How to Care for Ronghua Velvet Flower Jewelry
Difficulty: easy · Time: a few minutes a month · Applies to: all ronghua velvet flower pieces
Ronghua flowers are mulberry silk wound over copper wire and shaped by hand. The craft is durable for normal wear — what shortens its life is moisture, friction, and perfume, not time. Four habits keep a piece looking new for years.
What you need
- A soft brush (a clean makeup brush works well)
- A soft, dry cloth
- The pouch your piece arrived in
Step 1 — Put jewelry on last, take it off first
Perfume, hairspray, and cosmetics are the main enemies of silk velvet. Dress and fragrance first, jewelry last.
Step 2 — Keep it dry
Never wet the silk. If the piece is caught in rain, blot gently with a dry cloth and let it air-dry away from heat — never with a hairdryer.
Step 3 — Dust with a brush, not a wipe
Brush dust away with light strokes, following the direction of the nap. Rubbing with a cloth can flatten the velvet texture.
Step 4 — Store away from sunlight
Prolonged direct sun fades dyed silk. Keep the piece in its pouch, in a drawer or box, somewhere cool and dry.
One thing to never do
Never wash silk velvet flowers in water, and never steam them. The silk's shape and color are set dry — water breaks both.
Related learning
See how the flowers are made, step by step, in The Art of Ronghua.
