How to Care for Preserved Flower and Resin Jewellery

Preserved flower and resin jewellery is made to be worn, but it benefits from more thoughtful handling than mass-produced metal jewellery. Real petals and leaves retain natural colour, texture and structure, while resin provides a clear protective setting. Neither material is completely immune to water, chemicals, ultraviolet light, heat or impact.

The most important habits are simple: keep the piece dry, put it on after cosmetics, protect it from prolonged sunlight and store it separately. The concise rules are set out on our Jewellery Care page. This guide explains why those rules matter and how to apply them in everyday life.

Understand what you are caring for

Botanical jewellery combines materials that respond differently to wear. A preserved petal may gradually soften in colour; clear resin can change in clarity after repeated ultraviolet exposure; plated metal can react to moisture, fragrance and skin chemistry; pearls and shells can be scratched by harder objects.

The exact materials differ from one piece to another. Check the product description and read Materials & Process for an overview of Terra Decode’s natural botanicals, resin work, findings and handmade variation. Good care begins with treating the piece as a mixed-material object rather than assuming one cleaning method suits every component.

1. Keep botanical jewellery dry

Remove the piece before showering, bathing, swimming, exercising, washing hands or sleeping. Resin itself may tolerate occasional surface contact, but repeated moisture can reach joins and findings, affect metal finishes, create cloudiness around vulnerable areas or place unnecessary stress on the preserved botanical setting.

Humidity matters too. A bathroom shelf is not a suitable long-term storage place, even when the jewellery is inside a pouch. Choose a dry room and allow damp skin or hair to dry before putting the piece on.

2. Apply perfume and cosmetics first

Perfume, hairspray, lotion, sunscreen, hand sanitiser and other alcohol-based or chemical products should be applied before the jewellery. Let them dry fully, then put the piece on last. At the end of the day, remove the jewellery first before using cleansers or skincare.

Direct spraying is particularly harmful because droplets can settle on resin, preserved botanicals and metal at the same time. Even when no immediate mark is visible, repeated exposure can gradually affect clarity, colour and finish.

3. Limit heat and prolonged sunlight

Do not leave botanical jewellery on a sunny windowsill, beside a heater or inside a hot vehicle. Ultraviolet light and high temperatures can accelerate changes in both natural plant colour and resin. A short period of normal daylight while the piece is worn is different from hours of concentrated exposure in the same position.

Store the jewellery in a shaded box or pouch when it is not being worn. This is especially important for pale petals, translucent flowers and clear resin designs, where subtle changes may be more visible.

4. Handle the botanical element gently

Pick up necklaces by the chain or metal setting rather than pulling the preserved flower or leaf. Open brooches and earrings using their mechanisms, not by twisting the botanical surface. Remove rings before lifting heavy objects, opening tight lids or doing household work.

The sculptural petals seen in the Orchid Chapter and the layered florets in the Hydrangea Chapter can project beyond their settings. Their dimensional form is part of their character, but it also means they should not be crushed under clothing, bags or other objects.

5. Clean with a dry, soft cloth

For routine cleaning, wipe the surface gently with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth. Use light pressure and support the piece while cleaning it. A soft brush may be used very carefully around dry crevices when necessary, but avoid catching delicate edges or decorative wire.

Do not use ultrasonic cleaners, jewellery dips, silver-cleaning liquids, solvents, alcohol, toothpaste, abrasive cloths or household cleaners unless the individual product listing specifically confirms that a method is suitable. These treatments may be designed for solid metal or gemstones, not for mixed botanical and resin construction.

6. Store each piece separately

Separate storage prevents scratching, tangling and pressure. Place each piece in a dry jewellery box or soft pouch, and keep necklaces fastened and laid flat where possible. Do not pile heavy jewellery over a preserved flower, and do not allow sharp earring posts or chain edges to rub repeatedly against resin.

For larger leaf compositions in Incredible Leaves, flat storage is particularly useful. It protects the leaf outline and helps prevent the chain from pressing into the clear botanical surface.

7. Take extra care when travelling

Use a rigid travel jewellery case rather than a loose fabric bag. Fasten chains, cover earring posts and place rings or brooches in separate compartments. Keep the case in hand luggage where it is less likely to be crushed or exposed to extreme temperatures.

Do not wrap a resin flower tightly in tissue and then place it beneath heavier items. Soft wrapping prevents scratches, but it does not protect against pressure. A structured compartment is more effective.

8. Expect gentle natural ageing

Real flowers, leaves, resin, pearls, shells and plated metals may develop subtle changes over time. Botanical colour can soften, resin can gain slight tonal warmth, and metal finishes can respond to wear and skin chemistry. Care can slow these changes, but it cannot make natural materials permanently static.

This gradual ageing is normally part of the character of botanical jewellery rather than a defect. A sudden crack, detached finding or severe change after an accident is different and should be assessed separately.

9. What to do after accidental damage

If a piece is dropped, bent or caught, stop wearing it and inspect the joins before attempting a home repair. Household glue can cloud resin, stain botanicals or make professional repair more difficult. Photograph the front, back and damaged area clearly, then contact Terra Decode with the images and order information.

Repair availability depends on the construction, materials and extent of damage. Because every flower and leaf is individual, an exact botanical replacement cannot always be guaranteed.

A simple daily routine

• Before wearing: finish perfume, lotion, sunscreen and hair products; allow them to dry.
• While wearing: avoid water, heavy impact, excessive heat and prolonged direct sunlight.
• After wearing: remove the piece gently, wipe it with a dry soft cloth and store it separately.

For more context on how these delicate materials become wearable objects, read How Real Flowers and Leaves Become Botanical Jewellery. Thoughtful care does not require complicated products. It is mainly the practice of reducing moisture, chemicals, light, heat and pressure so that the original botanical details remain visible for as long as possible.