How to Care for Enamel Jewellery: A Complete Guide

What Is Enamel Jewellery?

Enamel is a glass-like material fused to a metal surface at high temperatures (typically 750-900 degrees Celsius). The result is a hard, glossy, coloured surface that is bonded to the metal rather than painted or coated. This makes enamel significantly more durable than painted or lacquered finishes, which can peel, scratch, or fade.

The craft of enamelwork has roots across the world. In Indian jewellery tradition, the most celebrated form is meenakari, practised in Rajasthan (especially Jaipur) for centuries. Meenakari uses coloured enamel on gold or silver in intricate floral and geometric patterns. Kansya uses enamel in a contemporary way: vivid, wearable pieces in brass with a modern design language but roots in this traditional craft.

Types of Enamel in Jewellery

• Cloisonne: Metal wire is used to create compartments (cloisons) that are filled with different colours of enamel. Results in a very precise, geometric finish with visible metal outlines between colour areas.
• Champlevé: Recesses are carved or etched into the metal, then filled with enamel. The metal surface remains visible around the enamel-filled areas.
• Painted enamel (Limoges style): Enamel is painted in layers onto a white enamel base, creating detailed pictorial designs. Used in Jaipur meenakari.
• Wet enamel / kiln-fired: Coloured glass powder is applied to metal and fired in a kiln. The technique Kansya uses for its enamel pieces, giving vivid, saturated colour.

Kansya's Enamel Jewellery Collection

Kansya's enamel jewellery is kiln-fired on brass, producing vivid pink and blue colourways. The collection includes:

• Pink Enamel Dangler Earrings: Long enamel danglers in Kansya's signature pink. Statement earrings for festive and evening wear.
• Pink Enamel Petal Curl Earrings: Petal-shaped enamel earrings with a curling form. Detailed and sculptural.
• Blue Enamel Petal Curl Earrings: The same petal curl form in Kansya's vivid blue enamel.
• Pink Enamel Flower Gold Circle Ring: A pink enamel floral ring. Part of the coordinated pink enamel collection.
• Pink Flower Enamel Hair Pin (Rs. 750): The only enamel hair pin in the collection. A floral enamel pin for buns and braids.
• Pink Pushpa Choker (Rs. 1,300): A choker necklace in pink enamel. Part of the full Pink Pushpa Set (choker, earrings, and ring).
• Blue Enamel Petal Bracelet with Ring: A coordinated blue enamel bracelet and ring set.
• Gulbahar Enamel Meena Earrings with Pearl Drop: Meenakari-inspired enamel earrings with a pearl drop. The most traditional piece in the collection, referencing classic Jaipur meenakari directly.

How to Care for Enamel Jewellery

What to Avoid

• Impact: Enamel is glass-like and can chip if dropped onto hard surfaces or knocked against other hard objects. This is the most common way enamel jewellery gets damaged. Be careful when taking pieces off.
• Chemicals: Perfume, hair spray, and hand creams can cloud and dull the enamel surface over time. Always put on your jewellery after applying these products.
• Water: While enamel itself is relatively water-resistant, the brass base and any plating are not. Prolonged water exposure causes the metal to tarnish and the plating to fade. Remove enamel jewellery before showering, swimming, or washing hands.
• Harsh cleaners: Do not use ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, or abrasive cloths on enamel. These can crack the enamel surface or scratch its gloss.

How to Clean Enamel Jewellery

1. Wipe the piece gently with a soft, dry cloth after each wear. This removes any oils or residue before they build up.
2. For a more thorough clean, use a soft cloth barely dampened with plain water. Do not soak the piece.
3. Dry immediately and completely with a second dry cloth.
4. Do not use jewellery polish on enamel surfaces. Polish is designed for metal, not glass, and can dull the enamel's gloss.

How to Store Enamel Jewellery

• Store each enamel piece in its own fabric pouch. This prevents pieces from knocking against each other and chipping.
• Do not store enamel jewellery loose in a drawer, makeup bag, or jewellery box where harder objects can scratch or crack it.
• Keep away from direct sunlight for extended periods. Sunlight will not damage enamel quickly, but sustained UV exposure can affect some pigments over years.

Can You Repair Chipped Enamel?

Enamel chipping is the most common form of enamel damage, and it is difficult to repair at home. Professional jewellers who work with enamel can sometimes re-fire a chipped piece, but this is not always possible with all settings and metals. The better approach is prevention: handle enamel pieces gently, store them properly, and they should last for many years without chipping.

How Long Does Enamel Jewellery Last?

Well-maintained enamel jewellery can last decades. Museum collections contain enamel pieces from the medieval period that remain vivid and intact. The enamel colour itself does not fade the way paint or dye does. What typically degrades is the metal base and plating (which can tarnish over time) rather than the enamel surface itself. Kansya's brass base can be gently polished if tarnishing occurs, as long as you keep the polishing cloth away from the enamel panels.

Frequently Asked Questions