Our Materials
Jewelry: Pieces are made where the artist resides, which is usually in the Pacific Northwest, and as often as possible in the Mediterranean. Sizes are approximate, and may vary slightly, as all our jewelry is handcrafted, with love.
Materials: Pieces are uniquely constructed, altered, assembled, hammered, and/or shaped by hand, primarily with brass & stainless steel parts/pendants, natural stone, glass, and/or gold-plated materials.
Brass wire and rods used in our jewelry-making are purchased from local hardware stores. Materials are direct-sourced or re-purposed whenever possible.
Variation in materials and pieces is an expectation and a benefit - consider your jewelry from de Maquis as wearable art. Handmade and vintage jewelry should be treated with care, as pieces are typically more delicate and intricate than machine-made products and industrial materials.
Findings: All necklace chains are gold-plated brass/stainless steel and all ear wires are gold-plated stainless steel/stainless steel unless otherwise noted. If you would like to order different findings or chain lengths on any piece for a wholesale order, please contact us and we'll do our best to accommodate. If you are purchasing earrings to wear with gauges, let us know and we’ll adjust them to nestle more snugly. We ask that you email us with such requests before you place your order, and we welcome them.
Jewelry Care
Brass: When exposed to water, sweat, or oils in the skin, brass will naturally patina (deepen and darken in color) over time until polished. If you do not wish to patina your brass, we recommend regularly cleaning your brass jewelry using a brass-cleaning solution or product like Brasso. With good care, brass, unlike plated materials, can be polished back to its original brightness and tone.
Brass can be polished using many DIY or household products, including:
1. Baking soda & lemon juice
2. Salt, vinegar, & flour (thickener) paste
3. Toothpaste
4. Soap, water, & elbow-grease
Gold-Plating: Gold plating is layers of gold that coat another metal, usually brass or steel. Care for gold-plating by avoiding prolonged exposure to abrasion, water, saltwater, sweat, or harsh chemicals like chlorine and alcohol-based perfumes. Clean with a soft cloth or cotton ball, or warm and soapy water if needed. Like denim jeans, wear and clean as seldom as possible, in order to prolong the life of the gold layers.
Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is corrosion-resistant, very strong & durable, low-maintenance, long-lasting, and infinitely recyclable. Stainless steel needs virtually no care. Just keep it as clean as you like it using solutions like water, dish soap & water, vinegar, or Windex. You can otherwise wear it nonstop, even while swimming or working out. Take caution in a sauna, though - stainless steel will get hot!