out, on a gentle cycle, and air dry away from direct sunlight. Do not iron directly over printed or embroidered areas — press from the reverse or place a cloth between the iron and the print.
Storing keepsakes long term
Keep the box the piece came in. A rigid box, a pouch and a dry cupboard will keep almost anything in good condition for years. Add a silica sachet if you live somewhere humid, and check stored pieces once a year rather than discovering a problem a decade later.
When something goes wrong
If a piece arrives damaged, defective or engraved differently from your order, we replace it. Record a single continuous, unedited unboxing video from the moment the sealed parcel is opened and send it to us within 24 hours of delivery with your order number and photographs.
Wear and tear from use is not a defect, and personalised pieces cannot be returned for a change of mind — which is exactly why it is worth caring for them properly from day one.
Read the full size and care guide for material-by-material instructions.
