Leather earrings are lighter, warmer, and more interesting than metal. But leather is a living material, and it needs a little care to stay beautiful. The good news: it takes about a minute a week, plus a little extra once a season.

A quick note on your earrings

Our leather is vegetable-tanned and matte, with no glossy coating. That is what gives it its warmth and its soft, natural look. It also means the surface is open and absorbent, so it is happiest dry and clean.

The weekly 60-second routine

Wipe each earring with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. A microfiber cloth or a clean cotton shirt works. This removes the oils, perfume, and hairspray that build up on leather and can eventually dull or stain it. Most weeks, that’s all it takes.

Once a season: a little oil

Just like human skin, leather needs occasional moisturizing. Once a season, give your earrings extra care with a leather conditioning wipe. Use a light touch, let them rest until fully dry, and expect the color to deepen slightly. That is the natural look of vegetable-tanned leather being nourished. Try the wipe on the back of one earring first if you want to see the effect before treating the pair.

What to keep away from your earrings

• Water. Rain, swimming, and high humidity are the main enemies, and matte leather has no coating to shed moisture. Take your earrings off before a shower. If they get damp, blot them with a dry cloth and let them air-dry away from direct heat. Never wipe them with a wet cloth.
• Perfume and hairspray. Matte leather absorbs these and can discolor. Apply fragrance first, let it dry, then put your earrings on.
• Direct sunlight and heat. Prolonged sun will fade and dry out leather over months.

How to store them

Store your earrings separately from your other jewelry, since the natural oils in the leather can transfer to other pieces. Lay them flat, preferably on a soft cloth. If you wear them daily, rotating between two pairs gives each pair time to rest.

If something goes wrong

• A light scratch or scuff: rub it gently with a clean, dry fingertip, a soft cloth, or a leather conditioner wipe. The warmth and natural oils of your skin often blend it out.
• Dampness: blot dry, then air-dry flat. Do not use a hair dryer or any heat source.
• A bent ear wire: have a jeweler reset it rather than bending it back yourself.

Why our hardware is low-maintenance

At Chiclery we pair vegetable-tanned leather with surgical stainless steel components. Unlike silver or plated metal, stainless steel won’t tarnish or discolor, so you never need to polish the hardware. It is also gentle on most sensitive ears.

Treat your earrings the way you would a good leather bag: keep them dry, wipe them occasionally, and condition them with the seasons. Vegetable-tanned leather deepens in color with time and wear, so each pair becomes a little more yours.