How to Care for Your Pressed Flower Locket

A pressed flower locket is not a delicate object that has to live in a box. With reasonable care, it will hold up to daily wear and the flowers inside will stay vibrant for decades. Most of the care rules are simple once you understand why they matter. Here is what you need to know.

The Main Threats to Pressed Flower Jewelry

Pressed flowers are dry, sealed specimens. Once they are properly dried and set inside a locket, the main things that can damage them are moisture, prolonged UV light exposure, and physical pressure that could crack the glass or resin seal. Understanding these threats makes the care instructions easy to remember and follow.

Water and Moisture

Moisture is the biggest risk. Even flowers that have been fully dried can rehydrate if they are exposed to water over time. Rehydration causes discoloration, mold, and wilting inside the locket. Once moisture gets in, it is very hard to reverse.

The rules for moisture are straightforward: take your locket off before swimming, showering, or bathing. Do not wear it in the rain if you can help it. Do not spray perfume or lotion directly onto the pendant. Apply any fragrance or lotion first, let it dry, and then put your jewelry on.

If your locket does get wet, pat it dry immediately with a soft cloth and let it air dry completely before storing it.

Sunlight and UV Light

Pressed flowers naturally fade over time with extended UV exposure, just like any botanical specimen. Direct sunlight is the most aggressive source of UV light, but fluorescent lighting can also cause gradual fading over many years.

For daily wear, this is not something you need to worry about. The amount of UV exposure from normal wear is minimal. Where it becomes a concern is storage: do not leave your locket sitting on a windowsill or in a display case in direct sunlight for extended periods. Store it in a jewelry box, pouch, or drawer away from direct light when you are not wearing it.

Physical Handling and Storage

The glass or resin that covers the flowers in a locket is durable, but it can chip or crack if it takes a sharp impact or if it is stored pressed against harder objects. Dropping the locket on a hard floor or storing it loose in a bag with metal clasps and keys can cause damage over time.

Store your locket in a soft pouch or a jewelry box with a fabric-lined interior. If you are traveling, keep it in its own compartment or wrapped in a soft cloth so it does not rattle around against other jewelry.

Cleaning Your Locket

For regular cleaning, a soft dry cloth is all you need. Gently wipe the metal and glass surface to remove fingerprints, dust, or residue from lotion.

Do not use jewelry cleaning solutions, ultrasonic cleaners, or abrasive cloths on a pressed flower locket. Most commercial jewelry cleaners are designed for metal and stone, and the chemicals can damage the resin or seep into the glass seal. When in doubt, use nothing more aggressive than a damp cloth on the metal parts only, and dry it completely immediately after.

Long-Term Storage

If you are storing your locket for an extended period, the same principles apply: keep it in a cool, dry place away from light and moisture. A small silica gel packet in your jewelry box can help absorb ambient moisture, which is especially useful if you live in a humid climate.

Do not store pressed flower jewelry in a bathroom cabinet or near a window. Both locations are too humid or too light-exposed for long-term storage.

What to Do If Something Goes Wrong

If the glass on your locket chips or cracks, reach out to us. Depending on the piece, we may be able to repair or replace the glass and re-set the flower. If a flower has faded significantly or been damaged by moisture, we may be able to replace it with a new pressed flower, either from your original order or from our stock if the custom flower is no longer available.

We stand behind our work and want your locket to last. If you have any questions about care or if something happens to your piece, reach out through our contact page.

A Quick Reference Summary

Do: wipe clean with a soft dry cloth, store in a jewelry box or pouch, keep away from direct sunlight during storage, take it off before swimming or showering.

Do not: expose to water or humidity for extended periods, spray with perfume while wearing, leave in direct sunlight, use chemical jewelry cleaners, store loosely with hard metal objects.

With that basic routine, a pressed flower locket from Greene Is Gold should look exactly as it did when you first received it for many years to come.