Jewelry Care Guide: Simple Ways to Extend the Life of Your Jewelry
Jewelry is an important accessory in our lives. Proper care can extend the life of your jewelry and keep it looking shiny and beautiful. Here are some care methods for common types of jewelry:
Gold Plated and Vermeil Jewelry
Gold plated and vermeil jewelry is best suited for occasional wear. Over time, the gold plating will wear down, but with proper care, your piece should last a very long time.
Cleaning and Storing
Gently buff vermeil and gold plated jewelry with a soft dry cloth. Never use jewelry cleaner, soap, or water. Store your plated and vermeil jewelry in an airtight plastic baggie to keep moisture out and to protect the piece from surface scratches. Do not store plated and vermeil jewelry in your bathroom or anywhere it can be exposed to water or humidity.
Special Care and General Tips for Wear
Avoid contact with water, lotions, oils, and other liquid-based substances which will damage the plating. Always remove gold plated and vermeil jewelry when washing your hands, showering, exercising, sleeping, swimming, cleaning, etc.
Solid Gold Jewelry
Solid gold jewelry is meant to last a lifetime. Solid Gold jewelry from 9K-24K can be worn daily and kept forever. We always recommend choosing solid gold styles for engagement and wedding rings.
Cleaning and Storing
It is safe to use soapy water or a jewelry cleaning solution with a soft bristle brush to clean 9K-24K solid gold jewelry. A jewelry polishing cloth is also an ideal tool to keep your solid gold pieces shiny. Sunshine brand polishing clothes are great for restoring shine to dirty or scratched solid gold. Store your solid gold jewelry in an airtight plastic baggie to keep moisture out and to protect it from surface scratches.
Special Care and General Tips for Wear
It's a good idea to take off any delicate bands before activity that could cause damage, like any strenuous activity with your hands, cleaning, or exercising. We do not recommend sleeping in delicate chains. Think about maintaining your jewelry like you would a car, especially if you wear it everyday. Maintain your solid gold jewelry by taking it to a local jeweler for polishing, prong tightening, and band reshaping.
Brass and Silver Jewelry
While fine for daily wear, it should be noted that over time, brass and silver will naturally begin to tarnish and lose their polished luster. This tarnishing is easily removed with a polishing cloth.
Cleaning and Storing
To clean brass or silver jewelry, use a polishing cloth to buff out any tarnishing. Store your silver and brass jewelry in an airtight plastic baggie to keep moisture out and to protect the piece from surface scratches.
Special Care and General Tips for Wear
Brass and silver jewelry can be suitable for daily wear, but it's a good idea to take off your jewelry before any activity that could cause damage, like swimming, cleaning, or working out.
Gold Filled Jewelry
Gold filled jewelry is suitable for daily wear, but it does require a little extra attention. With proper care, your piece should last a very long time.
Cleaning and Storing
It is safe to use mild soap and water to clean gold filled jewelry. A jewelry polishing cloth is also a great tool to keep your gold filled pieces shiny. Store your gold filled jewelry in an airtight plastic baggie to keep moisture out and to protect the piece from surface scratches.
Special Care and General Tips for Wear
Avoid contact with chlorine, salt water, lotions, oils, and harsh chemicals, which can damage the metal. With minimal care, gold fill jewelry should not tarnish.
Identifying Jewelry Types
- Vermeil Jewelry: Vermeil jewelry will be stamped "925" because the base metal is sterling silver.
- Solid Gold Jewelry: "375/9K", "416/417/10K", "585/14K", and "750/18K" stamps all indicate solid gold.
- Silver Jewelry: Sterling silver will be stamped with "925".
Jewelry Care Tips
- Regular Cleaning: Clean your jewelry regularly to keep it looking shiny and beautiful.
- Proper Storage: Store your jewelry in an airtight plastic baggie to keep moisture out and to protect it from surface scratches.
- Avoid Contact with Chemicals: Avoid contact with water, lotions, oils, and other chemicals which can damage your jewelry.
- Regular Maintenance: Take your jewelry to a local jeweler for polishing, prong tightening, and band reshaping regularly.
With proper care, you can extend the life of your jewelry and keep it looking shiny and beautiful. We hope these tips are helpful to you!
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